Making a Difference

Making a Difference is an anthology of Canadian poetry and fiction, in English, by writers whose ethnic and/or racial origins fall outside of what is commonly seen as the mainstream Anglo-Celtic tradition. The intention of this anthology is to celebrate what we have come to call ethnic minority literature in Canada. Recent institutional, social, and political changes in Canada's cultural climate have made it possible for Canadian ethnic writing to receive the critical and popular attention that it deserves.

In the last few years, some of Canada's most prestigious literary awards have been won by such authors as Rohinton Mistry, Shyam Selvadurai, M.G.

Vassanji, Nino Ricci, Sky Lee, Joy Kogawa and Michael Ondaatje. Evelyn Lau, Austin Clarke, Marlene Nourbese, Claire Harris, Antonio D'Alfonso, Kristjana Gunnars, and George Elliot Clarke are also authors who have won critical acclaim and media attention in the past few years.

Making a Difference is the first comprehensive anthology of ethnic writing in Canada. Its wide scope demonstrates that there is a long and important tradition of ethnic writing whose diversity and high quality warrant national attention and study.