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roomb31's review against another edition
3.0
While I believe everyone should read this book, it's hard to recommend to any casual reader. The information is valuable and vital but may not be accessible to everyone. If you want to know more about the subject of black lives in Canada, this is an essential read, and wholeheartedly recommended.
_brittsbookshelf_'s review
3.0
If I didn't have to read this book for a history assignment, I would have put it down a long time ago.
As I mean in no way to disregard the struggles that Black peoples have and still face, this book was frustrating to read on the author's part. Although it has some great information that I didn't already know, it was merely made of other people's statistics and quotes, along with a whole thesaurus. Not only is the book dense with information, but it seems like every other word is unnecessarily changed to a much bigger word to make the author sound smarter.
The few chapters about wrongful incarceration, immigration, and working standards were great. The author gave you a sense of disgust for how the Canadian government treats Black people in this regard. However, I do believe that the book should be renamed to include Indigenous lives, as well as the province of Nova Scotia because both of these things are integrated into many of the chapters. There were only three or four of the provinces that were talked about, with Nova Scotia being top by far.
I feel as though there are a lot of assumptions in this book as well. For example, the author takes information and quotes that she says herself are not backed up to be against Black lives but still pushes the idea that they are policing the Black community. It seemed like she was trying too hard to play a victim card when there are many other instances where the Black community has been treated unfairly that she could have talked about.
The book is written with a ton of citations, which made it hard to digest the information in some chapters. It would have been an easier read if the author added more of her own words into it.
I gave this book a 3/5 because I do believe that racism is still a huge issue in Canada and that we need more representation and fair treatment within our Black communities. I am glad someone is writing about it with the intent to educate and inform others about racial inequalities, I just think that she could have done a much better job at it.
As I mean in no way to disregard the struggles that Black peoples have and still face, this book was frustrating to read on the author's part. Although it has some great information that I didn't already know, it was merely made of other people's statistics and quotes, along with a whole thesaurus. Not only is the book dense with information, but it seems like every other word is unnecessarily changed to a much bigger word to make the author sound smarter.
The few chapters about wrongful incarceration, immigration, and working standards were great. The author gave you a sense of disgust for how the Canadian government treats Black people in this regard. However, I do believe that the book should be renamed to include Indigenous lives, as well as the province of Nova Scotia because both of these things are integrated into many of the chapters. There were only three or four of the provinces that were talked about, with Nova Scotia being top by far.
I feel as though there are a lot of assumptions in this book as well. For example, the author takes information and quotes that she says herself are not backed up to be against Black lives but still pushes the idea that they are policing the Black community. It seemed like she was trying too hard to play a victim card when there are many other instances where the Black community has been treated unfairly that she could have talked about.
The book is written with a ton of citations, which made it hard to digest the information in some chapters. It would have been an easier read if the author added more of her own words into it.
I gave this book a 3/5 because I do believe that racism is still a huge issue in Canada and that we need more representation and fair treatment within our Black communities. I am glad someone is writing about it with the intent to educate and inform others about racial inequalities, I just think that she could have done a much better job at it.
flowpouet's review against another edition
5.0
Je me souviendrai toujours de février 2019, ce mois où j'ai pu lire ce livre extraordinaire.
Il faudrait le mettre entre toutes les mains. D'urgence.
L'idée que la lecture d'une oeuvre puisse changer notre vie fait encore plus sens pour moi maintenant...
Il faudrait le mettre entre toutes les mains. D'urgence.
L'idée que la lecture d'une oeuvre puisse changer notre vie fait encore plus sens pour moi maintenant...
amn028's review against another edition
5.0
I received more Canadian history in the first two chapters of this book than I did in my entire schooling. This book is not an easy read. It is well written and flows well, but the subjects highlighted shine a bright spotlight into the dark corners of Canadian systematic racism and the ongoing issues.
Everybody should read this book to gain (additional) insight and understanding of the struggles the Black and Indigenous communities have been fighting against since the first European stepped on this soil.
Everybody should read this book to gain (additional) insight and understanding of the struggles the Black and Indigenous communities have been fighting against since the first European stepped on this soil.
sarahmoroz's review against another edition
5.0
I don't even know what to say other than that, if you live in Canada, you need to read this book. It's tough reading, but I learned so much from it that my mind is still reeling a bit. This book proves beyond a doubt that structured and systemic racism is undeniable in Canada.
delilahkkw's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
This is a book I come back to often and keep recommending. This is essential reading for Canadians! The author writes beautifully about such dark and cruel things. However, she delivers essential information and highlights what we need to know for an antiracist society.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Slavery, Racism, Police brutality, Murder, Violence, and Colonisation
Moderate: Child death, Ableism, Deportation, and Islamophobia
tiredenglishteacher's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Thorough exploration of the myriad ways in which Black bodies are criminalized in Canadian institutions. Discusses historical and current issues, breaking down stereotyped ideas of Canada as being a better or kinder place for Black people than the US. Clear and bursting with evidence in studies and texts that prove ideas developed.
jarreloliveira's review against another edition
5.0
Phenomenal argument against the "Canada has always been a great place for minorities" nonsense perpetuated by historically ignorant Canadians and North Americans alike. From promoting scientific racism to preventing Black Canadians from emigrating wherever they pleased to defending slavery and pure blood mythologies, and instigating the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan, Canada has a marred past very few Canadians dare look into for the sake of patriotic bliss.
Because Canada, today, is a safer place for minorities, many believe it has always been this way and that is in fact, historically incorrect. Police brutality in municipal, provincial, and federal levels is ubiquitous. The displacement and near extermination of indigenous groups is jaw-dropping, considering how pervasive the desire to turn inhabited lands into "Crown" land. Bizarre.
This book isn't here to demonize a nation for its crimes against minorities, especially indigenous and black minority groups, but to lay out the bare truth about its participation in racial crimes which still affect scores of minority communities to this day.
Worth the read.
Because Canada, today, is a safer place for minorities, many believe it has always been this way and that is in fact, historically incorrect. Police brutality in municipal, provincial, and federal levels is ubiquitous. The displacement and near extermination of indigenous groups is jaw-dropping, considering how pervasive the desire to turn inhabited lands into "Crown" land. Bizarre.
This book isn't here to demonize a nation for its crimes against minorities, especially indigenous and black minority groups, but to lay out the bare truth about its participation in racial crimes which still affect scores of minority communities to this day.
Worth the read.