Issue 8 2016

Why We Celebrate Black History Month

Issue 88 Volume 63

WE

Celebrate so we do not

FORGET THE PAST, so that we

ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENT and so that we

MAKE CHANGE

IN THE FUTURE Cover Design by Jacqui MccCarty

Relevance

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WHAT’S INSIDE

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4. The Panel 9. Interview with Pauline Christian 13. What is it like being in an interracial relationship?

14, When did you realize the colour of your skin?

Media

creative

17. Playlist: Black Excellence

18. I Should Have.

20. I Have Dreams Though I’ve Seen Storm Clouds 21. Equality 23. Black Men

Staff

EDITORS THIS ISSUE

editor-in-chief Rebekah Maurice

Creative editor shenda chimwaso

Creative editor jendayi ferary

CONTRIBUTORS

Media editor bianca baston

Keith Sharan

life editor ashia lennon

Victoria sharan

relevance editor rechelle smith

illustrator jacqui mccarty

Pauline christian

Ambra Greaves

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Relevance

Your Questions, ThE Panel

Ashia Lennon

Pastor Adam Deibert

Cheri Notice

Jacqui McCarty

Rebekah Maurice

Rechelle Smith

Pastor Cecile Moody

We put out a poll this week basically asking what questions do you have about Black History Month, and about each other? We got some interesting questions in return and decided that they all boiled down to about 5 or 6 questions. In response to these questions we organized a panel to answer them, what you will read below is excerpts from the dialogue that ensued.

The main questions were; What is Black History Month celebrating? Why would you want to continually remember something as dark as slavery? Why can’t we just bury the hatchet? Why do we still celebrate Black History Month? Could we change it from Black History Month to Oppressive History Month and include all cultures? As a white person why do I have to be guilted because of my ancestors?Why do some people of colour discriminate against (Caucasian) people who would like to enjoy their cultures and languages? Why are people afraid of admitting racism still happens today?

“Why do we celebrate Black History Month? Why do we celebrate Easter, Remembrance day, Martin Luther King, Japanese memorial day? None of those are positive things to be remembering, they are all tragic.”

cess. A lot of people think why is there a Black History Month but not a Japanese month or a Chinese month, anyone can have one they just have to go through the same process, no one is stopping anyone else from having one.”

“We celebrate it so that we don’t forget what has happened and so that it doesn’t get repeated”

“But if I am diagnosed with breast cancer and I support the cause and I fill my Facebook with the cause no one is going to get upset that I’m not posting about pancreas cancer. So what is your issue with Black History Month?”

“Well also because it is not getting taught. It’s not being taught in schools, people seem to think that we were given Black History Month. That’s not how it happened. Carter fought for it, it was a day, then a week then a month. It was not a government mandate it was brought about by regular people who felt there was a need, they submitted a bill they went through the pro-

“No one forces you to celebrate it, you’re not mandated to come. But why would you not want to join in any kind of celebration that broadens your life? It seems to be believed that we just don’t have something to add. Just join

, Our Answers in and have fun, you would enjoy Ukranian fest or Chinese New Year, just join in the celebration.”

“I think the problem is this generation just doesn’t get it. They are disconnected, they lack empathy. They can’t connect to something in the past that happened to someone who doesn’t look like them. I’m not asking you to become a black person I’m asking you to emphasize. You understand what pain is, I am in pain, you know that feeling, just acknowledge and understand what I am feeling. It’s a cop out to say I’m not you so I don’t understand, you can emphasize if you open your mind.”

“WE DON’T CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED, IT WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BE JUST ABOUT SLAVERY, we talk about that because it’s the only thing

everyone knows about. It was intended to teach children that their people weren’t born slaves, they were born Kings and Queens.”

“But it seems like people just don’t know” “But in this day and age you are choosing not to know consciously or unconsciously. It is easier to know than not know, the information is out there” “This generation though doesn’t understand the distinction between ‘I don’t know’ and ‘I don’t understand’. If they do not understand something they say they don’t know. And then it turns into ‘what I don’t know is not important’” “People need to stop speaking on behalf of a group of people that you are not a part of. It’s as if you need more educated other people to speak on your behalf. I’m not a disabled person I would never speak on their behalf that wouldn’t be okay so why is it okay to speak on the behalf of black people.”

“ONE

OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IS BLACK HISTORY DOESN’T HAVE A SPACE. IT IS NOT MEMORIALIZED, PEOPLE HAVE WEDDINGS ON PLANTATIONS AND SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, you would

never see someone have a wedding at Auschwitz, it isn’t okay.

So why is it okay to have one at a plantation. But there is no set spot where it happened, there isn’t one landing space we landed everywhere. I just want to mark it somewhere, to acknowledge

that it really did happen.”

“We trace the consequences for other things but not for slavery. But systematic racism still exist. Stereotypes of “lazy” and “ghetto”. Black people are charged 5% more on cars and apartments and have jobs that are paying 20% less.”

“And reparations, after the holocaust Jews were given reparations, now natives are receiving reparations, you know who received reparations after slavery? The slave owners, to make up for their ‘lost property’.”

“But even the current black generation doesn’t get it.”

“There’s a disconnection, BHM isn’t about reminding white people what they did it’s reminding black people of a history they can be proud of.”

“As a black person society today teaches you to hate yourself and your history. You want to distance yourself from it and assimilate.”

“Part of the problem is we are the only set of people who do not have a history. We can not go back to a place. When they took slaves they intentionally split people up, they grouped together people from different regions who couldn’t speak each other’s language so that they didn’t know where they were from. There was no more set family group or history, family was whoever was around you. You didn’t have roots. We don’t have a history so we have to create it, we have to recreate a new history.”

“Now there’s stereotypes, the angry black person, this generation doesn’t want to associate with that, they are trying to assimilate with the people that are doing well. They don’t want labels, no take your label, you’re black be proud.”

“I remember the first time someone called me a ‘nigger’.”

“You always thing that you’ll have a comeback, that you’ll retaliate but its deflating, you feel like you’re three years old, you loose all power and you’re frozen.”

“As a white person I know that the biggest problem white people have with BHM is they feel it is antagonizing them. That they are being held responsible for something they didn’t do or something their family didn’t do but the fact is whether you didn’t or they didn’t you are living in a society where you are still reaping the benefits of slavery, of oppression. Anyone

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who comes here for a better life is reaping those benefits, because someone somewhere has to step on someone else so that you can have this opportunity now. OUR

RESPONSIBILITY NOW IS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE, TO REALIZE AM I STILL PART OF THE PROBLEM? AM I STILL BENEFITING FROM THIS? WHAT ARE THE VESTIGES THAT STILL REMAIN FROM THE TIME OF SLAVERY? AND WHAT CAN I DO SO THAT WE FINALLY SHED THE LAST OF IT? HOW CAN WE MAKE IT BETTER FOR THE NEXT GENERATION?” “But I don’t need to wait for the other to change, as a Christian it is my duty to reach across that line. I might be the only black person you will ever meet but you’re going to meet me. The hurt that I have had I can’t put that on all white people, we might each be afraid of each other but we have to reach across the table so that we can get to know each other. I can’t wait for anyone else, I’m putting the responsibility on myself.”

“Why are Caucasians discriminated against? It goes back to our fear of each other.”

“CAN WE JUST SEE PEOPLE? CAN YOU SEE ME NOW? CAN YOU SEE ME FOR WHO I AM? CAN YOU SEE ME THE WAY GOD SEES ME?” “Caucasians are allowed to be individuals, to have a spectrum of emotion but if you’re a person of colour than you’re obviously this or that. BHM brings out our individuality.”

“And I’ve hear my friends told “you’re not really black” if they don’t fit the stereotype that has been constructed of them.”

“If you’re white and you do something wrong it’s seen as an individual flaw and not a collective trait, that’s the difference.”

“There’s this idea that as long as you work hard you can make it but that isn’t true for everyone. When you’re born you’re given a privilege backpack, some people have multiple. It’s a head start. It’s not something you can help but it is there.”

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“I KNOW THAT WE CAN ONLY BEAT IGNORANCE WITH LOVE. PEOPLE NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS AND WE NEED TO ANSWER, WE NEED TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.”.

“I’ve heard it said that when white people are scared of BHM they are scared, scared that I would react the way that I deserve, scared I would react with righteous indignation. Scared that I would react the way you would. “ “I hate when people say things aren’t really going to change till Jesus comes back.”

“Then they don’t know the character of God. He is a God of love and justice” “Jesus isn’t coming back to change things, Jesus won’t come back until we change.”

“Until our church begins to fight against the injustices of the world we will continue to remain irrelevant. We are literally 20 and 30 years behind the rest of the world, on everything. We have become literally irrelevant and our church will be debunked and God will allow that message to pass from our church to another church which is willing to be relevant. It’s not about black people, its about injustice and what can we do to remain relevant.

We have to fight the evil that oppresses anybody, any group any choice whether we agree with it or not….

IT’S NOT ABOUT BEING RELEVANT TO BE RELEVANT WE HAVE TO BE RELEVANT BECAUSE JESUS WAS RELEVANT. He loved

and sat with the oppressed...Fight oppression, if you do people will join you, I don’t have time to wait for people to get it. Just do. But we can’t just keep having this conversation about why Black History Month because there are greater conversations to be had. It’s like asking if the tulip festival should happen again this year, its irrelevant, we’re having irrelevant conversations to mask the relevant conversations that. The irrelevant conversation is why Black History Month the relevant conversation is deep seated discrimination that we all have towards each other.

That’s what we need to talk about. Can we get past the irrelevant and be authentic people who can acknowledge who we are. I refuse to wait for things to change for me to be different, you can be part of the change or you can stay behind”

I WAS RAISED TO BELIEVE THAT

excellence

IS THE BEST DETERRENT TO RACISM AND SEXISM. AND THAT’S HOW I OPERATE MY LIFE. - OPRAH WINFREY

IDENTITY IS A PRISON

you can never escape, but the way to redeem your past is

NOT TO RUN FROM IT, but to try to understand it, and use it as a

foundation TO GROW. - JAY Z

Relevance

Interview with Pauline Christian WHY IS THIS YOUR CHURCH? I was born into the Seventh-day Adventist, “Sabbath Keeping” Christian community, that believes in the Second “Advent” Coming of Jesus Christ. At an early age of eleven I found out who Jesus is for myself, and got baptized and accepted the Trinity into my life. I have never left the church since, albeit at times my faith may have wandered in my 20’s, due to lack of understanding of God’s Plan for my life. Today,I am very happy that I stayed the course. I am so fortunate to be chosen by God and my parents to inherit this rich Seventh-day Adventist heritage of healthy godly living/principles, allowing me to be a part of His Remnant, and be the beneficiary of the ‘God Life’.

me with so much and has allowed me to bless others, so I must continue to praise Him with my last breath! I have seen evidence of Him, showing up at the appropriate time, so I am encouraged to be obedient and take time to listen to Him. I know his voice and I know His face. My entire life is a miracle because God cares so much. My God is an on time God, even when the evil one wants to devour God’s people. We must be faithful even though the heavens may fall.

WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE CHURCH? I would like to see the church be more engaging, as it relates to the overall community development opportunities or strategies. We need to be strategic in preparing the vineyard for optimum harvest. Our church needs to rise up and embrace the social issues that are running rampant throughout our community, and provide a solution to those who hurt. Christ is our hope and the answer, however, it seems we have Him locked up in a box. When we meet people’s social and personal needs first, they are more open to allow Jesus into their lives.

Another change that I would like to see in the church is greater balance in the engagement, deployment and empowerment of male, female and youth, based on their spiritual gifts/passions, at all levels of ministry. In so doing, we will be better able to finish the work of the gospel, so Jesus can come. The growth of Institutional, human and financial capacity is critical, as we engineer the appropriate infrastructure to roll out the gospel in high definition, during the 21st century.

WHAT BROUGHT IT BACK UP? God chose to show me greater Light, as I crave for His word, since I couldn’t understand why one would be punished to produce the best. I thought low performance was synonymous with punishment and high performance with reward, however there was a rude awakening. Corporate Rat Race! During those humbling situations I started to unravel self and ego and Jesus allowed me to discover greater reliance on Him, and that’s when He started to unfold the blessings He has in store for me. Then He further took me through a Job experience that got my eyes, heart and feet fixed on Him. He knew that He had to prepare me for greater challenges ahead. So moving forward with my life, I try to put on a spiritual lens and always ask for a spiritual understanding of God’s will for my life.

IF YOU COULD RATE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AT THIS MOMENT ON A SCALE OF 1- 10 WHAT NUMBER WOULD IT BE? 8.5 - 9

WAS THERE A TIME WHEN IT WAS LOWER? Yes! While climbing the corporate ladder, during my previous career endeavours.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF? Keep your eyes on God and allow Him to order your steps.

You must never give up under pressure, you must be courageous, resilient, honest, determined, spiritually grounded and hopeful as the darker it gets, that’s when the light is about to shine through. Seek a closer relationship with Jesus continually, as when He walks through the storms of life with you, you will always enjoy peace, happiness and contentment.

HAS THERE BEEN A TIME WHEN IT WAS HIGHER? AND AT WHAT AGE? I would say no, as right now I feel very close to God. I be- Youth (15 – 35 years old) lieve that He has a plan for my life and I have to be faithful and be obedient and He will continue to carry me through WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION? the fires of life. Throughout my entire life, He has blessed Jesus Christ and My Mother.

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WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST ROAD BLOCK IN YOUR LIFE/CAREER AND HOW HAVE YOU OR HOW ARE YOU OVERCOMING IT? My biggest roadblock has been, to be accused wrongfully by the evil one. I overcome it by using the opportunity to teach the world Christian conduct in the middle of the storm, even though I am wrongfully accused. I try to see every negative situation as an opportunity for evangelism.

Just have to find the silver-lining.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER? Being blessed with the ability to build a strong foundation for my children/family and the youth of our community.

Being blessed with the vision and the support framework/ contribution of an amazing team where we could launch the first Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) Centre of Excellence with a business Incubator and Administrative Offices in Toronto, to train our youth for entrepreneurial and economic development. Helping to eradicate systemic barriers and provide opportunities for our youth to achieve their dreams/passions.

Why did this compliment mean more to you than others?

It meant a lot to me because My Vice President who was not a Christian, was able to see Jesus in me. I promised Jesus, that when He provides me with the opportunity to sit in high places in our community, I will always be faithful to Him and ensure that I create the path for children, especially Christian children to thrive and prosper. I will always be intentional in ensuring that a Difference is experienced, and that Difference is Jesus. His Name must always be Exalted!

HAVE YOU EVER STRUGGLED WITH SELF LOVE? No. Reason being, I believe that I am (all mankind) made in the image of God. God gave us His body as our temple and we should treat our bodies with respect and dignity. We all should aim to provide a residence where God is pleased to dwell. So I am very mindful of God’s commandments and Fundamental Beliefs/Principles. I try to conform as best as I can to the health principles, one of the pillars on which our church is built.

WHAT DID YOU/ DO YOU DO TO INCREASE YOUR SELF LOVE AND SELF CONFIDENCE? WHAT IS THE MOST NEGATIVE COMMENT YOU I constantly keep God’s Word, close to my heart. One of HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN, (IF APPLICABLE ABOUT my favorite verses that lets me know that I am wonderfully YOUR RACE)? made and capable of excellence is Philippians 4: 13 “ I can Pauline, you are so different. You don’t act Black. (Especial- do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” ly in Corporate Canada).

IF YOU HAD TO GIVE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO HOW DID YOU COMBAT OR HANDLE THAT NEGA- A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHAT WOULD THAT TIVITY? BE? I used the opportunity as a teaching moment to share that I would advise them to always keep The Cross in mind. For once the individual allows greater exposure to multicultur- The Cross will always lead them to their passion, which is alism and diversity this type of conduct (good) will increase God’s will for their lives. Once they find their passion and in frequency across the diversity line, since strengths and operationalize it for impact and God’s glory, their lives will challenges reside in all peoples. never be the same again. The Cross is the hope for humanity. The vertical bar connects us to the Source, the Trinity; WHAT IS THE MOST POSITIVE COMPLIMENT YOU and the horizontal bar connects us to humanity. As human HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN? beings, our first responsibility is to worship God and the To be told by my Vice President, at a huge corporation that next responsibility is to reach out across the planet and I once worked for, that it must be my faith, that makes me help/bless humanity. Let The Cross be our guide and never so courageous and strong. This was a moment when I stood give up hope as a better day is coming when our Saviour tall using Christ’s principles, while I was unfairly dealt with. shall burst the clouds of heaven! What a Day that will be!

I truly believe in Lifestyle Evangelism. Most people that I have brought into the church from the community, came in because of my Lifestyle Ministry. Always show love to people even when they mistreat you. Praises to God!

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SURVIVING IS IMPORTANT, THRIVING IS

elegant -MAYA ANGELOU

NEVER DULL YOUR

shine

FOR SOMEBODY ELSE - TYRA BANKS

What is it like being in an interracial relationship?

VICTORIA AND KEITH SHARAN HOW DID YOU MEET? Keith: We had a one night stand after a rave.

Victoria: That didn’t happen. We met on the second day of class our Freshman year at Burman in Orientation to Teaching. Someone stole my spot in class and the only open seat was next to Keith.

So I sat next to him, and well, we’ve been glued at the hip ever since!

ship, but nothing related to our racial differences.

Victoria: Someone once told me that because my children won’t look like me that I won’t be able to relate to them and that they will favor Keith over me. They then went on to say that all mixed kids are nuts. Obviously none of those things are true and I know that the quality of my relationship with my children will be based on the interactions I have with them, and not on the colour of our skin.

HAS RACE OR CULTURE MADE YOUR RELATIONSHIP DIFFICULT? Keith: I think that in some ways it has and in some ways it hasn’t affected us at all. The main challenge would be the fact that my family doesn’t talk much about their feelings or emotional needs so I had to learn how to do that being in a relationship. But my family has been very accepting of Victoria, and all of my previous relationships regardless of their ethnicity, so that made things easier.

Victoria: I agree with Keith, but I also think that learning to communicate in order to meet each other’s needs is a problem many couples face. The only other challenge has been my extended family. When I first told my Russian grandmother that I was considering dating Keith, and Indian boy, she got very upset and told me that she would never come to my wedding or love the children I had with him. She ended up meeting Keith exactly one year later, and after realizing that he was “smart, funny, handsome” (her own words!), she came to accept him and our relationship. Now she’s even pressuring me for grandkids!

WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING THING THAT YOU LEARNT ABOUT YOUR SO’S CULTURE? Keith: Victoria has interesting ancestry because her grandparents are Russian immigrants from China. So learning about her family history has been interesting. I’ve also learned that I don’t really like Russian food. Haha.

Victoria: Before dating Keith my understanding of India was based only on what I had seen in the media, which are all very stereotypical images. So it’s been great hearing about India first hand from someone who lived there for 15 years. I’ve also enjoyed staying at Keith’s house and eating all different kinds of Indian food and sweets prepared by his parents.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING IN AN INTERRACIAL RELATIONSHIP? Keith: I don’t think that being interracial affects the quality of our relationship. And I think that we’re best friends and we have common interests, so we complement each other and make a really good team, regardless of our ethnic background. But if I had to pick something related to the benefits of being interracial, it would be a combination of different world views. Especially because I’m an immigrant as well as a difference race and culture.

Victoria: I agree with Keith! I think that being with a minority (since I grew up the majority) has expanded my word view in very positive ways.

MOST INTERESTING STORIES OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED? Victoria: For our wedding we had a traditional western ceremony, and for the reception we decided to incorporate Indian elements.

So we served Indian food (which everyone raved about!) and wore traditional Indian wedding clothing. That was a real privilege for me because normally I would not be able to wear clothes that are not a part of my culture. I think that adding elements from both of our cultures made our wedding extra special.

WHAT IS THE WORST? Keith: Basically, just explaining to Victoria that whatever problems I have with the dominant culture (white, Canadian, culture) does not reflect problems I have with her personally.

Victoria: I have yet to find a significant downside!

WHAT IS THE WORST THING SOMEONE HAS SAID TO YOU ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP? Keith: People have made negative comments about our relation-

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Relevance

When did you realize the color of your skin?

By Ashia Lennon

As someone who was raised in a Christian household I grew up with the belief that Jesus was white, I think I realized the difference but not the significance of His or my own skin colour. In my innocence as a child the fact that Jesus was White didn’t change the message of His love or deliverance for me. It wasn’t until I learnt about Black History that I came into the understanding that the portrayal of a Caucasian Jesus was incorrect biblically and historically. Then came the paradigm shift of learning that Jesus wasn’t white. That He could have possibly possessed a darker hue like me, that his hair could have the same text of wool as mine… My mind was blown.

We like to picture our saviour, the One who has come to save us and deliver us as one of us. A part of our inherent need for inclusivity we tend to gravitate towards that which is familiar. We’ve been taught and reinforced as children with objects and we like to categorize them together. Humans however are not objects but more complex beings and even more complex is the concept of a God and the need for a saviour. Could it be then that my Saviour loved the different hues in the morning sunrise that He crafted His prized creation with different colours of a brush stroke. Could it be then that the colour of my skin was a compliment of a Devine Creative being’s work of art? Sometimes the Bible answers questions with questions but on this count there are distinct statements made regarding the value and significance of ALL human life.

The over arcing theme of Biblical Christianity professes a God who is unbiased and impartial.

Fundamentally true Christianity could not be racist or prejudice. The Gospel of Jesus and Him crucified is the greatest testament of inclusivity, selflessness and compassion for all peoples. But before the gospel became universally accepted and enacted on a global level, it was cultivated in local communities and homes. Before it

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leaves the perimeter of a community, it has to be nurtured in homes and in families. And before it is experienced in families it starts intimately in the heart of one individual who has radically experienced God. This type of Christian, the complete Christian needs two conversions.

The disciple Peter was a model of both. His first conversion was with Jesus as his saviour. It was in Jesus that Peter experienced the deepest, most accepting love to be intimately known yet unconditionally loved. Peter experienced the “The second conversion happened at Joppa in the home of Cornelius, the centurion. Here Peter recognized that God was concerned not only about him and that small group of disciples but every person in every nation. God had a plan for the world and his salvation was extensive as creation”. 1

Peter was led by God to see people not obscured by fear of differences but as beautiful beings worthy of the same love and affection bestowed to him. Ignorance, prejudice and racism occur in the hearts and minds of self-focused humans. The mind boggling aspect is the capability to dehumanize and oppress and murder lies within each of us. In the same way that love can flow and expand beyond the confines of our thoughts so too we need to be mindful of mindsets that are in direct opposition to Christ’s commandment of love. It is our prerogative instead to be intentional.

Be intentional with your love, reach beyond the safe boundaries and dare to enact change. Issues of inequality and oppression are more than good conversation starters or chuckle at the ridiculousness of Donald Trump building a “Great Wall”. The suffering of our brothers and sisters requires the sacrifice of our time and the intentionality in aspects such as how we shop, where we eat and what we value for entertainment. It starts with one person willing to enact change, someone like you.

Change will not come if

we wait other person, some time. for some

or if we wait for

WE ARE THE ONES

we’ve been waiting for.

We are

the change that we seek.

Barack Obama

How can we live if we don’t change?

- Beyonce

Playlist

MEDIA

BY BIANCA BASTON

BLACK EXCELLENCE These artists should have been on your ipod yesterday! Check out this issue’s playlist featuring contemporary black artists.

1

Weight in gold Gallant

2

Never Never SBTRKT

3

My afternoon dream

8

What you don’t do Lianne La Havas

9

Hallucinations dvsn

10

Nina Jhene Aiko

Rewind

4

11

Kelela

Quand C’est

Treat me like fire

5

12

Stromae

LION BABE

Pray

Time will tell

6

13

SZA

Blood Orange

Jealous

Fruit

7

14

Labrinth

Poetic

Seinabo Sey

ABRA

Happens Sampha

15 Listen online www.theburmanchronicle.com/playlist 17

CREATIVE

I Should Have

I should have told him that it was more than not finding a race of women unattractive.

I should have told him that it was about holding white women above everyone else as the standard of beauty.

No. He hasn’t raped anyone.

No. He hasn’t openly said that Black women were disgusting or unattractive as the other guy had said before.

He is that white man because of what he said to his friend.

He described the environment in the car on the way back from dinner as ghetto.

I should have told him it was about the eternal internal war that rages inside of the Black woman to look in the mirror and declare herself beautiful.

Ghetto

I should have told him about the countless women who violently try to rid themselves of melanin by unleashing poison into her skin

Ghetto

I should have told him that it’s about wondering if you were rejected by a white male simply because someone, somewhere, told him to stay away from black women, but never told him why.

I should have told him that it was about an entire system that his ancestors had created to keep the person of color down.

I should have told him that it was about the countless Black women who have been raped by white men because the taste of ebony was exotic but never good enough to bring home to mama.

I should have told him that it was about the lighter skinned women being more accepted by white people because they looked more like them I should have told him about the countless times I wanted to cry when someone told me, “You know, you’re actually kinda cute for a black girl.”

Always a girl.

Never a woman.

I should have told him about the amount of times melanin felt as though it was the equivalent to terminal cancer.

I should have told him about the countless times my skin color felt like a death sentence.

I should have told him, Because he is that white man.

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Ghetto

Ghetto: A word used by white people when an environment is riddled with melanin Ghetto: A word used by white people when Black people do not conform to White standards of how to enjoy life Ghetto: A derogatory term used by white people to describe people of color.

You want to know why it was ghetto?

We were listening to music Created by Black people In a language that we would understand Pain.

Agony.

Reality.

Our reality.

It came across as harsh.

Like whiplash.

But it was a language we understood.

It was ghetto because we are black.

That’s the long and short of it.

He Is that white man.

- Rechelle Smith

History HAS SHOWN US THAT

courage

CAN BE CONTAGIOUS AND

hope

CAN TAKE ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN. -MICHELLE OBAMA

CREATIVE

s

m a re gh m d ou r t h to o g t s s e en n d v II’ ev see ou l e I’v c The sky is always grey But only on my darkest days Like I controlled the weather But perhapsonly in my head Yet girls with their umbrellas And those boys who always yelled at us Shun their eyes from my tears Pelt rocks at us

By Ambra Greaves

I want to make a fuss We’re told to know our place Close my eyes wait long enough My dreams are near to almost touch My feet move forward in God I trust He’ll guild me through my darkest days

Equality

CREATIVE

Freedom knocked on my door disguised as equality, But like a wolf in sheep’s’ clothing I knew there was a price to pay.

You see freedom is never free, But he told me that if I complied I would be equal I just had to give up a few things: my culture, identity and self-worth, I had to give up my kinks and coils and the complexion of my skin, So I did just that in desperate need to be equal.

I was only 7 but I despised myself so much that I chemically straightened my hair I wanted nothing to do with my culture, Forcing myself to assimilate to be like them.

They say that Canada is a mosaic, But why is it that I was the only one crushed and the painting was glazed over with white.

Crushed so that they can mold me into them…

But I still didn’t find freedom, Instead I was left with scars from the burns and loss of identity.

So I began to for myself in this portrait but all I found were other broken bodies.

You see the freedom I traded in was not for equality.

All he did was try and paint over my reality until I was to accept it as the norm.

But my reality is not something you can paint over with words like ‘all lives matter’ because quite frankly statistics show that I have less of a likelihood of getting hired at a job because my name is Shenda Chimwaso, even though I have all the qualifications.

Equality is not having to work 3 times as hard because I have 3 counts against me: young, black, woman Equality is the First Nations receiving flu vaccinations instead of body bags It’s Muslims walking down the street without the fear of being physically or verbally attacked It’s my fellow brothers and sister feeling safe when they step outside their house, knowing that they have nothing to worry about It is not being slandered for merely existing.

So don’t feed me with the placebo of the mosaic Because you’re not being crushed, but us until we suit your ideal.

No I am not venting, My words are not mere stories but the reality, So please don’t try and silence me like you have in the past.

“Someone once said, to be a woman of colour and an artist takes a lot of audacity” So don’t be offended by the boldness of my words, I just want to make known of my reality.

I want to rise above it all.

Equality is recognizing each other’s differences and accepting and loving one another.

It is accepting the coils on my head which have secrets to share, My skin filled with the glow from my melanin, My name which has more of a story to tell of how God is gracious and merciful in my life.

Equality is uniting and rising up against the injustices of this world,

In spite of yesterday.

- Shenda Chimwaso

17 21

CREATIVE

WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT

LIBERATING MINDS AS WELL AS

LIBERATING SOCIETY -ANGELA DAVIS

15

Black Men

Health

This painting was inspired by the need to encourage black men to be strong. We uplift women daily, telling us to rise against the injustices we see in our world. Women are vocal, women are powerful, but part of us is lost. The once strong male has fallen as they are shot down one by one in the streets. I just wanted to encourage them by showing how diverse and amazing they are in these times when their masculinity and power is seen as a threat. They are elegant, excellent and strong.

- Ambra Greaves

19

IF YOU CAN’T FLY

run

IF YOU CAN’T RUN

walk

IF YOU CAN’T WALK

crawl

BUT BY ALL MEANS

keep moving.

-MARTIN LUTHER KING JR

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