New Black History Month collection launches at U of G Library

The Story is the Spell: Black Folklore, Fantasy, and Freedom, a new online collection curated by the Guelph Black Students Association (GBSA) in collaboration with the McLaughlin Library, has launched at U of G.

The collection explores the power and legacy of Black storytelling through the lenses of folklore, fantasy, and myth,” said Yolanda Grant, co-president, GBSA. “It celebrates how stories rooted in the Black imagination preserve history, challenge oppression, and envision liberated futures.”

Created to honour the depth of Black storytelling, the collection draws attention to the ways folklore and fantasy have been tools of resistance, healing, and empowerment throughout the Black diaspora.

Novels, short stories, and more

Inside the collection you can expect to find a variety of works by Black authors including novels, short stories, and anthologies, alongside works that examine oral traditions, ancestral memory, and speculative reimagining of culture and identity.

A glimpse inside the collection

Black Leopard, Red Wolf, by Marlon James – This novel, written by a Jamaican author, challenges the Western fantasy canon through its rich, nonlinear storytelling and vivid portrayal of power, desire, and survival.

Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi – A groundbreaking West African inspired fantasy that reclaims magic as a metaphor for heritage and liberation, inviting readers to reimagine justice through the lens of Yoruba mythology.

The Rage of Dragons, by Evan Winter - A fast-paced epic fantasy inspired by African history and oral tradition, following a young warrior driven by grief and rage as he challenges cycles of violence, power, and oppression.

An invitation for the U of G community to engage with diverse narratives

As members of the U of G community, you’re invited to engage with these diverse narratives to expand your understanding of history, culture, and belonging. “By centering Black voices in speculative and mythic storytelling, it fosters cultural appreciation, academic curiosity, and dialogue around creativity, identity, and liberation,” said Grant.

Guelph Black Students Association

Founded in 1994, the Guelph Black Students Association is one of the University of Guelph’s oldest student organizations dedicated to representing and uplifting Black students on campus. The association provides a space for community building, advocacy, mentorship, and celebration of Black identity and culture. Each year, the GBSA collaborates with campus partners, including the library, to showcase the diversity, creativity, and resilience within the Black diaspora through events, discussions and cultural programming.

Learn more about what’s happening this year at U of G for Black History Month.

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