Sam Forster
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Sam Forster | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 17, 1996 Edmonton, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian, American |
| Education | University of Alberta , University of Toronto |
| Occupation(s) | writer, journalist, cultural critic and war correspondent |
Samuel Forster is a Canadian American journalist and cultural critic whose 2024 book, Americosis, was awarded the Sutherland House Prize for non-fiction.[1][2]
Early life and education
[edit]Forster studied at the University of Alberta where he received his bachelor of arts degree. He later moved to Toronto and earned a master's degree from the University of Toronto.[3]
While in Toronto, Forster was a graduate associate at the centre for ethics where he researched the application of neuroscientific evidence in criminal court proceedings.[4]
Career
[edit]Forster has contributed to various print and digital publications, including Canada's National Observer[5] and City & State, primarily writing about culture and economic affairs.[6]
In 2022, Forster moved to Argentina and began working as a reporter for The Buenos Aires Times, an English-language newspaper owned by Perfil.[7]
During the spring of 2023, Forster travelled throughout Ukraine, covering the Russo-Ukrainian War as a correspondent for The National Post[8] and Unherd[9]
In the aftermath of the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, while reporting on pro-Palestine demonstrations in Montreal, Forster published video footage that became the centre of controversy in the Canadian media.[10] Responding to the footage, Canadian Minister of Immigration Marc Miller released a public statement expressing serious concern: "Disgusted and ashamed to see these scenes glorifying death and terror, in Montreal, the city I love and the city I represent. Hamas is a terrorist organization and nobody should glorify their bloody cowardly violence."[11] Alberta member of parliament Mike Lake also responded to the footage, condemning the protestors.[12]
Americosis
[edit]In 2024, It was marked the publication of Forster's first full-length book: Americosis. Forster's manuscript was selected by Sutherland House as the winner of the firm's inaugural non-fiction prize, an award that Sutherland House president Kenneth Whyte announced in response to a lack of support for non-fiction projects by the Canada Council.[13]
The American Spectator praised Americosis for its creative ambition, noting that "like the documentarian Frederick Wiseman, Forster possesses a kind of cinema verité style for his subject."[14]
In the pages of The American Conservative, Harry Scherer offered strong critical praise: "A blend of cultural analysis, data collection, and bright journalistic color, Forster offers a delicate treatment of coarse content."[15]
Seven Shoulders
[edit]Forster's second book, Seven Shoulders: Taxonomizing Racism in Modern America, generated significant international controversy upon its announcement.[16][17][18] The book is a modern adaptation of John Howard Griffin's Black Like Me, an immersive work of creative non-fiction published in 1961.[19]
References
[edit]- ^ Posted, Bob Armstrong (2023-01-28). "Transit rides land author book prize". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ Forster, Sam (2024-05-30). Seven Shoulders: Taxonomizing Racism in Modern America. Slaughterhouse Media. ISBN 979-8-218-43305-5.
- ^ Maimann, Kevin (June 2, 2024). "Black scholars criticize white writer's 'dehumanizing' use of blackface to write book on U.S. race relations". CBC Canada.
- ^ Chen, Stacy S.; McCoy, Liam G.; Forster, Samuel; Brenna, Connor T. A.; Lipsman, Nir; Das, Sunit (2022-01-02). "Continuums of Capacity, Binaries of Guilt: The Sociopolitical Role of Neuroethics in Criminal Justice". AJOB Neuroscience. 13 (1): 25–28. doi:10.1080/21507740.2021.2001082. ISSN 2150-7740. PMID 34931954. S2CID 245354989.
- ^ Forster, Samuel. "Samuel Forster | Canada's National Observer: Climate News". www.nationalobserver.com. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "Samuel Forster - CSNY". City & State New York. 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ "Beyond Local: Alberta writer defends donning blackface for new book after intense backlash". Rocky Mountain Outlook. 2024-05-31. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
- ^ Forster, Samuel (July 29, 2023). "Canadian demining equipment joins battle against unexploded ordnance in Ukraine". The National Post.
- ^ Albuquerque, Jenel Treza (Jun 1, 2024). "Who Is Sam Forster? 'Seven Shoulders' Author Slammed For Disguising As Black Man". Times Now World.
- ^ Hopper, Tristin (October 11, 2023). "FIRST READING: The 'pro-Palestinian' rallies that explicitly celebrated mass-murder". The National Post.
- ^ Miller, Marc (October 8, 2023). "X Post".
- ^ Lake, Mike (October 8, 2023). "X post".
- ^ Whyte, Kenneth (July 2, 2022). "Kenneth Whyte: Canada Council is abusing its mandate with its bonkers exclusion of fact-based nonfiction". The National Post.
- ^ Larson, Thomas. "Americosis: Riding to Nowhere ... In Public - The American Spectator | USA News and PoliticsThe American Spectator | USA News and Politics". The American Spectator | USA News and Politics. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- ^ Scherer, Harry (2024-05-08). "America's Public Transit Nightmare". The American Conservative. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ Wise, Alana (June 7, 2024). "With Maybelline Mocha and an Afro wig, white author explores 'Blackness' in a new book". NPR.
- ^ Marcus, Josh (2024-05-30). "Backlash after white writer publishes book about traveling US 'disguised as black man'". The Independent. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ Callas, Brad. "Twitter Rips White Writer Who 'Disguised' Himself as Black Man for Book on Race". Complex. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ Reporter, Mandy Taheri Weekend (2024-05-29). "White journalist who "disguised" himself as Black faces backlash". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-05-30.