As a Black writer, I often feel an internal pressure to make my writing palatable to white readers -- a "you don't want to be the angry Black guy" moment each time I open my laptop.

The pressure increases whenever I come face-to-face with the reality that there are limited spaces for Black writers in Canada. I've heard some Black writers say that there's enough room for three Black writers: two who consistently remain in the spotlight and a third that switches out between award galas.

Others say that the number is five, or two, or one. It's never more than seven spots. It's never enough to capture even a fraction of the diverse Black identities, experiences, and ideas that span the Canadian landscape.