Issues in Crackwalker

[Don Perkins]

Monika,

        Whether The Crackwalker refers to a particular case in Kingston or
not, it can, unfortunately be read in reference to a similar set of
circumstances in Alberta (and probably elsewhere) where a eugenics board
was in operation for some fifty years, and the lawsuits are just now being
settled.  A related play would be Jenny's Story, by Betty Lambert.


On Fri, 2 Feb 2001, Monika Gay wrote:

> Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2001 09:48:48 -0500
> From: Monika Gay <meg11 at CORNELL.EDU>
> To: CANDRAMA at LISTSERV.UNB.CA
> Subject: Issues in Crackwalker
>
> Hello,
>
> I am currently researching Thompson's Crackwalker.  Thompson has written
> that the murder of Danny is based on an actual situation she encountered as
> a social worker in Kingston, but I also remember a situation in Canadian
> politics in the mid 1980s (?) regarding the enforced sterilization of
> retarded women (people?).  Whether or not this debate informed Thompson's
> writing of the play (and I have not read anything to indicate that it has),
> it certainly seems to resonate with it, but I am not being successful in my
> search for information.  I would appreciate any information that list
> members could send to lead me in the right direction.
>
> Please reply to meg11 at cornell.edu.  Thanks.
>
> Monika Gay
> Cornell University