“The Biggest Mistake You Ever Made Was Thinking That Nobody Cared about Me”: The Representation of Black Lives in Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers

Abstract:In this review of the 2022 performance of Our Fathers, Sons, Lovers and Little Brothers, Andrea A. Davis and Carl E. James, from their respective disciplines in Black literary and cultural studies, education, and sociology, engage in a conversation about Makambe K. Simamba’s play. In their conversation, they unpack questions about Black spirituality, the social construction of gender as a raced category, and the difficulty of articulating anti-Black racism in Canada. Their conversation is framed by a critical analysis that locates the play’s action within an understanding of Black community that exceeds national and geographical boundaries, connecting Black experiences in the United States and Canada.