AfriCANthology Canada

AfriCANthology in the Media

During the lead-up to the release of AfriCANthology: Perspectives of Black Canadian Poets on February 1, 2022, and developments thereafter, we will add related videos, articles, interviews and other media as they relate to the book release promotion specifically and the not-for-profit project more generally.

AfriCANthology Launch Events - February 2022


Watch the Facebook Live/Zoom recordings of the four launch events for AfriCANthology: Perspectives of Black Canadian Poets during Black History Month 2022:


Atlantic Canada (Fredericton) - Saturday, February 26 in collaboration with Gallery on Queen

Quebec (Montreal) - Thursday, February 3 in collaboration with Librairie Racines

Ontario (Toronto) - Friday, February 25 in collaboration with A Different Booklist

Western Canada (Winnipeg) - Tuesday, February 22 in collaboration with Tusome Books

Articles, Reviews, Essays, and Interviews about AfriCANthology

To mark Emancipation Day 2022, here are 16 books by Canadian authors that examine themes of racial and social justice and the experience of being Black in Canada and beyond.
(click on the image to read the article)  

CBC Books: A. Gregory Frankson curated AfriCANthology to represent the varied voices of Black Canadian poets (April 29, 2022) 

The Canadian poet and editor spoke with Shelagh Rogers about the importance of documenting the experience of contemporary Black Canadians. 
(click on the image to read the article) 

New anthology reveals writers’ lives and perspectives in terms of geography, gender identity, ethnocultural background and their work.
(click on the image to read the article) 

This Poetry Muse feature on AllLitUp.ca is a triple-header of poets from Renaissance Press' AfriCANthology: Perspectives of Black Canadian Poets. We're joined by Andrea Thompson (pictured), reading "After the Storm;" Evelyn C. White, reading "One Rock;" and the anthology's editor and poet himself, A. Gregory Frankson, reading "The Blackened Room." Read on to learn about their muses, like those who've "made a way out of no way." (click on the image to read the article) 

Artist and activist Reed "iZrEAL" Jones was part of the Word Iz Bond collective and has performed across Canada. One of his pieces is in the new collection AfriCANthology: Perspectives of Black Canadian Poets. He spoke to Jeff about the importance of looking at things from a different perspective.                
(click on the image to listen to the segment) 

(March 15, 2022)    

The evening set out to address how we can maintain momentum in sharing Black stories locally and across Canada and what the role of the arts – or stories more broadly – may be in this process.  (click on the image to read the article)

Writer and frequent Examiner contributor Evelyn C. White has previously written about the late African Nova Scotian poet Maxine Tynes (pictured), publishing a piece about women and the publishing industry back in May 2021, when the first Maxine Tynes Nova Scotia Poetry Award was about to be handed out. 
(click on the image to read the article) 

To mark this year's International Women's Day, Mainstreet celebrated the life and poetry of the late Maxine Tynes. We share some of her poetry, hear from people who knew her, and learn more about her legacy from Evelyn C. White, who wrote a piece about Tynes for a new Canadian collection called AfriCANthology: Perspectives of Black Canadian Poets. (click on the image to listen to the segment)

Presented by The Stride and Ladies Corner Canada, this insightful panel discussion focused on understanding Black history (and the present reality) from a Canadian perspective.
(click on the image to watch the panel discussion)

Five Canadian must-reads for Black History Month and beyond (February 28, 2022) 

According to Lalaa Comrie, "Canada has a rich and deep history of Black culture and life. From our fight for freedom, slavery, oppression, success, and excellence, Black authors have been publishing a number of books that are shaping our conversations about race, community, and culture and expanding our thinking."
(click on the image to read the article) 

A. Gregory Frankson edits the new collection from Gatineau's Renaissance Press. He shares his poetry and discusses the anthology with host Alan Neal. 
(click on the image to listen to the segment)

Greg Frankson Interview on Ontario Morning (February 25, 2022) 

We often say actions speak louder than words. But sometimes action, and empowerment, comes in the form of words. A local poet and author uses writing to improve mental health, especially among racialized communities.
(click on the image to listen to the segment, which begins at 10:25) 

A panel discussion with Greg Frankson, editor of AfriCANthology and Carl Cadogan, chair of the London Black History Coordinating Committee. If Canadians have shown an unprecedented interest in learning Black stories over the last 20 months, how can we build on these gains? A remarkable discussion with unexpected twists and turns, and a big historical reveal near the end. (click on the image to watch the panel discussion)

All Lit Up shone a spotlight on AfriCANthology: Perspectives of Black Canadian Poets (Renaissance Press), edited by A. Gregory Frankson. In Frankson's essay, he shares how "the diversity of experiences of Black people from across Canada is foundational to the lived realities of “Canadian-ness” and all the traumas, contradictions, and paradoxes our national identity generates".  
(click on the image to read the post)

HOWL on CIUT 89.5 FM Toronto: Black History Month Episode Hosted by Dwayne Morgan (February 15, 2022) 

In honour of Black History Month, Howl was guest hosted by Dwayne Morgan and focused on a discussion about AfriCANthology. Dwayne welcomed poet Thandiwe McCarthy, a contributor, and Greg Frankson, the editor, to the show.
(click on the image to listen to the segment) 

Black Canadians are writing, fighting for justice, equality, respect, prosperity (February 11, 2022)

The Black experience in Canada spurs creation of poetry anthology, writes AfriCANthology editor Greg Frankson in the Scarborough Mirror and posted online on toronto.com. (click on the image to read the article)

Greg Frankson Interview on 630 CHED Edmonton Mid-Morning with Shaye Ganam (February 11, 2022) 

Greg spoke to Shaye live on 630 CHED radio in Edmonton and 770 CHQR radio in Calgary, regarding Greg's opinion piece in The Globe and Mail, AfriCANthology, and what is now necessary to keep the momentum going.
(click on the image to listen to the segment) 

Reimagine Blackness in Canada: Black Advocacy Through AfriCANthology @ Western University (February 10, 2022)  

Western's EDI Office was pleased to host Greg Frankson a.k.a. Ritallin, who brought a unique and dynamic perspective to discuss the importance of advocating for Black voices and experience. Edited with purpose by Greg Frankson, AfriCANthology: Perspectives of Black Canadian Poets brings together some of Canada's most influential dub, page, and spoken word poetic voices and gives them space to speak freely about their personal journeys in piercing verse and unapologetic prose. (click on the image to watch the presentation) 

AfriCANthology on the BlackLantic Podcast (February 8, 2022)

The podcast's first-ever guest was the editor of AfriCANthology, Greg Frankson. This anthology of poetry and essays features works about the Black experience from across the nation, including the East Coast. 

(click on the image to listen to the show • click here to watch the podcast on YouTube)


New Book Brings Together The Who’s Who of Black Canadian Poets (February 7, 2022)  

ByBlacks sat down with a few of the contributors to talk about their feelings on the project, and the impact they hope AfriCANthology to have now and in the future.
(click on the image to read the article) 

Thandiwe McCarthy on Information Morning - CBC Radio One Saint John (February 7, 2022)

Thandiwe McCarthy will tell you race is something he never gave much thought growing up in Woodstock, NB, until he left and started exploring what being Black means to him. (click on the image to listen to the segment)

AfriCANthology Review in The Miramichi Reader 
(February 7, 2022)  

Reviewer Rachel Fernandes notes that she "found the anthology to be extremely engaging and lively because of the range of voices included in the book, and especially because of the variety of styles at play." 

(click on the image to read the full review)


What Canadians Can Do to Support Black Communities and Causes During and After Black History Month (February 6, 2022)

In this everythingzoomer.com article by Cheryl Thompson, learn more about how you can support Black communities and causes across Canada.

(click on the image to read the article)


First Black N.B. artist to get show at Beaverbrook says photography has opened many doors (February 6, 2022) 

Gary Weekes is slated to have an exhibit at New Brunswick's only officially designated provincial art gallery starting April 2, titled Larry Fink vs Gary Weekes: The Boxing Portfolios. When it opens, Weekes will become the first Black artist from New Brunswick to have an exhibit at the Beaverbrook. 
(click on the image to read the article)

Black Writers - A Reading List (February 4, 2022)

On February 3, 2022, Afua Cooper, Habiba Cooper Diallo, Asha Jeffers, Chad Lucas, Sylvia Parris, and Evelyn C. White shared their top picks of books or other media by Black writers to read, enjoy, and learn from. The 60 recommendations included fiction, nonfiction, poetry, YA and children's literature, and other genres and media.
(click on the image to read the article)

Greg Frankson Op-Ed in The Globe & Mail, "For Black Canadians, there’s no going back to the way things were" (February 4, 2022) 

Editor Greg Frankson pens a powerful opinion piece for one of Canada's largest and most distributed newspaper. Also published in the February 5, 2022 print edition. (click on the image to read the article)


Gary Weekes Interview on CBC Information Morning (February 3, 2022)

Information Morning contributor Hillary LeBlanc spoke with Gary Weekes, who will be the first Black artist to have an exhibition at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton.

(click on the image to listen to the radio interview)


AfriCANthology Interview in Whitby This Week (January 26, 2022) 

Editor Greg Frankson speaks to Whitby This Week reporter Tim Kelly about the upcoming release of AfriCANthology. Published online on durhamregion.com on January 26, 2022. (click on the image to read the article)


Greg Frankson Appears on Conversations with Tee (January 17, 2022)

Tee Adeyemo invited AfriCANthology editor Greg Frankson to talk about the upcoming release of the anthology for her audience on January 17, 2022. 

Conversations with Tee is all about Edmonton's businesses and politics. The content we are creating is compelling and juicy.

(click on the image to listen to the podcast)


Greg Frankson LIVE Interview on CBC Fresh Air (January 16, 2022)

The editor for AfriCANthology: Perspectives of Black Canadian Poets was interviewed live on air by host Ismaila Alfa on January 16, 2022, about why he compiled poems and essays for the book, and how he hopes it will deepen the conversation about race in this country. 

(click on the image to listen to the segment)


Greg Frankson Speaks on The Morning Vibe™ (June 4, 2021)

The Morning Vibe™ is a twice weekly live conversation (Mondays and Fridays at 9 a.m. EST) with Dr. Vibe and Ryan Oneil Knight. Whether they discuss important subjects between themselves or have conversations with people who you need to know about, their goal is to create a positive Morning Vibe!! Our guest on the June 4, 2021 edition was Greg Frankson. (click on the image to watch the video)


AfriCANthology Book Trailer (May 29, 2021)

For video with descriptive audio, click here.

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The trailer for AfriCANthology: Perspectives of Black Canadian Poets, as it was revealed at the Renaissance Fall/Winter 2021-22 Catalogue Pre-Launch & Cover Reveal event on May 29, 2021. (click on the image to watch the video)