The critically acclaimed novel Washington Black by Canadian author Esi Edugyan has made the leap from page to screen. Adapted as a Hulu original series and now streaming in Canada on Disney Plus, the television version of the Giller Prize-winning novel has sparked conversation about how well it captures the history of Black Canadians.

Set in the 19th century, Washington Black follows George Washington Black, a brilliant boy born into slavery on a sugar plantation in Barbados. His journey spans continents, taking him from the Caribbean to Virginia, Nova Scotia and even the Arctic. Since its publication in 2018, the novel has been celebrated as a modern Canadian classic for its ambitious scope and deeply human storytelling.

But as the TV adaptation unfolds on screen, some viewers and cultural critics are raising concerns about how the show interprets and presents Black Canadian identity and history.

On a recent episode, Nova Scotian culture critic El Jones and television producer Floyd Kane offered their perspectives on the series. Both praised the production values and the fact that filming took place in iconic Nova Scotia locations such as Halifax, Peggy’s Cove and Lunenburg. However, they noted significant gaps in historical accuracy and cultural representation.

Jones appreciated that Halifax is shown as a vital and global city. “We often do not think of ourselves as central to global Blackness and that is a beautiful thing,” she said. Yet she pointed out that the show simplifies the story of Black migration to Nova Scotia.

“The idea that we were the last stop on the Underground Railroad is a loose interpretation at best,” she said, explaining that many Black communities in Nova Scotia have more complex origins rooted in Loyalist and refugee histories rather than Underground Railroad narratives.

Another point of critique was the portrayal of character accents. “It would be nice to actually see what African Nova Scotia is,” Jones added. “We have our own way of speaking and being. That was not represented.”

She suggested that the show was crafted with American audiences in mind, leading to a generic framing of Canada as a land of freedom, without the deeper nuances of Black Canadian life.

Kane echoed those sentiments, expressing a desire to see more authentic depictions of Black community life in Nova Scotia. “There are incredible Black communities that have existed for generations here,” he said. “I would have loved to see the show spend more time within them.”

He also noted that the emotional weight of Washington Black’s journey did not always carry through the series. “It felt like things happened to him, but not always with him,” he said. He speculated that a Canadian production might have brought a greater sense of emotional continuity and historical depth.

Both critics acknowledged the challenge of capturing Canadian history on screen. For stories about Black Canadian communities, they said, the difficulty is even greater.

“This was a chance to tell a story that is rarely told,” said Kane. “I just wish we had gone deeper.”

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  Nova Scotia