DCHP-3

African-Canadian

DCHP-3 (Apr 2024)

Spelling variants:
African Canadian

1n.

a Canadian of African descent; a black Canadian.

Type: 1. Origin — African-Canadian is most frequently used in Canada (Chart 1). Together with the related but older form Afro-Canadian, the term has limited the use of black Canadian, a term of long standing, but now used only in about a quarter of all cases (see Chart 2). This change in linguistic preference is linked with the first significant immigration directly from African countries after 1950 (see Canadian Encyclopedia s.v. "African Canadians"). Before then, African-Canadians were descended from people who came north during and after the American Revolution and formed small, self-contained communities in the Maritimes (see, e.g. Poplack and Tagliamonte 2011 for a linguistic study of black Loyalist communities in Nova Scotia). The late 1980s and early 1990s are important in the dissemination and acceptance of the term African-Canadian over other ones. More recently, Afro-Canadian has given way to African-Canadian (see Chart 2), the latter being modelled on African-American, which is recorded at least since 1782; see OED-3).
See also Gage-5, s.v. "African-Canadian", ITP Nelson, s.v. "African-Canadian", COD-2, s.v. "African-Canadian".
Both hyphenated and non-hyphenated spellings are in use, with a recent preference for the non-hyphenated version African Canadian when used as a noun and for the hyphenated African-Canadian when used adjectivally, e.g. African-Canadian culture. The reverse is also seen, however (see Canadian Encyclopedia, s.v. "Black Canadians").

Quotations

1989
As an African Canadian I commend you on your informative article, Police 'hit squad' reports rock South Africa (Nov. 25). This article accurately reflects the atrocities of an apartheid regime. Please keep up the good work. It is also my belief that should a major publication such as The Star show an interest and publish a series on the history, policies and plight of the Canadian native, Canada's politicians would be forced to address this atrocity in our own back yard. Man's inhumanity to man is unacceptable. Globally! CYNTHIA THOMPSON Toronto
1996
As an African-Canadian, I am concerned that I may not see an economically and politically stable Africa in my lifetime.
2015
To restore civility, Tory claimed, he needed to be on the police board himself. Quickly, he jettisoned Councillor Michael Thompson, the board's only African Canadian on a file that has deep ramifications for a community aggrieved by police activities.
2adj.

of or relating to African-Canadian matters.

Type: 1. Origin — See meaning 1.

Quotations

1982
Friday, March 12 African Benefit Gala sponsored by the Overseas Book Centre at 6:30 p.m. in Hart House, U of T. Featured are the African-Canadian Dance Company and traditional West African musicians and vocal artists.
2001
Another reason for this project is to "rescue," so to speak, some of the texts herein, meaning, at the very least, to bring them into the public consciousness, and into the Canadian and African-Canadian literary canons.
2007
Errol Williams, an inspiring documentary filmmaker who championed underdogs and earned acclaim for his narrative on the NHL's first African-Canadian player, died Saturday.
2015
Enjoy African and African Canadian authors through interactive storytelling at the Greenboro branch of the Ottawa Public Library. Kahmaria Pingue makes stories come alive with traditional African songs, dance and drumming.

References

Images

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 30 Oct. 2013

Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 30 Oct. 2013

Chart 2: Percentile comparison, 7 Sep. 2015

Chart 2: Percentile comparison, 7 Sep. 2015