Welcome to Litsy!

I'm so, so grateful this book exists. In the last couple of years post reading slump decade, I've been catching up on a number of non-fiction anti-racist resources to further my education. The majority have been USA focused. Up to this point those Canadian resources I've read have been focused on racism experienced by the Indigenous populations of Canada. This is the first I've picked up that focused primarily on the Black Canadian experience. 1/2

This is a book every Canadian needs to read. I knew about some of these things, but the detail and information he gives shines a whole new light on it. I was shocked, horrified, angered, disappointed, disturbed and informed. Excellent book

The author, Desmond Cole, chronicles Canada in 2017 and the struggle against racism in law enforcement, schools, society. Canadians often say we aren‘t like the US but we are. We need to wake up and this book is an excellent place to start. We need to admit to racism and take ownership of our learning and commit to change.

I wore this bracelet stack today while grocery shopping and listening to The Skin We‘re In. I was so engrossed I did not notice losing the centre bracelet 🤦🏻‍♀️ we have a lot of work to do.

Started this while driving around to pick up the decorating ingredients for this “camp cake”, my youngest has managed a socially distant friend group of 5 over the last year of peeps he works with at summer camp. Today one of them celebrates a birthday and I thought this cake was perfect. Here‘s to birthdays celebrated around a fire in the backyard with cake and good friends

5 🌟 I read this in one day. It was so compelling and because it was about experiences in Canada, it definitely hit close to home and opened my eyes to the way we Canadians love to position ourselves as better than (or “not as bad“ as America), which is unhelpful and is a way of denying what is really happening. This book included stories that made me put the book down and really sit with and examine my privilege, and I highly recommend it.

February reading leans into #Blackhistorymonth #amreading #books #reading

This is a thought-provoking book about racism, Black history, and the BLM movement in Canada. Cole also talks about Indigenous issues in Canada and how they relate to Black activism. #NFN2020 #NonfictionNovember

My 4th completed book for #NovelNovember! @Andrew65

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

O, Canada🥺😱

Finally got to finish this after having to wait to get the #audiobook from the library again after my time ran out! A riveting, enfuriating, passionate book. It follows the year 2017 in Desmond Cole's life as a Black activist/journalist in Toronto. He covers a variety of issues: cops in schools and Pride, police brutality, immigration injustice, integrating the struggles of Indigenous people. A must-read. Excellent audiobook read by the author.

I‘m reeling. I‘m in shock. Cole covers a year of Black resistance to blatant injustices. Covering a month of 2017 in each chapter, this book examines immigration laws, police in schools, police brutality, Canadian war crimes, illegal carding/detention... that minorities face on a DAILY basis. The list is endless. My white privilege was apparent in each action that I‘ve never had to face. I wish everyone could say the same.

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I‘m nearing the halfway point of this book, and I can‘t count how many times I‘ve been disgusted by the behaviours Cole, and others, have faced; how shocked I am at events described.... and how sad I am that I don‘t know these events happened. I should know.

This book was very powerful. It‘s fuel to keep the fight going and I‘m so glad I read it.

This is a collection of essays about racism in Canada and specifically Toronto, where I live.

“I remember wanting to escape the year 2016 like a kid in a haunted house, dashing from whatever real or imagined demon was chasing me. Running into empty space, terrified to look back—that was 2016.”
#FirstLineFridays

"This idea that Canada's racial injustices are not as bad as they could be, this notion of slavery lite, of racism lite, of what my friend calls the toy version of racism, is a very Canadian way of saying 'Remember what we could do to you, if we wanted to.' "

#CanLit #AwesomeAudiobooks #BlackBooks #BlackVoices #BlackLivesMatter

Vigorous exploration and condemnation of all the forms anti-Black #racism can take. Cole, like me, lives in Toronto and dedicates each chapter to oppression Black people experienced here during the months of 2017. He puts the issues in historical context, including police violence, discrimination against newcomers, policing in schools, systemic racism in police and govt, LGBT issues, and more.
#Nonfiction2020 #socialmovement #BlackLivesMatter

A powerful indictment of anti-black racism in Canada. Month by month in 2017, each chapter focuses on an individual example of injustice & places that within the larger contemporary & historical context. Engaging, eye-opening, infuriating, moving and inspiring. This book is for all Canadians, especially those of us who are white. #Audiobook read by the author. #readBlackAuthors #canadianAuthor

June stats:
I read 24 books this month, of which 16 were in audio format and 4 were in ebook format and 4 in print.
As far as content:
Written by Indigenous, Black or other People of Colour: 15
Written by women: 14
Canadian: 9
Graphic novel: 1
Poetry: 1

#readingstats

#audiocrafting today. The tagged book is powerful and requires time between each chapter to reflect.

#audiogardening

Canadians are so polite, we hesitate to brag about how well we‘ve stolen this land. Ours is a humble colonialism.

This is stunning so far friends!! Each chapter covers ONE MONTH in the year 2017 of racism and discrimination in Canada.