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Clarke george elliott (1)

George Elliott Clarke. Courtesy Canadian Books and Authors.

George Elliott Clarke, OC (born February 12, 1960) is a Canadian poet and playwright. His work largely explores and chronicles the experience and history of the Black Canadian community of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, creating a cultural geography that Clarke refers to as "Africadia".

Life[]

Family[]

Clarke is a 7th-generation African Canadian, descended from African American refugees from the War of 1812 who escaped to the British and were relocated to Nova Scotia. He is a great-nephew of Canadian opera singer Portia White, politician Bill White, and labor union leader Jack White.

Youth and education[]

Born to William and Geraldine Clarke in Three Mile Plains, Nova Scotia, Clarke has spent much of his career writing about the black communities of that province.

Clarke earned a B.A. honors degree in English from the University of Waterloo in 1984, an M.A. degree in English from Dalhousie University in 1989, and a Ph.D. degree in English from Queen’s University in 1993.[1]

Career[]

Clarke worked as a parliamentary assistant to Howard McCurdy, MP, in Ottawa.[2] He also taught for a time in the African-American Studies department at Duke University.

Clarke is a sought-after conference speaker and is active in poetry circles.

Clarke was recognized for collecting and promoting stories of African writers and poets. He lives in Toronto and began teaching Canadian and African diasporic literature in 1999 at University of Toronto.

He views “Africadian” literature as “literal and liberal — I canonize songs and sonnets, histories and homilies.” [3] Clark has stated that he found further writing inspiration in the 1970s and his “individualist poetic scored with implicit social commentary” came from the ‘Gang of Seven’ intellectuals, “poet-politicos: jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, troubadour-bard Bob Dylan, libertine lyricist Irving Layton, guerilla leader and poet Mao Zedong, reactionary modernist Ezra Pound, black Power orator Malcolm X and the Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau.”[4] Though flawed, Clarke found “as a whole, the group’s blunt talk, suave styles, acerbic independence, raunchy macho, feisty lyricism, singing heroic and a scarf-and-beret chivalry quite, well, liberating.”[4]

Writing[]

Clarke’s literary emphasis is on the perspectives of the African descendents in Canada and Nova Scotia, focusing on the African American slaves’ descendents who settled in the East coast of Nova Scotia, whom he calls “Africadian.” He writes that it is a word that he “minted from “Africa” and “Acadia” (the old name for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick), to denote the Black populations of the Maritimes and especially of Nova Scotia”.[5] Clarke maintains that Africadians originated in 1783 and 1815, when Black Loyalists and refugees arrived in Nova Scotia.[2]

Clarke continues to address and challenge the historic encounters with racism, segregated areas, discrimination, hatred, forced relocation and a loss of a sense of identity and a sense of belonging experienced by the Black descendents though they had settled in Canada for hundreds of years. Black immigrations to and within Canada have been compared to a biblical journey beginning with Lamentations and ending with Exodus.[6]

Similarly, Clarke explores specific beliefs, longings and experience of oppression and resistance, the desire for safety, freedom, equality and other basic human rights, shared among the immigrants, historically and contemporarily. In his anthology Fire On The Water Clarke uses biblical timeline, Genesis, Psalms and Proverbs and Revelation to present Black writings and authors born within a specific period. These names reflect the Africadians’ and other Black peoples’ forebears and the first singers' own preferences for singing “the Lord’s song in this strange land.”[7]

Clarke is known for his lyrical style and his other intellectual contributions involve his ability to combine literary criticism and theatrical forte and his continuance of the themes of cultural inclusiveness and Canadian iconic symbolism. In his 2007 play Trudeau: Long March, Shining Path, Clark features his Liberal hero Trudeau (1919–2000) describing him as “the Shakespearean character: … He’s a figure about whom it is almost impossible to say anything definitive, because he is encompassed by so many contradictions but that’s what makes him interesting.” In presenting a multicultural Trudeau on the international stage, Clarke seeks to capture the human dimensions, the personality of Trudeau rather than his politics so as to emphasize the dialogues among key characters to “show the people as people not just exponents of ideas”.[8]

Recognition[]

Poetlaureate banner

George Elliott Clarke, Toronto's 4th Poet Laureate. Courtesy City of Toronto

Clarke has received honorary degrees from Dalhousie University (LL.D.), the University of New Brunswick (Litt.D.), the University of Alberta (Litt.D.), and the University of Waterloo (Litt.D.).[1]

In 2001 Clarke won the Governor General's Award for poetry for his book Execution Poems.[1]

Clarke's Whylah Falls won the 1991 Archibald Lampman Award for poetry.[9] Wylah Falls was also chosen for the CBC's inaugural Canada Reads competition in 2002, where it was championed by author Nalo Hopkinson.[10]


Clarke was a featured writer/instructor at the 2007 Maritime Writers' Workshop & Literary Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

On 16 January 2008 Clarke was made an honorary Fellow of the Haliburton Literary Society]], the oldest literary society in North America, at the University of King's College, Halifax. He was also inducted as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2008.

In 2009 Clarke was a co-recipient of the William P. Hubbard Award for Race Relations from the City of Toronto for his outstanding achievements and commitment in making a distinct difference in racial relations in Toronto. Clarke was cited for "his local and national leadership role in creating an understanding and awareness of African and black culture and excellence in his contribution to redefining culture.”

In December 2012, Clarke was appointed Toronto's 4th Poet Laureate.

Awards[]

  • 1979: Honourable Mention, Atlantic Writing Competition (Adult Poetry), Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia
  • 1981: First Prize, Atlantic Writing Competition (Adult Poetry), Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia
  • 1983: Second Prize, Bliss Carman Poetry Award, Banff Centre
  • 1991: Archibald Lampman Award for Poetry, Ottawa Independent Writers
  • 1998: Portia White Prize, Nova Scotia Arts Council
  • 1998:Bellagio Centre Fellow, Rockefeller Foundation, New York City
  • 1999: Alumni Achievement Award, University of Waterloo
  • 2002: Governor General's Award for Poetry, for Execution Poems
  • National Magazine Gold Award for Poetry
  • 2004: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Achievement Award, Black Theatre Workshop
  • 2006: Pierre Elliott Trudeau Fellowship Prize, Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
  • 2006: Dartmouth Book Award for Fiction
  • 2006: Frontieras Poesis Premuil [Prize], Poesis Magazine, International Poetry Festival, Satu Mare, Romania
  • 2006: Order of Nova Scotia
  • 2007: Longlisted for the IMPAC Award, for George and Rue
  • 2008: Officer of the Order of Canada[11]
  • 2009: Shortlisted, Dartmouth Book Award for Fiction
  • 2010: Shortlisted, Acorn-Plantos Award for People’s Poetry

Publications[]

Poetry[]

  • Saltwater Spirituals and Deeper Blues. Porter’s Lake, NS: Pottersfield Press, 1983. ISBN 0-919001-12-2
  • Whylah Falls. Winlaw, BC: Polestar Press, 1990. ISBN 0-919591-57-4
    • (2nd edition) Vancouver: Polestar Books, 2000. ISBN 1-896095-50-X
    • (3rd edition) Wolfville, NS: Gaspereau Press, 2010.
  • Provençal Songs. Ottawa: Magnum Book Store, 1993.
  • Lush Dreams, Blue Exile: Fugitive poems, 1978-1993. Lawrencetown Beach, NS: Pottersfield Press, 1994. ISBN 0-919001-83-1
  • Provençal Songs II. Ottawa: Above/ground Press, 1997.
  • Gold Indigoes. Durham, NS: Carolina Wren Press, 2000. ISBN 0-932112-40-4
  • Execution Poems: The Black Acadian Tragedy of George and Rue. Execution Poems. Wolfville , N.S.: Gaspereau Press, 2001. ISBN 1-894031-48-2
  • Blue. Vancouver: Raincoat Books, 2001. Poetry. ISBN 1-55192-414-5
  • Illuminated Verses. Toronto: Canadian Scholar Press—Kellom, 2005. ISBN 1-55130-280-2
  • Black. Vancouver: Raincoast Books, 2006. ISBN 1551929031
  • The Gospel of X, a poem, Montreal: Vallum Society for Arts & Letters Education, 2010.

Plays[]

  • Whylah Falls: The Play. Toronto: Playwrights Canada Press, 1999. ISBN 0-88754-565-3
    • also published in Testifyin’: Contemporary African-Canadian drama Vol. 1. (edited by Djanet Sears). Toronto: Playwrights Canada Press, 2000.
  • Beatrice Chancy. Victoria: Polstar Books, 1999. ISBN 1-896095-94-1
  • Québécité: A jazz fantasia in three cantos. Kentville, NS: Gaspereau Press, 2003. ISBN 1-894031-74-1
  • Trudeau: Long march, shining path. Kentville, NS: Gaspereau Press, 2007.[12] ISBN 1-55447-037-4

Novels[]

Non-fiction[]

  • Eyeing the North Star: Perspectives of African-Canadian literature. Washington, DC: Canadian Embassy, 1997. Monograph.
  • Treason of the Black Intellectuals? Seagram Lecture, 1998. Montreal: McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, 1999. Monograph.
  • Odysseys Home: Mapping African-Canadian literature. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2002. Essays and reviews.

Edited[]

  • Fire on the Water: An anthology of black Nova Scotian writing, Volume One. Lawrencetown Beach, NS: Pottersfield Press, 1991. ISBN 0-919001-67-X
  • Fire on the Water: An anthology of black Nova Scotian writing, Volume Two. Lawrencetown Beach, NS: Pottersfield Press, 1992. ISBN 0-919001-71-8
  • A Lifetime of Making: Ralph and Ada Cromwell. Halifax: Mount Saint Vincent University Art Gallery, 1992. Essays.
  • Border Lines: Contemporary poetry in English (edited by Eds. J.A. Wainwright, Clarke, Ruth Grogan, Victor Li, R. Ross, A. Wallace). Toronto: Copp-Clark, 1995.
  • Eyeing the North Star: Directions in African-Canadian literature. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1997. ISBN 0-7710-2125-9
  • The Dalhousie Review (guest editor). Africadian Special Issue. 77.2 (summer, 1997), 1999.
George_Elliott_Clarke_at_Reading_for_the_Love_of_It_2014

George Elliott Clarke at Reading for the Love of It 2014

George_Elliott_Clarke,_Toronto's_Poet_Laureate,_reads_from_Red

George Elliott Clarke, Toronto's Poet Laureate, reads from Red


Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy Athabasca University.[13].

Audio / video[]

  • Lush Dreams, Blue Exile (cassette). Porters Lake, NS: Pottersfield Soundtracks, 1994.
  • Whylah Falls (cassette). Fredericton, NB: BTC Audiobooks, 2001.


Except where noted, discographical information courtesy WorldCat.[14]

See also[]

Preceded by
Dionne Brand
Poet Laureate of Toronto
2013-2016
Succeeded by

References[]

Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 George Elliott Clarke, CanLit Poets, Canadian Literature, Web, July 6, 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Kamboureli, Smaro (1996). Making a Difference: Canadian Multicultural Literature. Toronto, Oxford University Press
  3. Clarke, George Elliott, Fire On The Water: Anthology of Black Nova Scotian Writing, Volume One. (1991). Pottersfield Press. Porters Lake, Nova Scotia
  4. 4.0 4.1 http://www.gaspereau.com
  5. Clarke, George Elliott, Fire On The Water: Anthology of Black Nova Scotian Writing, Volume One (1991)
  6. Tracey, Lindalee (1999). A Scattering of Seeds: The Creation of Canada. Toronto: McArthur & Company
  7. Clarke, George Elliott, Fire On The Water: Anthology of Black Nova Scotian Writing, Volume One (1991)
  8. (http://www.cbc.ca/arts/stroy/2006/07/12)
  9. Laurence Steven, Whylah Falls, Canadian Encyclopedia, December 15, 2013, Historica Canada.Web, Mar. 8, 2019.
  10. Whylah Falls, Canada Reads, CBC. Web, Mar. 8, 2019.
  11. "Governor General Announces New Appointments to the Order of Canada". http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=5447. 
  12. "George Elliott Clarke," Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Web, July 1, 2012.
  13. Bibliography of Works by George Elliott Clarke, English-Canadian Writers, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, Athabasca University, Web, July 1, 2012.
  14. Search results = au:George Elliot Clarke + Audiobook, World Cat, OCLC Online Computer Library Center Inc. Web, Sep. 9, 2015.

External links[]

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