TORONTO – Every year during Freedom to Read Week, the Writers' Union of Canada gives out the Freedom to Read Award, which honors a member of the Canadian literary scene for their courage and grace "under fire." On February 28, acclaimed author Lawrence Hill will become its 12th recipient.
Hill wrote "The Book of Negroes" ("Someone Knows My Name" in the United States, Australia and New Zealand), a bestselling novel inspired by a little known historical document, which lists the names of 3,000 Black Loyalists who sided with the British during the American Revolution and were to be transported to Nova Scotia.
Last year, Roy Groenburg, a Dutchman of Surinamese descent, took offense at the use of the word 'Negro' in the title of the book. He decided to burn the cover and publicly threatened to do the same with the novel.
Hill offered to speak to Groenburg and wrote an op-ed piece in The Toronto Star:
Burning books is designed to intimidate people. It underestimates the intelligence of readers, stifles dialogue and insults those who cherish the freedom to read and write. The leaders of the Spanish Inquisition burned books. Nazis burned books.
[...]
Rather than flinching from a document that addresses the history of African people, Mr. Groenberg should put down their matches, respect freedom of speech, and enter into a civil conversation about slavery, freedom and contemporary language.
"It is important that during Freedom to Read Week we recognize individuals such as Lawrence Hill who speak out against challenges to this freedom," says Greg Hollingshead, Chair of the Writers' Union of Canada.
Hill will receive his award at the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom to Read event in Toronto.
Previous recipients of the Freedom to Read Award include Senator Lorna Milne (1999), Janine Fuller (2002), Clayton C. Ruby (2003), Peter Carver (2004), Wendy Lill (2005), Charles Montpetit (2006), Evie Freedman (2007), Derek Finkle (2008), Nancy Fleming (2009), Alan Borovoy (2010), and John Raulston Saul (2011).
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Cendrine Marrouat may be contacted for potential interviews, reviews and general enquiries at info@cendrinemarrouat.com. Website: www.cendrinemarrouat.com.
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