Resources
English 12: African Heritage Language Arts
The list is provided courtesy of the Department of Education African Canadian Services Division. The books that are listed, as well as the number of books, are the ones the N.S. Department of Education gave to pilot schools and to schools who offered English 12: African Heritage in 2008-2009. Other materials not on this list may be used when appropriate. If teachers find a book that would enrich this course then the Department of Education: African Canadian Services Division should be notified so the resource could be added to the approved learning resources list for the course. All annotations are written by Nancie de la Chevotière who was a pilot teacher (HalifaxWestHigh School) and part of the lead team for the course. Contact her at
Mandatory text (class set of 30)Author / Title / BB# / #
Achebe, Chinua / Things Fall Apart
This is the only mandatory text for this course. A classic novel that starts in pre-colonial Nigeria in an Ibo community. Through the main character Okonkwo the reader explores his traditional African community and learns how it is impacted by colonization. Achebe uses dialect, proverbs, and language to help the reader understand the Ibo culture. Major themes include: masculinity, justice, fear, ambition and social disintegration (colonization) / 22608
Class sets(30) of novels/plays (teacher’s choice)
Hansberry, L. / A Raisin in the Sun This fulfills the requirement for a play in English 12 and may be done instead of Shakespeare. Lorraine Hansberry’s play was the first play by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway. It depicts the Younger family’s struggles living in the Southside of Chicago during the 1950s (“The Black Belt”) as each member tries to pursue their dreams. Major themes include: identity, beauty, race, social class and dreams. / 24370
Shakespeare, W. / Othello This fulfills the requirement for a play in English 12. The tragic hero Othello is a Black man who won his freedom from slavery and rises up in Venetian society to become a general in the army. He marries a senator’s daughter and is much despised by a few of the characters for this act and for other reasons as well. Major themes include: jealousy, betrayal, duplicity, race and class. / 22010
Hurston, Z.N. / Their Eyes Were Watching God is the story of Janie and her self-discovery. Janie has three major relationships with men which impact how she defines herself. This novel is semi-autobiographical as Zora Neale Hurston also lived in Eatonville. The names of the characters in the novel are very significant and should be considered. / 22606
Morrison, T. / The Bluest Eye Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison has commented on the importance of this book. It is a story that centers on a young African American girl named Pecola. The story is told from several perspectives and is a complex examination of identity, beauty, race, family, abuse, and abandonment. This would be a good selection for a strong class. / 22603
Walker, A. / The Color Purple (movie version is excellent as well, but it does miss several key parts from the novel- great for a comparison) is a novel written by Alice Walker that centers on the main character Celie and is written mostly in her voice. It is a novel about transitions: innocence to experience, naïve to self-confident, victimized to empowered, dependent to independent. The author uses dialect to create an authentic voice. This novel deals with issues that require sensitivity. / 23026
Novels for Literature Circles /Independent Reading
Angelo, M. / I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an autobiographical novel about Maya Angelou’s early ears. It depicts her experiences in different parts of theUnited States during a time when racial conflict was blatant. She struggles through many issues including poverty, abuse, sexism and racism. / 24278 / 6
Beals, M.P. / Warriors Don't Cryis an autobiographical story written by one of the first Black students to integrate into an all White high school in Little Rock, Arkansas after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision in 1954. Melba Pattillo Beals uses the journal she kept as a teenager in addition to her recollections of the events to describe the year she and eight others integrated CentralHigh School. Melba doesn’t hold back when recalling the events as she did when she was young and student are very interested in her story. This is a great book for students who are not usually engaged with reading. / 23020 / 6
Carson, B.
Murphy, C. / Gifted Handsis an autobiographical story written by a world class neurosurgeon. Dr. Ben Carson went from inner city Detroit and his struggles with poverty, racism, and many other issues to director of pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. Dr. Ben Carson speaks about how he survived incredible odds through his faith and his belief in himself to attain his dreams. / 24279
Out of print / 3
Cooper A. / The Hanging of Angelique by poet, historian, and former University of Toronto professor, Afua Cooper, is a non-fiction piece about Marie-Joseph Angélique. It recounts the trial of the slave woman who was eventually tortured and executed for the crime of burning down the central core of Old Montreal. It is a chilling story and one that most Canadians know very little about. Students will be fascinated by this hidden gem. / 24280 / 1
Dangarenba, T. / Nervous Conditions written by Tsitsi Dangarembga in 1989 is the story of Tambu, a young girl from Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) growing in the 1960s and 70s. She is from a very poor family and through a tragic situation is given the opportunity to get an education. While studying at a missionary school Tambu rooms with her cousin Nyasha who has also lived in England. Through these characters the book explores some of the cultural differences between Africans and Europeans. The devastating impact of colonization on Africa is also demonstrated. / 24277 / 3
Fisher, A. / Finding Fish (movie version as well) is the story of Antwone Fisher. There are definite parallels between Antwone and Oliver Twist. Antwone is born in a prison to a single mother and then placed into an orphanage and foster homes. He is the victim of terrible abuse both physical and emotional. Ultimately, he rises above all of the struggles he endured to become a successful young man. This is a very inspirational story and one that the students enjoy. The film complements is very well. / 23029 / 6
Foster, C. / Island Wingsis the memoir of Cecil Foster a Barbadian-born Canadian. He describes his early years in Barbados and how he was raised many by his extended family after his parents left to try and improve their lives by going to England. Foster offers a lot of information about the Caribbean and the realities of many people of African descent living in the Diaspora. / 23034
Delisted/ not available / 6
Gaines, E. / A Lesson Before Dying (novel and movie) is a story set in the 1940s in Louisiana. Jefferson, an uneducated Black field worker, is wrongly convicted of robbing and killing a White man. During his trial his attorney compares him to a hog, a dumb animal that is incapable of planning of the crime. Jefferson is found guilty anyway and he internalizes the lawyer’s comments to the point that his godmother Miss Emma feel that he no longer sees himself as a man. Miss Emma asks a local school teacher Grant Wiggins to teach Jefferson to be a man before he is executed for his “crimes”. Grant also struggles with the definition of manhood as he teaches Jefferson he learns about himself. / 23033 / 6
Gaines, E. / The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman (TV version exists, but it is not well done)is a fictional story about Jane Pittman a 110 year old African American woman who dies in 1962. The novel is her story and it takes the reader from slavery, through reconstruction and into the Civil Rights movement in the context of Jane’s life and through all of the people she meets. Gaines allows the reader to hear many people’s stories because of this style including those who are very different from Jane. A teacher could select parts of the novel to support the course. / 24281 / 6
Haley, A. / Malcolm X: The autobiography of Malcolm X is the story of Malcolm Little who would become known to the world as Malcolm X. It is written by Alex Haley based on hours of interviews with Malcolm X. The story is true and that makes it even more amazing as one learns about a young man’s difficult childhood, troubled youth and then his dawning into a brilliant speaker and a champion for his people. / 23529 / 2
Hill, L. / Any Known Bloodby Lawrence Hill is the story of Langston Cane V. He loses his job intentionally and decides it is the perfect time to write the novel he has always wanted to write-his father’s family’s story. This takes Langston on a research journey between Canada and the United States. Although it is a fiction it is very reflective of Hill’s family history. The mixture of history and fiction makes it very enjoyable to read meanwhile learning about many true events. / 23532 / 3
Hill, L. / Black Berry, Sweet Juice is Lawrence Hill’s story about growing up as a bi-racial child in a White community in Ontario seeking self-discovery and identity. He inspires many questions about race and identity in Canada not the least of which is why Canadians seem to know so much more about Blacks in the United States than they do about Blacks in Canada. / 23533 / 6
Hill, L. / The Book of Negroes is an amazing novel that the teacher could use as a reference for several parts of the course including pre-colonial, slavery and reconstruction. Lawrence Hill once again uses actual historical events as a backdrop to a fictional character. Through the main character Aminata Diallo the reader travels from Africa to the Americas to Africa once again and finally to England. The journey is perilous and emotional. The knowledge contained within this text is immeasurable. Many Canadians are unaware of the country’s history with slavery and this story sheds some historical light. It is a must read for any teacher who is going to be teaching English 12: African heritage and strong readers will wait in line to borrow it. / 1
Obama, B. / Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance This reflection offers insight into United States presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s early years and his own struggles with racial identity. He was raised by a White mother and her parents, yet he yearns for the other side of himself. During his formative years his exposure to people of African descent is limited. He is seeking a sense of who he is racially and trying to find where he belongs. He travels to Kenya after his father has passed away and discovers more about his roots. Obama reflects on many issues throughout the book, however, race and identity are dominant. / 1
Sarsfield, M. / No Crystal Stair, a novel by Mairuth Sarsfield, is set in Montréal during the World War Two. This is during the city’s Jazz Age and it is vibrant and energetic. This is the backdrop against which single mother Marion Willow is trying to raise three daughters while working two jobs. Her life is rendered more difficult because she is Black and a woman. Her daughters are influenced by a neighbour, who is also Black, but he “passes” for White. Another friend stresses to the girls the importance of their Black heritage. / 23618 / 6
Tandemy, L. / CaneRiverby Lalita Tandemy is a work of love. Tandemy did years of research into her own family history even obtaining her great, great, great, great, grandmother’s bill of sale. She covers four generations of women from slavery to early the early stages of the Civil Rights Movement. The setting is in Louisiana. It is written as a fiction; however, it is grounded in history. 137 years of history are covered in the novel with a clear narrative voice which makes it very interesting to read. / 23210 / 3
Wright, D. / Native Son is a novel set in South Chicago during The Great Depression. Bigger Thomas is the protagonist of the novel. He lives in poverty and has had great difficulty in life. Racism is dominant and Bigger’s lack of education seems to exacerbate the way he is treated. He accidentally kills a White woman and from that point on his actions are out of control. This novel is as much a social commentary of the times as it is a book about Bigger Thomas. / 23027 / 6
Poetry/Anthologies
Blumenreich, M. / Fiery Spirits and Voices: Canadian Writers of African DescentThis is a compilation of poetry and short writings by Canadian authors of African descent. The backgrounds of the authors vary enormously. There are a variety of styles represented a s well. / 23021 / 6
Clarke, G.E. / Fire on Water, Volume 2is a compilation of poetry byAfrican Nova Scotian Writers edited by George Elliott Clarke. / 23038 / 6
Clarke, G.E. / Eyeing the North Star another compilation edited by George Elliott Clarke containing works by a variety of African Canadian writers both established and beginning. It includes prose, poetry and short drama. / 24275 / 1
Clarke, G.E. / WhylahFallsis a collection of George Elliott Clarke’s poetry. There are many historical connections to Nova Scotia and the writing is reflective of a very personal outlook of growing up Black in Nova Scotia. / 24273 / 1
McDonald, I.
Brown, S. / Heinemann Book of Caribbean Poetrywas published in 1992 and it represented the most current contributions of both established and emerging Caribbean poets. There is an eclectic mix of styles and many of the poets use local dialect in their works that gives the reader a sense of voice and rhythm. / 23530 / 1
Tynes, Maxine / Woman Talking Woman is an anthology of works by an African Nova Scotian teacher named Maxine Tynes. She has a rich cultural history dating back to the Black Loyalists. Many themes are explored in her work including race, beauty, identity, sexism, strength and feminism. She also has pieces that are fun and entertaining. / 22373 / 1
Woods, D. / Native Song This is a compilation of poems, art work by David Woods who is a local African Nova Scotian writer. The works are powerful as they depict some of the harsh realities of Black communities and people as well as hope for the future. There is strong connection to Nova Scotia as Woods includes pieces that reference communities like Preston and Gottingen Street. / 23025
Delisted
New release 2008 / 1
Short Stories/Anthologies
Gross, L.; Barnes, E. / Talk that Talkis a compilation of African American writings that are reflective of the oral tradition. Many of the pieces use dialect. One may find everything from poetry to folk tales. / 23019 / 2
Naylor, G. / The Women of BrewsterPlace*Gloria Naylor’s novel may be used as a text for independent study by a mature student or a teacher may choose to use one of the seven chapters as individual short stories. Six of the seven chapters focus on one character’s story and the seventh is about the whole housing development. Themes of racism, sexuality, identity, moving North from the South, etc. / 22508 / 1
Walker A. / In Search of Our Mother's Garden is a collection of essays written by Alice Walker. It contains similar themes to her novel The Color Purple as well as commentary on others writers including Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston. The title essay creates a great conversation about art as it discusses that many African American women who could not read, write or have the luxury of painting and so on made art out of their lives. Their cooking, gardening, living was their art. / 23211 / 2
Senior, O. / Discerner of Heartsis a collection of nine stories by Olive Senior. The characters she creates use their authentic voices, dialect and all to tell their stories. This is a moving collection and one that students will need assistance in decoding. It is set in Jamaica and the time frame is varied from colonial times to modern day. The lives of many of the characters are complicated because of economic and racial barriers. / 23206
Not available / 3
Teacher Resources including two anthologies
Battle, T., Wells, D. / Legacy: Treasures of Black History This resource showcases a collection of over 150 historical artifacts related to African American history. It includes maps, letter, pictures, poems, and more. It supports the literature from a historical perspective. Many of the items included have never been published. It spans such a large timeframe from pre-colonial to modern day. / 1
Beers, K. / When Kids Can’t Read: What teachers can doThis is a resource to help teacher with strategies to support struggling readers. It also contains scenarios, book lists and anecdotal stories. / 13895 / 1
Brownlie, F. / Grand Conversations, Thoughtful Responses: A Unique Approach to Literature Circlesoffers techniques to help teachers implement literature circles that empower students and improve discussion. The book includes not only teacher strategies for teaching literature circles, but also ideas on supporting dialogue, writing activities and assessment tools. / 17083 / 1
Carlico, Jami / Fiction of Toni Morrison , The: Reading and Writing on Race, Culture, and Identity-This books is an aid to help a teacher understand and teach Toni Morrison’s novels. Each chapter has discussion questions, project and essay suggestions and so on. The book includes one of Morrison’s short stories as well as six sample student essays. / 1