Women in the "Promised Land"

Book excerpt: Women in the “Promised Land” reframes Canadian history through the lens of African Canadian women’s lived experiences. This collection of original essays spans the period from slavery and abolition through to women’s activism in the 20th century, focusing on themes of race, migration, gender, community, religion, and the struggle for social justice. Re-examining familiar figures in African Canadian women’s history, including abolitionist and feminist Mary Ann Shadd Cary and civil rights activist Viola Desmond, the volume considers them in the wider context of scholarship on Canada and the African diaspora. Drawing on insights from cultural studies, communications, literary studies, and visual culture, the contributing authors use rich primary sources to ground their analysis in the details of women’s historical experiences. Together, the chapters work to unsettle Canadian history and demonstrate its urgent relevance to the present, encouraging readers to interrogate the concept of Canada as a “promised land.” Edited by leading scholars in the field, this accessible, interdisciplinary collection includes suggested further readings, chapter overviews, and discussion questions, making it an essential read for students in women’s studies, African studies, and history.