SOME 2017 BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS HAPPENING IN ONTARIO

By Neil Armstrong

TD Bank Canada will host the Black History Month Media Launch on Jan. 23 at TD Bank Tower in Toronto.

Here is a list of Black History Month 2017 events that I’ve compiled from various sources for your pleasure.

Ontario Black History Society will hold its 2017 Black History Month Kick-off Brunch, “Celebrating Canada 150,” on Sunday, Jan. 29, 12-5pm at Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St. West, Toronto. This year's award recipients are: Andre De Grasse, Dwight Drummond, Lawrence Hill, Spider Jones and Bryan and Shannon Prince. Keynote speaker: Celina Caesar-Chavannes, MP & Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. www.blackhistorysociety.ca

FEBRUARY

From Feb. 2-26, Black Artist’s Network Dialogue (BAND) presents “No Justice, No Peace: From Ferguson to Toronto” at the Gladstone Hotel featuring the work of artists: Zun Lee, Jalani Morgan and Nation Cheong.

 No Justice, No Peace: From Ferguson to Toronto (http://www.ryerson.ca/ric/exhibitions/NJNP/) positions photography at the forefront during an era of heightened global protests against systemic violence by police. All are socially-conscious photographers whose images evoke the pan-geographic urgency with which their black subjects demand to be seen and heard. Co-curated by Julie Crooks and Reese de Guzman, this exhibition will be on view at BAND’s pop-up gallery at the Gladstone Hotel.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS AT TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY

www.torontopubliclibrary.ca

Highlighting some of the many events:

#BlackLivesMatter: Feb. 1, 7-8pm at Toronto Reference Library. A candid discussion on the achievements of Toronto’s Black communities, the Black Lives Matter movement, and race relations in Canada. With journalist Desmond Cole, civil and human rights lawyer Anthony Morgan, Black Lives Matter representative Chrys Saget-Richard and Toronto Star’s Morgan Campbell.

Canada’s Poet Laureate, George Elliott Clarke pays homage to the late Austin Clarke. With Lillian Allen, Clifton Joseph, Adebe DeRango-Adem and Giovanna Riccio on Feb. 9, 7-8:30pm at Toronto Reference Library.

#BlackLivesMatter. Desmond Cole, Anthony Morgan and Chrys Saget-Richard in discussion at York Woods on Friday, Feb. 10, 10-11am

Among the many events are presentations by spoken word artist, Dwayne Morgan; journalist/publicist Dalton Higgins; Bev Salmon, a former Toronto city councillor and co-founder of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations; National Film Board of Canada productions on former governor general Michaelle Jean and The Ninth Floor; and a presentation on Viola Desmond.

United Way Peel Region presents “Roots, Commitment and Legacies” the launch of Black History Month on Friday, Feb. 3, 9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, 90 Biscayne Crescent, Brampton. The event is chaired by Justice Donald McLeod. The panel will involve an indepth examination of the state of affairs of the Black Community in Peel focused on a commitment to find tangible solutions and develop critical next steps in partnership. Tickets are $75. Unitedwaypeel.org

KUUMBA – Feb. 3-4 & 10-11 – Harbourfront Centre

Toronto’s longest-running celebration of Black History Month returns in February, and this time we’re adding a second weekend! Join us for a series of thought-provoking panel discussions and socially driven cultural programming that explores blackness in the 21^st century.  www.harbourfrontcentre.com/festivals/kuumba/

Tiki Mercury-Clarke’s “Toronto Black Then” will be on Feb. 4, 7-8:30pm in Miss Lou’s Room.

The launch of Denham Jolly’s memoir, “In the Black: My Life,” will be held in Miss Lou’s Room on Feb. 11, 7-9pm. Storyteller, Itah Sadu, will share stories with families and Trey Anthony will host "A Black Girl in Love with Herself," an uplifting night of honest girl talk on Feb. 11, 8-11pm. Lots more happening there during KUUMBA.

“HOW BLACK MOTHERS SAY I LOVE YOU,” a Trey Anthony and Girls in Bow Ties production written by Trey Anthony and presented by Factory Theatre will run from Feb. 9-March 5 (Previews Feb. 4-8) at Factory Mainspace Theatre, 125 Bathurst St. (at Adelaide) www.factorytheatre.ca

HOW BLACK MOTHERS SAY I LOVE YOU is Trey Anthony’s ('da Kink in my Hair) most hilarious and thought provoking play yet. Daphne, a Caribbean mother, emigrated to Canada leaving two daughters behind in Jamaica for six years. The separation causes disastrous consequences for the entire family who are all searching for love, reconciliation and forgiveness. A tale of a mother, her daughters and their attempts to love each other in less than ideal circumstances, HOW BLACK MOTHERS SAY I LOVE YOU searches for ways to respond to what has been left unsaid.

Historica Canada and TD Bank Group in celebration of Black History Month present “Black Canadian Trailblazers-Then and Now,” an evening to celebrate the contributions that Black Canadians in various fields have made to Canada. To recognize this milestone year of Canada’s sesquicentennial, the event will pay homage to trailblazers making a difference in our country today, and those who came before them. This will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at The Royal Conservatory of Music, 273 Bloor Street West, Toronto.

Hosted by City News Anchor Tammie Sutherland, the night will feature a stellar line up of Black Canadians who ​will each share a story:

Wanda Robson - Author and sister to Viola Desmond
Measha Brueggergosman - Canadian Opera Singer
Dwayne Morgan – Spoken Word Artist & Motivational Speaker
Dr Afua Cooper – Author, Historian & Educator
Jojo Chintoh - Veteran TV Reporter
Anthony Morgan – Lawyer and Human Rights Advocate

Special performances by Akwaba Cultural Exchange - African drumming group, Jade's Hip-Hop Academy, and poet Nadine Williams.

For more information, please visit us at: www.celebrateblackhistory.ca

RASTAFEST in association with Frontline Books, Miquel Lorne Publishers & Masani Productions present a Black History Month celebration on Friday, Feb. 10 at Remix Lounge, 1305 Dundas St. West (at Rusholme Rd.) featuring Treson, Iauwata, Comfort & the City Soul Band, Cue, Ras Miquel Lorne, Ras Sekous Tafari and others. Includes the book launch of the revised edition of “Philosophy & Opinions of Marcus Garvey” written by Amy Jacques Garvey. Donation: $10 Call: 416-291-9977 rastafest1@gmail.com www.rastafest.com

dance Immersion presents U.K. dance company ACE with the Canadian premiere of TEN. Choreographed by José Agudo. Friday, February 10 - Saturday, February 11, 2017. Friday-Saturday at 8pm, Saturday matinee at 1pm at Harbourfront Centre's Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Tickets: $34 (Students/Seniors/CADA/arts workers $22-$29); Groups 10+: $15
Harbourfront Centre Box Office at 416-973-4000 OR
online at www.danceimmersion.ca

The Jamaican Canadian Association, under the distinguished patronage of the Jamaica’s Consul General at Toronto, Lloyd Wilks, presents “Boonoonoonos Brunch” The Crisis in Education, a Black History Month celebration on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2-6pm at the Jamaican Canadian Centre, 995 Arrow Rd., Toronto. The event will also recognize the achievements of Dr. Gervan Fearon, Mitzie Hunter, Staff Sgt. (Ret.) Ezra “Tony” Browne and David Mitchell. Admission: $50. Buffet Meal. Entertainment. Prizes and Surprises. Call 416-746-5772 jcaontario.org

Black History Month “Deeper-than-Religion” Community Teach-in, discussion and dinner at Ralph Thornton Community Centre, 765 Queen St. East, Toronto, 3^rd Floor Activity Room on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2-6pm. Cost: pay if/what you want. RSVP for dinner: homeschoolontario@yahoo.ca

South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo performs at The Royal Conservatory of Music, Koerner Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 8pm. 416-408-0208 www.performance.rcm.ca

The 5^th annual Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF) will be held Feb. 15-19. www.torontoblackfilm.com

Peel United Cultural Partners (Congress of Black Women – Brampton Chapter and the United Achievers’ Club) presents its annual Black History Month Concert at Lester B. Pearson Theatre in Brampton on Saturday, Feb. 18, 5:00pm-8:30pm.

TD presents “Tribute to the Legends of Reggae” paying tribute to Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs and Culture on Tuesday, Feb. 21, doors open at 7pm, show time at 8pm at the Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton and on Saturday, Feb. 25, 8pm (doors open); show starts at 9pm at The Opera House, 735 Queen St. East, Toronto. Live performances by: Ken Boothe, Exco Levi and High Priest, Nana McLean, Chester Miller, Mr. Cooper, Hardcore Band. Music provided by DJ Joshua Luca.

Tickets: $25 advance, $30 at the door. VIP Tickets: $50 advance, $55 at the door

Info: Jones & Jones: 905-452-1911

2^nd annual Black Diamond Ball presented by TD & ArtXperiential will be held on Feb. 25 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto featuring: Divine Brown, Glenn Lewis, Michie Mee and Simone Denny. Host: Patricia Jaggernauth

BAIE 2017 Black Arts & Innovation Expo

Excelovate and First Book Canada have partnered with leading corporations, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, artist and innovators to deliver an event that promotes diversity and inspires excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

This event defines a new way of celebrating Black History Month with focused attention placed on the remarkable achievements of tomorrow’s legends. Meet this outstanding group of new leaders and experience their valuable contributions to music, literature, visual arts, entrepreneurship and technology.

BAIE 2017 takes place on February 25, 2:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at the York Mills Gallery, 1885 Leslie St., Toronto.

Celebrating Excellence. Reverend John C. Holland Awards and Gala on Saturday, Feb. 25, doors open at 5:30p.m., dinner at 6:30p.m. at Grand Central Ballroom, Liuna Station, 360 James St. North, Hamilton. For more information, call Louise 905-865-1027/Marlene 905-921-9646

Dwayne Morgan has launched his own App.

Winsom Winsom and Lillian Allen

Dalton Higgins

George Elliott Clarke at the Emancipation Day Freedom Train Ride at Union Station in Toronto

Geraldine Moriba and Afua Cooper

Clifton Joseph at an event to celebrate the groundbreaking newspaper, Contrast, at 28 Lennox St., Toronto.

Itah Sadu at a bench naming ceremony at the Harboufront Centre with Kamala-Jean Gope and Zanana Akande enjoying the moment.

Pages 24 & 25 of What's On, programs and events at your library January-March 2017

Page 13 of What's On, a publication of the Toronto Public Library

African Canadian Achievement Awards will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, 7pm at the Jane Mallet Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front Street East, Toronto.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS IN OTTAWA

www.blackhistoryottawa.weebly.com/black-history-month-2017.html

Dance Leader to receive Lifetime Achievement Award

By Neil Armstrong

Vivine Scarlett, founder and curator of dance Immersion, is the recipient of the Dance Ontario Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo contributed

Vivine Scarlett, the founder and curator of dance Immersion, an organization important to dances of the African diaspora, is the recipient of the Dance Ontario Lifetime Achievement Award.
She has been active in the dance community for over 34 years and says her love for the arts started in her artistic family.
Her father is “a musician by love, welder by trade” who made sure that all of his children learnt to play an instrument.”
“But another thing which was great about my parents is they brought us to see a lot of things, and not just things from our culture but all cultures. We saw a lot of things. My dad played in a Country and Western band so we would go to Bluegrass festivals, but we went to operas, plays… They also carried us all over so if they were going to New York, they’d pack up their stationwagon with all six of us and we go down to the States; we go all over.”
Scarlett, who was born in the UK but came to Canada when she was quite small with her Jamaican parents, says she was not so much a musician as she was a mover.
“When it came time to go to university, I wanted to go to York to take dance but my parents didn’t feel dance was a real profession so I had to pick something else. And I picked a fashion career, but while I was doing that at Humber College I still took dance classes at various studios.”
She says when she was finished she jumped from job to job because she wanted to be in the arts, and so she seized the opportunities that came her way.
Scarlett was nominated for the lifetime achievement award by Kate Cornell and Kevin Ormsby.
"Ms. Scarlett's passion has manifested many experiences that have served Canadian artists of African descent with opportunities that have laid a foundation for continued growth and representation," says Cornell.
Awarded to those who have contributed significantly to the development of dance in this province, the presentation will take place on January 22 at the Fleck Dance Theatre in Toronto.
“I did not do this by myself, it’s the whole community and without the assistance of everybody doing what they do we couldn’t get this. So as I accept this award I accept it on behalf of all of us,” says Scarlett.

Dance Ontario is key to Ontario's dance sector and provides management training, advice and industry information.

Describing Scarlett as an “unsung leader deserving of recognition,” Ormsby says such arts leaders “move through communities at every moment providing the connections that influence generations past, present and future.”
He says his company, KasheDance’s first collaborator / co-choreographer for its most recent production, “FACING HOME: Love and Redemption,” was because of Scarlett’s foresight in seeing the company’s emergence on the national scene.
It was because of Scarlett’s influence that the International Blacks in Dance Conference (IABD), previously held only in the USA, was hosted by Toronto in 2012.
The late Rex Nettleford, co-founder of the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica (NDTC), was the keynote speaker.
She was a member of the Usafari Drum and Dance Ensemble started by Quammie Williams and Shani McKenzie Britt in the 80s.
When the group broke up, Britt passed the baton on to Scarlett whom she knew was very enthusiastic because it was West African dance.
“What it brought to me was more than just dance technique but there was a history, we sang songs in different languages, there were stories behind everything that we did. It gave me a sense of history that I didn’t get from anywhere else.”
The group performed at many cultural festivals but she wanted to bring things to the next level.
“Knocking on doors it was just like they were shocked because it was sort of not accepted as sort of real dance according to other people.”
This led her to wanting to know more about the dance and so she went to DanceWorks and Dance Ontario to share with them her idea for a dance showcase for people of African descent, whatever style they chose to do.
They mentored her and then she went on to Dance Umbrella of Ontario and also worked with Canadian Artists Network Black Artists in Action (CAN:BAIA).
All of these people had a role to play in her education about the administration of dance and helped to grow dance Immersion, which she founded 23 years ago.
Scarlett says what was also important was that she mentored someone else, Cassandra Belafonte, to take on what she was doing.
“What that has done is enable me to do other things, in terms of dance, and connecting us. It’s a lot of work, cause the day-to-day just bogs you down, and it’s very hard to sort of do those other things that are also important.”
She says its exciting times because there are all sorts of festivals and conferences in the Caribbean and on the continent of Africa with a lot of young people who are exploring dance.
“I’m working with Mercy [Nabiyre] in the UK, and our goal is really to get this global circuit going so that our dancers can connect with one another and connect with the organizations that already exist here in Canada so that we can really move forward. So it’s an ongoing project effort, lifestyle but I feel very blessed to be able to do that.”
Scarlett got her first professional job as a dance teacher from Jean Sheen, founder of Chissamba Chiyuka Arts Inc. from 1975-1996, the first Caribbean dance school in Ontario.

Anti-Racism Directorate is working on a plan to tackle racism

Anti-Racism Directorate is working on a plan to tackle racism

By Neil Armstrong

Michael Coteau, Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism who oversees the province’s Anti-Racism Directorate (ARD) says there’s “a whole army of people out there who wants to fight racism.”

Having listened to three to four thousand people face-to-face at ten public community meetings organized by ARD across the province last year, he says in early 2017, the ARD will be coming up with a strategic plan for combatting racism in Ontario.

This will include how they will collect data, what their educational campaign will look like, and how to apply a race-based lens to what the government does in policy and decision-making. 

On February 16, 2016, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced the establishment of the Anti-Racism Directorate to “address racism in all its forms -- including individual, systemic and cultural.”

Michael Coteau, Ontario's Minister of Children and Youth Services/Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism speaking at the podium at an event in 2015. Tony Ince, Nova Scotia's Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage and African Nova Scotian Affairs listens nearby.

This happened during the time that Black Lives Matter Toronto (BLMTO) urged the government to address issues of anti-black racism manifested in police street checks, also known as carding, and other sectors of society.

Among its demands, BLMTO called for end to carding and protested against the police shooting deaths of Jermaine Carby and Andrew Loku. It also wanted to see an overhaul of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU)

Apart from the ten community meetings, Minister Coteau also attended smaller meetings with different groups – something he will continue to do -- and plans to talk about race throughout the year.

“There are lots of people out there, regardless of what colour they are, or religion or where they live, they want to figure out how they can work towards equity in the province.”

The minister says there was not one person who spoke at the meetings that was critical of what the government is trying to do.

“That was one of the first kind of learning points. The second thing was that people are enthusiastic to help but people are uncomfortable talking about race in general.”

He says of the ten cities the ARD went to, there were only a couple mayors, chiefs of police, and politicians outside of the provincial government who showed up.

“To me, it even said to me that politicians, elected officials, people in power are uncomfortable talking about these types of issues.”

Coteau says it’s an uncomfortable conversation but there is no question in his mind that now more than ever these types of conversation are important.

“I feel as though what we’re seeing happening across the province and the country, what we’re seeing happening across the States, there’s a shift that’s taking place and I think Ontario needs to really position itself as a place that doesn’t tolerate any form of discrimination or racism.”

He says Ontario is seen as a province that is constantly looking for ways to knock down those barriers that exist that hold people back based on their race or culture.

The minister says one of the things that he found was important and it occurred to him while in Thunder Bay is that it can’t just be the province with a strategy, municipalities have to have their own strategies.

“And we’ve got, I believe it’s 444 municipalities across the province of Ontario, and as far as I know there’s only a couple that have an anti-racism plan in place.”

He says it is important to recognize the work that’s taking place in those jurisdictions, learn from what they’ve done and share that with other communities.

“You have to penetrate deep into municipalities to the daily lives of people in order to say, wait a minute, racism is occurring, it’s real and it’s unacceptable. And I think a lot of what we will bring forward will speak to some of those challenges.”

THE ISSUE OF THE SIZE OF THE BUDGET

Regarding the concern raised by the labour movement about the small budget vis-à-vis the mandate of the ARD at the meetings, Coteau says his answer was “we don’t have a plan in place, we don’t know exactly what the makeup of the organization will look like.”

He says the only thing he knew was that he had a budget of $5M to support twenty-two full time positions and he had a year to put a plan in place.

“I thought it was completely appropriate for us to put a $5M budget together. Going forward, I told people that two things will come out of it in regard to expenditures. One, we go back to Treasury Board and we align the new budget based on the realities of that strategy. And the second thing I thought that was important was to have people realize that you can set a budget of $5M, $10M, of $20m, $30M, $50M, the real difference is going to come not through the budget but how you leverage other ministries to make decisions based on that race-based lens.”

For example, he says, if one is talking about the collection of data, “we’re talking about the tens of millions of dollars just for the proper collection of data, maybe in a couple of ministries. If you took education alone it would be a very expensive endeavor. Why limit the Anti-Racism Directorate through setting a budget when you can actually set policy and work with ministries to set direction and then from there have the ministries take on those responsibilities?”

“It baffles me why people saying it should be $50M or $10M when no one knows what the actual strategy is and no one really understands how much we can leverage other existing ministries in order to apply any anti-racism policies through their ministries. I think it’s important for us to recognize that there is more to gain by leveraging ministries than there is by setting a budget at any amount through the ARD.”

A RECENT MERGER OF THE ANTI-RACISM DIRECTORATE AND THE NEW INCLUSION, DIVERSITY AND ANTI-RACISM DIVISION IN CABINET

Coteau says the recent merger of the ARD and the new Inclusion, Diversity and Anti-Racism Division in Cabinet means the government is looking for ways to build a more inclusive Ontario public service.

He says this will happen through making sure that “any of those barriers that exist, when it comes to the hiring of smart young talented people who may not traditionally be getting those opportunities, that they are provided with those opportunities.”

It also allows for looking internally for ways to better position government when it comes to working with groups that haven’t traditionally been able to work with them, he says.

“And a perfect example of that is our procurement process in the province and how groups who may not traditionally work within that environment, how to bring them into the mix. It could mean honours and awards, how to get those honours/awards more into the communities.”

He says the government has some opportunities to open up some doors and work with community groups to get people into appointed positions, the procurement process and working to be hired within government.

“These are the things that we should be doing as a government and I am convinced 100% before this government can go out and tell the world what it should be doing to remove systemic racism that exists, it needs to ensure that its house is in order. So, I think that that entity itself, social inclusion, diversity, that entire internal operation with the ARD, under the charge of Sam Erry who’s responsible, the associate deputy minister, I think this is a huge game changer for Ontario.”

Minister Coteau says this is a big shift in the thinking of government in the way it operates and that Mitizie Hunter, Minister of Education, will move forward with data collection and he will do a similar thing in children’s aid societies.

“The acknowledgement of systemic racism in child welfare – that’s a massive shift in thinking, it’s a massive shift in tone. We’ve got some more things we’re working on internally and I think people will be very happy in the future as we come forward with more of these types of initiatives. But, for us, it’s about diversity, inclusion, building a workforce, and providing opportunities that reflect people who make up this province.”

DID ANYTHING FROM THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS PLAY A ROLE IN THE NEW LEGISLATION, ‘THE CHILD, YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES ACT’? [The Ministry of Children and Youth Services has made a commitment to implement the recommendations of the One Vision One Voice report.]

Coteau, who is also the Minister of Children and Youth Services, says people have been working on the legislation for a long time within the ministry.

“We paid for that One Vision One Voice, in partnership with the eighteen union leaders in the Ontario Children’s Aid Societies Association. We worked collectively as a group to make sure that that project could move forward.”

He says he’s happy that they “all landed in a place where I can stand and say that we’ll be embracing and incorporating those recommendations into our long-term strategy.”

“We think it’s a good document. I still think there is more work to be done. It doesn’t speak to how we as a community can play a role in strengthening child welfare, from our individual families and as individuals. But I think it’s a massive step in the right direction.”

Minister Coteau says the proposed child welfare legislation says systemic racism is real and it has played a role in the Black community.

“The fact that 40%-plus of the kids in children’s aid are black in Toronto is unacceptable to me and it’s a shame. I want to work with community-based organizations or children’s aid societies but I also want to work with families in Ontario to ask them what can we do to make a difference. What can we do as a Black community to make a difference? And I think the health of a community can always be judged on how its children are being cared for.”

The minister said when he went to northern Ontario, the Indigenous communities said the same thing to him – that they want more say in what happens to their children.

“And I say the same thing in the Black community; we need to have more say, that means participating on boards, it means working with organizations that understand the cultural aspects of what it means to be on African descent, and as individuals looking for ways to strengthen our ability to help these children that need our help.”

The One Vision One Voice report was released last year.

“The Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, the first child welfare agency in Ontario to publicly share race-based data, held a series of community consultations to share its data with the community and seek their advice regarding solutions. These data confirm the concerns expressed throughout the African Canadian community and show that African Canadians are significantly overrepresented within the child welfare system. These data show that while African Canadians make up 8.5% of the population of Toronto, they constitute 40.8% of the children and youth in care of the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. Advocates, along with those in the child welfare field suggest that this disproportionality is not just an issue within Toronto but is experienced throughout the Province,” notes the report.

SOME UPCOMING EVENTS IN 2016 AND 2017

SOME UPCOMING EVENTS IN 2016 AND 2017  

1^st Fridays Holiday/Birthday Soiree on Friday, Dec. 23, 10 p.m. until… at Fuse Restaurant, 366 Queen St. E., Toronto. Hosted by Warren Salmon (whose birthday is Dec. 24) & Carl Lyte featuring DJ Marlon Mack & Friends. For guest list and tickets, visit https://ff-holiday-soiree2016.eventbrite.ca

Jamaican Canadian Association presents Caribbean Christmas Grand Market on Dec. 23 & 24, 12pm-12am at 995 Arrow Rd., Toronto. Call 416-746-5772 Ext. 249

Knowledge Bookstore Kwanzaa Celebration will be held on Monday, Dec. 26, 2pm at 177 Queen St. West, Brampton. Call 905-459-9875

Caliban Arts Theatre presents “A Blue Note New Years” on Saturday, Dec. 31, 6:30pm at Pero Restaurant and Lounge, 812 Bloor St. West, Toronto. Bring in the New Year with the music of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Herbie Hancock, Art Blakey and more. www.calibanartstheatre.com

Friends of the JCA presents “An Elegant New Year’s Eve Affair” on Saturday, Dec. 31, 7pm at the Jamaican Canadian Centre, 995 Arrow Rd., Toronto. Part proceeds in aid of the JCA Scholarship and Saturday Morning Tutorial programs. Call 647-294-7277/416-708-1438

Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) & TD Bank present the 17^th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 14, 6:30 p.m. at McVety Centre, 50 Gervais Drive, Don Mills, Toronto. Tickets: $10 advance, $20 at the door. Call 416-605-4724/416-504-4097

The Ryerson Image Centre (RIC) and Black Artist’s Network Dialogue (BAND) present a season of shows titled Power to the People: Photography and Video of Repression and Black Protest(http://www.ryerson.ca/ric/exhibitions/eupcoming/). These exhibitions explore the historical and ongoing struggle for justice between people of colour and police forces representing the state.

On view from January 18 to April 9, 2017, the RIC presents Attica USA 1971: Images and Sounds of a Rebellion; Birmingham, Alabama, 1963: Dawoud Bey/Black Star; Adam Pendleton: My Education, A Portrait of David Hilliard; and From the Collection: Sister(s) in the Struggle. The season launches with a reception on Wednesday, January 18, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Following this, from February 2 to 26, 2017, BAND presents No Justice, No Peace: From Ferguson to Toronto at the Gladstone Hotel featuring the work of artists: Zun Lee, Jalani Morgan and Nation Cheong.

 No Justice, No Peace: From Ferguson to Toronto (http://www.ryerson.ca/ric/exhibitions/NJNP/) positions photography at the forefront during an era of heightened global protests against systemic violence by police. All are socially-conscious photographers whose images evoke the pan-geographic urgency with which their black subjects demand to be seen and heard. Co-curated by Julie Crooks and Reese de Guzman, this exhibition will be on view at BAND’s pop-up gallery at the Gladstone Hotel.

Power to the People: Photography and Video of Repression and Black Protest is co-presented by BAND with generous support from media sponsors, Toronto Star and CBC Toronto.

The Ryerson Image Centre is located at 33 Gould St., Toronto.

Tropicana Community Services presents Neighbourhood Games on Saturday, Jan. 28, 11am-2pm at Tropicana’s Centre of Excellence, 1385 Huntingwood Drive, Scarborough. Call 416-439-9009 ext. 258. sseelochan@tropicanacommunity.org

Ontario Black History Society will hold its Black History Month Kick-off Brunch on Sunday, Jan. 29, 12-5pm at Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front St. West, Toronto. www.blackhistorysociety.ca

Call for Nominations for the 35^th annual BBPA Harry Jerome Awards to be held on April 22, 2017 at the International Centre, 6900 Airport Rd., Mississauga. Deadline for nominations: Jan. 31, 2017. www.bbpa.org

“PASSING STRANGE,” a co-production with Acting Up Stage Company will run from Jan. 24 to Feb. 5 at The Opera House, 735 Queen St. East, Toronto.

Book and Lyrics by Stew. Music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald. Created in collaboration with Annie Dorsen. Directed by Philip Akin of Obsidian Theatre Company.

Starring: Jahleen Barnes, Divine Brown, Beau Dixon, Peter Fernandes, David Lopez, Sabryn Rock and Vanessa Sears.

Passing Strange is a bold coming of age story told through sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. In the late 1970s, a Black teen is driven from Los Angeles to Amsterdam and Berlin in search of himself and a place to call home. 

Fusing punk rock, R&B and soul, and performed at Toronto’s preeminent music venue the Opera House, Passing Strange is unlike any musical you’ve seen before. Winner of the 2008 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical and three Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, don’t miss the show that has been universally applauded for its originality, authenticity, and powerful score.  

KUUMBA – Feb. 3-4 & 10-11 – Harbourfront Centre

Toronto’s longest-running celebration of Black History Month returns in February, and this time we’re adding a second weekend! Join us for a series of thought-provoking panel discussions and socially driven cultural programming that explores blackness in the 21^st century.  harbourfrontcentre.com

“HOW BLACK MOTHERS SAY I LOVE YOU,” a Trey Anthony and Girls in Bow Ties production written by Trey Anthony and presented by Factory Theatre will run from Feb. 9-March 5 (Previews Feb. 4-8) at Factory Mainspace Theatre, 125 Bathurst St. (at Adelaide) www.factorytheatre.ca

HOW BLACK MOTHERS SAY I LOVE YOU is Trey Anthony’s ('da Kink in my Hair) most hilarious and thought provoking play yet. Daphne, a Caribbean mother, emigrated to Canada leaving two daughters behind in Jamaica for six years. The separation causes disastrous consequences for the entire family who are all searching for love, reconciliation and forgiveness. A tale of a mother, her daughters and their attempts to love each other in less than ideal circumstances, HOW BLACK MOTHERS SAY I LOVE YOU searches for ways to respond to what has been left unsaid.

The 5^th annual Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF) will be held Feb. 15-19. www.torontoblackfilm.com

2^nd annual Black Diamond Ball presented by TD & ArtXperiential will be held on Feb. 25 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto.

COBA presents “MOVING BLACKNESS: Identity, Hope & Love” March 23-25, 8pm at Aki Studio, 585 Dundas St. E., Suite 120, Toronto.

Ballet Creole presents “KAMBULE” May 12-14 as part of the Nextsteps Canada’s Dance Series at the Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.

 

The 16th annual RASTAFEST in the Village will be held at the historic Black Creek Pioneer Village August 18th to 20th, 2017. The three-day family festival begins at York University with the Canadian Reggae Music Conference and ends on the north property of Black Creek Pioneer Village with a live Reggae music festival.

Photographer, Nation Cheong (in blue), playing dominoes at artist, Sandra Brewster's installation at the Big on Bloor Festival of Arts & Culture on Aug. 22, 2015. His work will be presented at the exhibition, "No Justice, No Peace: From Ferguson to Toronto," at the Gladstone Hotel from Feb. 2-26, 2017.

Dr. Kenneth Montague, art collector and curator, speaking at Zun Lee's exhibition, "Fade to Resistance," at the Gladstone Hotel on Feb. 5, 2016. Lee, who is the middle, is one of the photographers whose work will be showcased at "No Justice, No Peace: From Ferguson to Toronto" at the Gladstone Hotel, Feb. 2-26, 2017.

Memoirs and Biographies: A case for more by women/about women

MEMOIRS AND BIOGRAPHIES – A CASE FOR MORE BY WOMEN/ABOUT WOMEN

By Neil Armstrong

Since being told that entrepreneur and activist, Denham Jolly, has written his memoir, “In the Black: My Life,” which will be published by ECW Press in February 2017, I’ve been thinking about memoirs and biographies I’ve read about several Black/Caribbean/African Canadians. Looking forward to reading Denham’s book and interviewing him about it.

I’m also thinking that there needs to be more such books written by women from our community who’ve been trailblazers and/or books written about these women.

Earlier this year, I was glad to see in the Akua Benjamin Legacy Project launched at Ryerson University the names, Gwen Johnston (Third World Books and Crafts) and Marlene Green (The Black Education Project). I knew more about Gwen than Marlene. There seems to be a dearth of books about women like these who played a pivotal role in black activism in Canada. Where are the books about Akua Benjamin, Juanita Westmoreland-Traore, Jean Augustine, Ettie Roach, Margaret Gittens, Sherona Hall, Zanana Akande, and others? Already, I’m hearing the quip from a friend – “write it.”

Just looking at my bookcase, I’m seeing memoirs of Bromley Armstrong (labour/human rights activist), Stanley G. Grizzle (labour/human rights activist), Ray Lewis (Canadian railway porter & Olympic athlete), Lincoln M. Alexander (politician/human rights activist) and Harry Gairey (human rights activist). I know of the book, “Don Moore: an autobiography,” published in 1985 but I don’t have a copy. It’s out of print.

I read Rosemary Brown’s autobiography, “Being Brown: A Very Public Life,” published in 1985 (also out of print), just before interviewing her in the early 2000s. Rosemary -- a politician, mother, educator, social activist and feminist -- died in April 2003. She was Canada’s first black female member of a provincial legislature and first woman to run for leadership of a federal political party.

In my bookcase, I have Dionne Brand’s “A Map to the Door of No Return: Notes to Belonging.” Inside of it is a flyer promoting the launch of the book on Friday, September 28, 2001 at Toronto Women’s Bookstore (remember that store?). I enjoyed interviewing her about her autobiography. Dionne is such a profound writer that I have several of her books.

I also have Althea Prince’s “Being Black,” Lillie Johnson’s “My Dream,” and Lynette Roy’s “Three Caribbean Women in Canadian Politics” edited by Hanna Miller. It features Jean Augustine, Anne Cools and Hedy Fry. These are all women I’ve interviewed about their lives on different occasions.

Earlier this year, the book, “100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women,” co-authored by Jean Augustine, Dauna Jones-Simmonds and Dr. Denise O’Neil Green was published.

My yearning is to read more memoirs by Black/Caribbean/African Canadian women who were/are involved in various aspects of social justice and human rights advocacy.

As soon as I heard that Denham’s memoir would be published soon, I went looking through Bromley’s book to see what he wrote about him. Bromley documents Denham’s role in protests against the police shootings of Buddy Evans and Albert Johnson. There is also information there about the roles Al Hamilton, Dudley Laws and Charles Roach played in those actions.

I need to know more about the women who were involved in those protests too. My heart smiled when I read, “A Black Man’s Toronto, 1914-1980: Reminiscences of Harry Gairey,” edited by Donna Hill.

In it, Harry documents the role that Donna, a white woman, played while at the Toronto Labour Committee for Human Rights in challenging discriminatory practices of CP Railway. As a result, nine black porters, including Stanley G. Grizzle, applied for the position of conductor, which seemed to have been the preserve of white people.

Donna’s husband, Daniel G. Hill, a black man, was the first director of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, appointed in 1962, and one of the founders of the Ontario Black History Society, becoming its first president.

Please share any information you have of memoirs and/or biographies of Black/Caribbean/African Canadian women or their allies who were/are involved in the struggle against racism, in particular anti-black racism, sexism, discrimination and other injustices.

A new leadership program for students launched

A new leadership program for students launched

By Neil Armstrong

Twenty-seven students were recently introduced publicly as the first cohort of the new Lifelong Leadership Institute (LLI) signature leadership-development program, Leadership by Design (LBD).

The institute was launched at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) Auditorium, University of Toronto, on November 19.

The purpose of the LLI is to inspire leadership and develop leaders in the GTA’s Black and Caribbean communities.

Its signature program, Leadership by Design (LBD), is a multi-year investment in optimizing the students’ scholastic achievements, amplifying their leadership capacity and facilitating their career ambitions.

The LBD program will provide at least seven years of developmental support for student participants spanning the high school and university/college years.

Students are admitted in their Grade 10 year and are provided leadership development and career development throughout Grades 10, 11 and 12.

“These students aspire to post-secondary studies, and we will continue our support of their development throughout their post-secondary education up to, and including, graduate studies,” says Trevor Massey, Chair of LLI.

Dr. Avis Glaze, principal of Edu-quest International Inc., a former Ontario Education Minister and a board member of LLI, was the keynote speaker and highlighted some of the outcomes of the Royal Commission on Learning.

“African Canadian parents came out and they said they wanted better guidance and counseling, more mentorship, they wanted information about accessing postsecondary education, and they wanted more principals and teachers to be trained so that they would no be stereotyped and end racism.”

She told the students that their parents and community members realized that they had to fight for their future.

Glaze encouraged the students to be prepared for the future in aspects such as ethical decision-making and to develop character attributes such as respect, responsibility, honesty, integrity, fairness, perseverance, courage and optimism.

“Character is destiny,” said the educator.

“I want you to remember that as you move into university and into the workplace, and into the boardrooms, and up the ladder of success, never forget what it means to be an ethical human being, what it means to care deeply about others and what it means not to forget your past.”

Among the 21^st century skills she listed are: critical thinking and analytical thinking, teamwork, partnerships and collaboration, problem solving, problem-based learning, project-based learning, being creative, being innovative, being entrepreneurial.

She referenced different types of entrepreneurs such as those who work in policy and social.

“For many of you, you will have to create your own jobs. You don’t have to go knocking on the doors of established organizations to find work if you’re going to be creative and entrepreneurial, if people are going to support you in that creativity.”

She noted that if “we want entrepreneurs in our society we have to nurture creativity in our schools today.”

“People skills are the wave of the future,” Glaze said, noting that research on emotional intelligence shows that emotional quotient (EQ) is more important than IQ.

She also cited constructive confrontation, which is the ability to be assertive rather than being aggressive, and resiliency.

The students were also encouraged to have an insatiable appetite for learning, a strong motivation to achieve, a strong service orientation, that is, “the notion that you’re going to lift as you climb.”

“How can we in communities, if we’re successful, not reach back and give a hand to others so that they too could be successful?”

Glaze was on the royal commission that recommended that students do 40 hours of community service before they get their high school diploma.

“I encourage you, for all of us, develop what I call that human rights orientation to life,” she said.

The educator said all human beings are created equal and therefore “we must make sure that no human being should be discriminated against.”

Dr. Glaze said that towards the end of her career she took on the issue of gay rights.

“I was tired of seeing students when I was a guidance counselor attempting suicide because they were gay. And so many people don’t want to touch that issue because, oh, you don’t deal with that. If you say you believe in human rights, you cannot be selective about the human beings for whom you will advocate – it’s all or none. It’s not for us to judge them.”

She told the students that advocacy for others is a key quality of leaders.

Speaking on behalf of the students were Adam Markle and Anna Thompson.

“Leadership is the ability to influence and to organize people to achieve a goal. To be a leader is to make the hard decisions and to bear the outcome, whether positive or negative,” said Markle.

He said President Obama, Martin Luther King Jr., Senator Anne Cools, who he met earlier this year, and his mother, have a strong influence in his life.

“In my opinion, parents can be one of the most powerful influences in a child’s life. It’s because of my mother that I aspire to be a better person.”

Thompson said a good leader is someone who can take charge, inspire confidence in others and motivate those same people to take action.

“Leadership is in all aspects of life, academics, sports, politics or even in our relationship with our peers. Leaders are such key and vital parts of our life. For some, leadership comes naturally but leadership may also be acquired and improved by studying the qualities of great leaders, past and present, observing and imitating those who are successful.

Nadine Spencer, a director of LLI, said four years while working on the commemoration of Jamaica’s 50^th anniversary of independence, the organizers talked about a legacy to support the initiatives.

“Something that would live on after the celebration had ended. Trevor Massey talked about a legacy for inspiring leaders – what would be the Lifelong Leadership Institute.”

She said the students will not be alone on their journey as the institute is providing a “circle of care” to make sure they have as much support as possible.

The Lifelong Leadership Institute is an educational organization that exists to inspire leadership, develop leaders, and dedicate its resources to advancing leadership competence and personal success among Canadian youth of Jamaican, Caribbean and Black heritage.

Dr. Avis Glaze, principal, Edu-quest International Inc. and former Ontario Education Commissioner, left, and Aliecia Taylor, consul of the Consulate General of Jamaica in Toronto at the launch of the Lifelong Leadership Institute at OISE, University of Toronto.

'Black Boys' opens up on blackness, queerness and masculinity

‘Black Boys’ opens up on blackness, queerness and masculinity

By Neil Armstrong

One week ago, the play, “Black Boys,” presented by Saga Collectif and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre held a fundraiser for the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP) at the downtown Toronto theatre.

Created by Stephen Jackman-Torkoff, Tawiah Ben-Eben M’Carthy and Thomas Olajide with Virgilia Griffith (choreographer) and Jonathan Seinen (director), the play explores the experiences of three black gay men on issues of blackness, queerness and masculinity.

It is non-linear, multi-directional, with lots of movement and dance. “Black Boys” challenges the viewer in its narratives, monologues, and stage direction to viscerally experience the angst, challenges, and action to defy stereotypes and labels within and outside of the black gay community.

The Saga Collectif was formed in 2012 and “Black Boys” is its first production.

“We came together to create from an experiential place, digging deeply into the lives of three young men to confront issues of race, sexuality, and gender through a complex and compassionate exploration of Blackness and masculinity in raw and unapologetic terms. Using the safe space of the Black Boys project, we each bravely challenged ourselves to face the unknown to discover personal truths,” note the creators of the play in the program.

If you haven’t seen it yet, you have until Sunday, Dec. 11.

They have been creating this production for 4 years now and note that they do so – “In a climate of continued violence against the Black male body and in a culture where artists of colour are still severely underrepresented. Saga Collectif says, we are here and we are resilient.”

Drawing from their experiences they discuss differences in how they are defined: biracial, Canadian-born Black, a Ghana-born African who is labeled ‘black’ when he gets to Canada – the one-upmanship of these labels is striking in a scene in which a a quarrel develops about them.

There are Toronto-specific references: Black Lives Matter Toronto’s action at the Pride Parade,  the segregation of party-goers evident in club/bar spaces in the gay village – Crews & Tango, Woodys – the annual Blockorama which becomes the validation of the black body of one of Olajiide in predominantly white gay spaces at Pride.

In a post-show interview with the cast, Jackman-Torkoff expounds on his comment in the play that a “black queer renaissance” is happening.  

“I see that there’s all these people around the city who have been working separately and didn’t know each other. Now they’re starting to meet and realize that kind of strength can really, like, shoot us all into the stratosphere. I think this is kind of a meeting ground for people and I’m hoping it’s also an activation spot where people leave wanting to feel like they can do that. They can burst just like that; it’s all very experiential for me.”

In his monologue, Ben-Eben M’Carthy declares: “I am the change.”

He said when he moved to Canada from Ghana he felt like an outsider for a while and waited for things to change.

“I was always waiting for someone else to do something to me and I waited for a while and it wasn’t happening. So it was me taking ownership and going if I want something to change, if I want to be seen, if I want to be heard, I need to do something so that people realize that yes, this needs to happen. So when I say that I am the change, I am that new face. I am that thing that’s in the community.”

Olajide notes that, “this play to me is a celebration of the black body but also it’s a scrutiny of the black body.”

 “It’s also an exploration of the differences that we share within our blackness and that’s just as important to acknowledge as the commonalities if we’re going to really acknowledge we are the change. Because, if we’re going to move forward we have to understand where we are now, and where we’ve been, and the history that happened that really influenced where we are now.

“So, if we’re going to create change, we need to acknowledge that we have commonalities yes, we’re under the umbrella of black but within that umbrella of black are a myriad of different definitions. Within the queer umbrella there’s a myriad of different definitions that need to be acknowledged if we’re going to create change we want to see.

Ben-Eben M’Carthy said they spent 4 years together thinking in the same bowl, swimming in the same bowl, wearing their own goggles, so they had shared experiences, for example, they were all in Whitehorse, Yukon when the Orlando shooting happened.

“The three of us were together and that had an impact on us. There was also something special that the three of us were together when that happened, just there for each other.”

The three actors are not only the writers of the play but they are also producing it.

“A lot of these conversations that we had activated a lot of things within us and that’s how some of these conversations ended up in the show. It was important for us to have that conversation about Black Lives Matter because it spoke true of something that happened within the community that Tommy [Thomas] goes on to explain, I go on to talk how that affects us kind of outside of the incident, “ says Ben-Eben M’Carthy.

Shannon Ryan, executive director of Black CAP, equates the issues in the play to the work of the agency.

They talk about issues of anti-black racism, about how homophobia plays out specifically in black communities, about issues of HIV stigma, and helping black queer men and women, substance use – “all issues that were brought up in this play.”

“These are the stories that we need told to deepen our understanding of the resilience of our community, but also some of the vulnerabilities that our communities experience, again, in relation to those factors of homophobia, racism, mental health, substance use. All these factors are important to us because they really inform our approach to addressing HIV prevention in the broader community.”

He is happy that there is a community of people that is receptive to hearing these stories and “that there are such incredible artists in our community that are telling these stories as well.”

Left-right: Thomas Olajide, Stephen Jackman-Torkoff and Tawiah Ben-Eben M'Carthy, cast of the play, "Black Boys," presented by Saga Collectif and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto.