Review from the Canadian Journal of Education

Roslyn Thomas-Long, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto

This review is an excerpt from the Canadian Journal of Education Volume 27 No. 2 & 3, 2004.

Dawn Williams' book addresses one of the most prevalent problems facing Black researchers, educators, parents, and students in Canada today: quick and effective access to the variety of fields in which Blacks are excelling.

The idea for this book "grew out [her] frustration in seeing very few representatives of the various ethnoracial groups in Canada reflected in trade publications and some public media events" (p.19).

Like Williams, scholars also have noted the absence of a database dedicated to alleviating the time-consuming process of accessing a distinguished body of achievers. Who's Who in Black Canada brings together in one volume outstanding achievers from the local and the national African-Canadian community.

To compile her list of experts, Williams extensively researched the Internet, contacted Black organizations and individuals, and used referrals from professionals. Her book is not a textbook, per se, but rather a resource manual chronicling the achievements of Black people in contemporary Canada.

Who's Who in Black Canada raises a fundamental question: "Why do we need such a book in Canada today?" One aspect of the answer is that, although Blacks have been a presence in Canada for centuries, little is known of their achievements and contributions.

At every level of the education system, educators have neglected to put into the curriculum any appreciable content emphasizing Black people's contribution to Canadian history. With the possible exception of Black History Month, no program exists specifically to study Black people's roles in Canada. As a result, many can't help but harbour the mistaken belief that Blacks have failed to make significant contributions to Canadian society. The absence of an accessible body of Black achievement has resulted in feelings of alienation, particularly among Black youth and children, as well as their parents and professionals.

Traditionally, Black people and others have relied on Black authors (Brathwaite & James, 1996; Dei & Calliste, 2000; Walcott, 1997) to provide analyses of the Black Canadian experience. In their work, Cooper (1991) and Sadlier (2003) have provided much needed illumination on Black persons' contributions to Canada, but their works have concentrated mainly on past history.

Some recent texts (Carnegie, 1997; Cooper, 2000) and websites contain information that can be used in conjunction with Who's Who in Black Canada. Although these resources serve the important functions of informing Blacks and keeping alive their historical legacies, they leave a gap in terms of accessing those individuals still alive.

Who's Who in Black Canada is notably different in its approach because it concentrates on living achievers, various experts who are currently active in their profession; some examples include educators George Dei and Keren Brathwaite, business professionals Mary Anne Chambers and Ferrier Ross, and religious leaders Pastor Pat Francis and Pastor John Mcnab.

The volume also includes a diverse representation from all provinces in Canada and, to a lesser extent, the United States. Williams has included slightly more male achievers than female, but whether this is a recruiting criteria bias or availability of professionals, it is difficult to tell. Williams notes that she "can only speculate as to why some others might have chosen not to participate: some people are wary of anything new and want to see how it will look before becoming involved; some believe that if we [Blacks] keep a low profile and just do a good job, all will be rewarded; others have been sniped at too many times and no longer wish to expose themselves to the possibility of further criticism" (p. 21).

What is certain is that there are various historical and individual reasons for people's decision not to be included in such a text. In providing current information on those who are on the cutting edge in their field, Who's Who in Black Canada is an indispensable resource guide for accessing information on Black Canadian experts and for making visible their presence and success. Its unique importance comes from breaking the cycle of Black people's invisibility by providing timely, up to-date information on Black contributors.

Williams makes her book inviting to the reader by using a structure that is user-friendly. The book's structure is organized into three main sections.

The first section makes up the major part of the book, listing achievers alphabetically. The author provides such detailed information as the individuals' professions, community involvement, and contact information.

The second section provides a geographic listing.

The third section lists individuals by primary activity or occupation.

This crossreferencing process is extremely effective to ensure that readers can use any three criteria to find the appropriate information.

The primary shortcoming of this text is readers may need some assistance to navigate the book effectively because they must go through the entire text to find the desired information. The author could help in this process by informing readers in her introduction that they can skip sections to find information more quickly.

Future publications may accelerate this process by perhaps adding colour tabs along the edge of the pages within each section to make accessibility easier. The author might also include achievers' photographs, which would be even more appealing for younger readers.

Also helpful would be a section profiling organizations with a solid record of excellence in serving Black communities such as the Canadian Association of Black Educators (CABE), Black churches, and youth organizations.

Another important section could be Black youth who are breaking new ground, which could serve to motivate other youth, as well as children and their parents.

The book raises obvious questions about criteria for selection to a volume of this nature and what could be perceived as the replication of elitism within the Black community. To avoid this, Williams uses rigorous and extensive research on men and women from different regions of Canada, who have had a track record of consistent success, who are from diverse professions, and who have diverse educational levels and experiences.

Williams assuages concerns about replicating elitism through an expansive selection criteria and definition of success. She sees success in broad terms, regardless of economic and educational attainment; rather, she uses different standards of success in her selection, concentrating on an individual's track record in various fields such as the arts, medicine, education, business, and community activism. What is most noticeable in this book is the extent to which achievers include community involvement as an important aspect of their work. Those profiled recognized the important role of community in sustaining their achievement. In giving back, achievers not only strengthen their community bonds, but also affirm and maintain their own sense of selfworth and identity.

Who's Who in Black Canada is an impressive accomplishment by an author who understands the needs of the Black community. It includes a wide spectrum of professionals who have made extraordinary contributions to society. It is not only a resource manual, but also an important educational text for a wide and expanding audience: Black youth.

Within the Black community, it is a "living document" allowing students, parents, or the curious to connect with Black professionals as guides and mentors. It is also a useful tool for Black educators, students, researchers, and professionals in building robust social and professional networks. Altogether, this is a highly organized and well-researched book that provides invaluable information on a group of experts who are all-too-often invisible and unacknowledged for their contributions to Canadian society.

Acknowledgement

I thank Dr. George Dei at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, and Keren Brathwaite at the Transitional Year Program (TYP), University of Toronto, for their response to this review.

References