A Pioneering Voice in Black Canadian History and Literature
As Black History Month 2025 unfolds, the work of Afua Cooper, a distinguished historian, poet, and educator, is more relevant than ever. A scholar of African-Canadian history, slavery, and abolition, Cooper has spent decades unraveling the untold stories of Black Canada, making her one of the most influential voices in Black Canadian studies.
Born in Jamaica into a family of nine children, Cooper immigrated to Canada in 1980 amid political unrest in her homeland. She would go on to revolutionize dub poetry, spoken word, and historical scholarship, reshaping how Canadians understand the country’s Black past and present.
“She is a warrior of history and language,” says Dr. Rinaldo Walcott, professor of Black Studies at the University of Toronto. “Afua Cooper’s work is foundational—without her, we would not have the same critical discourse on Blackness in Canada today.”
Championing Black History Through Education and Research
Afua Cooper is a trailblazer in Black Canadian scholarship. She earned a PhD in African-Canadian history in 2000, specializing in slavery and abolition. Her doctoral dissertation on Henry Bibb, an enslaved person who escaped Kentucky and became a leading abolitionist in Canada, earned her the honorary title of “Kentucky Colonel”, the highest award in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In a rare recognition of a Canadian scholar, the Government of Canada declared Bibb a person of national historic significance in response to her research.
Her influence extends beyond academia. Cooper is the founder of the Black Canadian Studies Association (BCSA) and served as the third James Robinson Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies in the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology at Dalhousie University.
“She fights for truth in Canadian history,” says Dr. Charmaine Nelson, an art historian specializing in Black Canadian representations. “Afua forces us to acknowledge that slavery was not just an American phenomenon—Canada was complicit too.”
Dub Poetry and the Spoken Word Movement
In addition to her scholarship, Cooper is a celebrated dub poet and spoken word artist. As a founding member of the Toronto Dub Poets’ Collective, she helped bring the oral traditions of the Black diaspora to Canada, incorporating African rhythms, reggae influences, and feminist themes into her work.
“She doesn’t just write history—she performs it,” says Lillian Allen, a fellow dub poet and Canada’s first spoken word artist to receive the Governor General’s Award for Literature. “Afua’s poetry carries the weight of generations, and when she speaks, you hear the ancestors.”
Her poetry collections, such as Copper Woman and Other Poems and Memories Have Tongue, blend historical narratives with personal and political themes, offering readers and audiences a profound engagement with Black Canadian identity.
Slavery in Canada: Uncovering a Buried Past
One of Cooper’s most pivotal works is The Hanging of Angélique: The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montreal, published in 2006. The book tells the story of Marie-Joseph Angélique, an enslaved Black woman who was accused of setting fire to Montreal in 1734 and later executed.
“Cooper’s work on Angélique changed the landscape of Black Canadian history,” says Desmond Cole, journalist and author of The Skin We’re In. “She made it impossible to ignore the fact that slavery existed in Canada.”
The book was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award for Nonfiction and remains one of the most influential historical works on slavery in North America.
Teaching and Mentorship: Building the Next Generation
In addition to her scholarship and artistry, Cooper is a dedicated educator and mentor. She currently teaches sociology at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), where she continues to shape the next generation of scholars, poets, and activists.
“She makes students think critically about race, power, and history,” says Dr. Karen Flynn, a professor of Black Canadian Studies. “Her classroom isn’t just about learning—it’s about unlearning the colonial myths Canada has told itself.”
Her impact on education is undeniable. Cooper has led numerous initiatives aimed at integrating Black history into Canadian curricula, ensuring that the realities of slavery, segregation, and Black resistance are acknowledged in schools.
Black History 2025: Recognizing Afua Cooper’s Enduring Influence
As Black History Month 2025 highlights Black pioneers, Cooper’s contributions to academia, literature, and activism continue to resonate.
Her influence can be seen in:
- The growing number of Black Studies programs in Canadian universities.
- The increased recognition of Black Canadian historical figures.
- The rise of dub poetry and spoken word as political tools in Canada.
“She is a beacon,” says Dr. George Elliott Clarke, Canada’s former Poet Laureate. “Afua Cooper doesn’t just document history—she makes it.”
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Afua Cooper?
At a time when anti-Black racism and historical erasure are still pressing issues in Canada, Cooper’s work remains as crucial as ever. She continues to write, research, and mentor, advocating for historical justice and the rightful place of Black Canadians in the national narrative.
“We cannot talk about Canadian history without talking about Black people’s contributions,” Cooper says. “Black history is Canadian history.”
As her legacy grows, so does the movement she helped build. Her work ensures that the stories of Black Canadians will never be forgotten, and that future generations will continue to learn, resist, and create.
“Afua Cooper’s contributions transcend disciplines,” says Robyn Maynard, author of Policing Black Lives. “She is a historian, a poet, an educator, and an activist. She is a force of nature.”
Final Thoughts
As Canada reflects on its Black history, Afua Cooper’s name will undoubtedly stand among the most influential figures of the 21st century. Her work has transformed the way Canadians understand their past, their culture, and their responsibilities toward racial justice. Through history, poetry, and education, she has built a legacy that will endure for generations to come.
“She’s not just a scholar or an artist—she’s a revolutionary,” says Lillian Allen. “Afua Cooper changed Canada, and she’s not done yet.”
References
- Afua Cooper, The Hanging of Angélique: The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montreal
- Desmond Cole, The Skin We’re In
- CBC Archives, Afua Cooper and the Revival of Black Canadian History
- Interviews with Dr. Rinaldo Walcott, Dr. Karen Flynn, Lillian Allen, and George Elliott Clarke
