Writing the Black Canadian West

Yesterday I attended a colloquium at SFU Harbour Centre on "Writing the Black Canadian West." It was great fun, and a showcase for some remarkable people: Cheryl Foggo, who writes about the black experience on the Prairies; Karina Vernon, who responded to Cheryl's presentation; Michelle La Flamme, who writes (and performs!) about the "mixed-race body" in literature; Chantal Gibson, who responded; and C. S. Giscombe, a writer and teacher who has been exploring BC in search of his maybe-ancestor, the miner John R. Giscome.

My contribution was to talk about the new edition of Go Do Some Great Thing and how this blog has made the production of the new book much easier. (So if you're here because you were at the colloquium, welcome and make yourself at home.)

All in all, it was a stimulating and thought-provoking afternoon and evening, with talented people and good conversation. Thanks to Wayde Compton, Sophie McCall, and everyone else who organized and took part in the event.

Wayde has also given me the manuscript with his editing questions and suggestions, so I'll be busy with that for the next little while.

Comments

[Sophie McCall]

Dear Crawford,

It was an honour to have you at the colloquium on Friday. Thanks so much for your insights into the history of the black Canadian west, and your unwavering faith in history! I am still puzzling about approaches to history, and feel grateful that we were exposed to such a wide range of possibilities.

My best,
Sophie McCall