In My Sister’s House is the first volume in the innovative new series, In Words of Our Own: Black Women and Being, a four-book collection of original scholarship by and about Black Canadian women. This series brings together Black feminist thought leaders to explore a range of interrelated topics, with each volume expanding the reach of Black feminist scholarship in Canada.
The first volume In My Sister’s House examines Black feminist theory and praxis as it emerges within Canadian contexts, while remaining in dialogue with global Black feminist traditions. Contributors explore the daily confrontations of anti-Black racism and gendered oppression, while also analyzing community achievements and identifying strategies for moving beyond divisive tactics. This book offers a platform for theorizing every aspect of Black women’s lives, from their historical legacies of enslavement and dehumanization to contemporary experiences of struggle, resistance, and triumph. Through diverse perspectives, it centers the strength and resilience of women of African ancestry and contributes to a growing body of counter-hegemonic discourse grounded in Black women’s activism.
As one of the only collected works grounded in Black women’s scholarship and lived experience in Canada, In Words of our Own is a foundational resource for students, scholars, and activists interested in Black Canadian feminism, gender studies, intersectionality, and social justice grounded in lived experience.
Features:
As one of the first collective volumes of Canadian Black feminist scholarship by and about Black women, this volume breaks new ground and advances feminist thought, research, and scholarship and situates Canadian Black feminisms within global conversations
Features critical thinking questions for each chapter that will aid in facilitating meaningful discussion within and outside the classroom
Drawing from multiple disciplines: history, education, sociology, gender and women’s studies, Black studies, and critical race studies, this book and subsequent collection is an interdisciplinary powerhouse and vital resource across many different programs and courses
Can be utilized as part of the larger series or as a standalone resource
Series Overview Acknowledgments About the Editorial Team
Introduction Njoki N. Wane
Chapter 1 Fundamentals of Black Canadian Feminism Njoki N. Wane
Chapter 2 Black Canadian Feminist Thought: Bridges and Possibilities Ezinwanne Odozor and Janelle Brady
Chapter 3 Remembering Sisters in the Struggle rosalind hampton and Maxine Malcolm
Chapter 4 Seeing the Unseen: Black Women in Canada Jacqueline Benn-John
Chapter 5 Courage Beyond the Silence: Canadian-Caribbean Women’s Lived Experience with Mental Illness Karen Naidoo and Caryl James
Chapter 6 Seeing Differently: Reimagining the Lives of Enslaved Women in Colonial Canada Natasha L. Henry-Dixon
Chapter 7 What’s Strength Got to Do with It?: Unpacking the Image of the “Strong” Black Woman from a Historical Perspective Traci Cook
Chapter 8 Black Women and the Diaspora: Reflections on Racism, Sexism, and Black Feminism, a—A Comparative Perspective (Brazil and Canada) Milena da Costa Edwirges and Gislene Aparecida dos Santos
Chapter 9 A Letter from Black Feminism and Critical Race Theory to Critical Disability Studies Bathseba Opini and Patrick Radebe
Chapter 10 Black Girls in White Spaces: Intersectionality and the Perpetual Search for Humanity Kisha McPherson
Critical Questions
References Contributor Biographies
Biography
Njoki N. Wane, PhD (she/her), is a Professor at the University of Toronto and former Chair of the Department of Social Justice Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) from 2018 to 2024. A respected educator and scholar, she led the Office of Teaching Support at OISE from 2009 to 2012, placing equity at the centre of effective teaching. From 2011 to 2014, she served as Special Advisor on Status of Women Issues, focusing on the intersectionality of gender with race, disability, sexual orientation, and Indigenous identity. She also directed the Centre for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies (CIARS) from 2006 to 2014. Professor Wane is widely recognized for her work in Black feminisms in Canada and Africa, African Indigenous knowledges, anti-colonial and decolonizing education, and African women and spirituality. She has authored or edited 22 books, 59 book chapters, and 35 peer-reviewed journal articles, and has presented at over 300 conferences. She has supervised 61 PhD and 44 Master’s students and served as external examiner for 15 PhD dissertations. Her excellence in teaching and mentorship has earned her numerous awards, including the Harry Jerome Professional Excellence Award, the David E. Hunt Award, the President of Toronto Teaching Award, and many more. She is a prolific and influential voice in education and social justice.
Dr. Janelle Brady, PhD (she/her), is an award-winning Black studies scholar, author, and activist-researcher. Dr. Brady is an Assistant Professor in the School of Early Childhood Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she curates and teaches courses on equity, Black childhoods, and social justice pedagogies. Her research focuses on Black mothering, Blackness in early childhood studies, and Black feminisms. Dr. Brady’s scholarship has been published in Bloomsbury Publishing, Springer, the Journal of Canadian Scholars, SAGE Publications, Demeter Press, and University of Toronto Press. She is the recipient of several awards, including the 2025 Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and the 2022 Viola Desmond Faculty Award—both from Toronto Metropolitan University—as well as the 2021 Emerging Leader Award and the 2019 International Day for the End of Racial Discrimination Award from the University of Toronto. Her expertise has been featured in various media outlets such as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), CityNews, Global News Canada, CP24, and CTV News. She is also the co-founder and director of the Downsview Advocate, a community-based newspaper in Toronto’s north end. Dr. Brady has served as President of the Ontario NDP since 2022 and as a member of the Provincial Executive for several years prior.
Ezinwanne (Ezi) Toochukwu Odozor (she/her) is a writer, higher-education professional, and anti-racist practitioner who works between London, UK, and Toronto, Canada. Her writing—spanning fiction and non-fiction—delves into themes of bodies, identity, culture, gender, race, health, and intimacy. Ezi’s work has appeared in respected journals such as Hypatia, Room Magazine, and Arc Poetry Magazine. She holds an MSc in Psychology from the University of East London and a Master of Education (MEd) and an Honours Bachelor of Science (HBSc) from the University of Toronto. Her interdisciplinary research has focused on race, Black feminisms, anti-colonialism, and radical possibilities within global health and education. Ezi also leads a consulting firm, partnering with individuals and diverse organizations (e.g., The City of Toronto, CBC Kids, ACTRA) to achieve institutional and personal goals. She specializes in leveraging purposeful storytelling and strategic visioning grounded in a collaborative problem-solving approach.
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