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McGill Professor’s Book on Black Liberation Movements in North America
Wins Canada’s Top History Prize
Cross-Border Cosmopolitans: The Making of a Pan-African North America
to receive the Governor General’s History Award for Scholarly Research
WINNIPEG, November 14, 2024 – In exploring Black activism in both Canada and the United States, Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey (Nii Laryea Osabu I, Atrékor Wé Oblahii kè Oblayéé Mantsè) has opened new frontiers for research. His book Cross-Border Cosmopolitans: The Making of a Pan-African North America, is being honoured with the 2024 Governor General’s History Award for Scholarly Research. Adjetey is William Dawson Associate Professor of U.S. and African Diaspora history at McGill University.
This deeply researched book draws on extensive archival records to show how Black North Americans of American, Caribbean, and Canadian descent transcended borders to create Pan-Africanism, a movement aimed at liberating Black people across the Americas and Africa. Adjetey’s focus on lesser-known activists who fostered solidarity and resistance in the face of discrimination, repression, and hostility brings important new narratives together into a transnational story that also highlights the importance of collective action in achieving lasting change.
“To understand the modern world order, one must appreciate the various ways that African peoples—Black people—agitated against racism and imperialism, whether these forces stemmed from Ottawa or Washington, D.C.,” Adjetey said. “That I come from an ancient people for whom knowledge of history is vital to group survival motivated me to write a history that illuminates the extent to which Black people have shaped the Atlantic World, and Canada, believe it or not, is a central site in this fascinating story.”
The award is administered by the Canadian Historical Association (CHA) in partnership with Canada’s National History Society. The CHA praised the book as “a remarkable work” and “a necessary and welcome contribution.” Adjetey will receive the award from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, at an upcoming ceremony. He will also receive a prize of $1,000.
To learn more about the Governor General’s History Awards and the other 2024 recipients, visit CanadasHistory.ca/GGHA2024
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More information:
Claude-Sylvie Lemery
Communications Manager
Canada’s History Society
514 433-3405
cs.lemery@gmail.com
Michel Duquet
Executive Director
Canadian Historical Association
613 233-7885
mduquet@cha-shc.ca
About the Governor General’s History Awards
The Governor General’s History Awards recognize excellence in five categories: Teaching, Museums, Scholarly Research, Community Programming, and Popular Media. Each award category has its own jury, selection process, and prize structure. The Governor General’s History Awards are administered by Canada’s National History Society, in partnership with the Canadian Museums Association and the Canadian Historical Association, and with the support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, and Power Corporation of Canada. Canada’s History Society gratefully acknowledges the support of our community in celebrating the laureates of the Governor General’s History Awards – Rideau Hall Foundation, Power Corporation of Canada, Ecclesiastical Insurance, Aspen Films, The Winnipeg Foundation, The North West Company, Southern Chiefs’ Organization, and The Wilson Foundation.
About the Canadian Historical Association
The Canadian Historical Association seeks to encourage the integration of historical knowledge and perspectives in both the scholarly and public spheres. It does so to ensure the accessibility of historical resources, and to defend the rights and freedoms of emerging and professional historians in the pursuit of historical inquiry as well as those of history degree holders who utilize the analytical, research, communication, and writing skills they acquired during their studies to pursue a variety of career paths inside or outside of academia.
About Canada’s National History Society
Canada’s History Society is a national charitable organization based in Winnipeg that works to connect Canadians through history. Canada’s History Society aims to strengthen understanding of the complex and diverse histories of our country and their part in shaping contemporary Canada. It publishes the magazines Canada’s History and Kayak: Canada’s History Magazine for Kids (available digitally at CanadasHistory.ca), and oversees education and award programs, including the Governor General’s History Awards.