"Flight to Canada" was one of the required reading for one of my literature classes. One debate that came up regularly during class discussions was whether Canada is used by Reed as a literal place or a metaphor as a "state of mind". There are solid arguments for both based on the text.For me, it became clear how fuzzy our history lessons were in grade school. We were taught how slaves escaped to Canada. But that's where the story usually ends. Happily Ever After in Canada. Ishmael Reed reminds the reader that there is more to the story.