Volume 48, Issue 16

Black History Month

WORK BY JASAÑA ALLEYNE, ALL THE BEAUTY ROSSETTI COULD NOT SEE, 2022

Issue 16 Volume 48

January 31 2022

02

NEWS

Editor | May Alsaigh news@themedium.ca

UTM celebrates Black History Month A wide range of events that highlight Black triumph and Black excellence for students of all backgrounds to attend.

Reagan Roopnarine Contributor

T

he Black History Month Committee at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) is organizing a variety of events in honour of Black History Month for students to partake in this year.

The committee consists of a collaboration between the University of Toronto Mississauga Student Union (UTMSU), Black Students’ Association, Somali Students Association, Caribbean Connections, African Student Association, Black Literature Club, Mental Health Student Association, as well as other Black groups at UTM. The theme for this year is Melanin in a Millennium. With an emphasis on Black success, the theme is set to reflect the future of all Black voices.

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Black History Month Committee recognizes the importance of student health and safety. For this reason, all events will be hosted virtually for students apart from free brunches. In each event, participants have a chance of winning prizes from Black-owned businesses.

The Opening Ceremony is set to take place on February 1 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The ceremony will host a previous crowd favourite activity known as Spectrum. In this pursuit, participants will be asked controversial questions where they can choose to agree or disagree. The event is only open for Black-identifying students.

On February 7, the committee will introduce 12 Jurors, a virtual mock trial event that

will cover high-profile and racially unjust cases. The trial will also feature a guest speaker that will discuss real-life issues affecting Black people and will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

On February

14, the committee will be hosting an interactive event in light of Valentine’s Day called Love, Sex, and Relationships. The annual event will enable students to participate in an open discussion regarding relationships and controversial topics. This event will take place

from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will be open to all students.

My Roots My Foundation is another event set to take place on February 17 at 6:30 p.m. and will allow students to gauge their field of interest and network. The event will feature a Black group of panellists who will share their experiences in the workplace while answering any questions students might have about post-graduation opportunities.

Taking place during UTM’s reading week on February 24, Sip and Paint will be an exam de-stressor hosted by an artist of the Black community. The virtual gathering will begin at 6 p.m., where students can register to get a free art kit available in the Student Centre prior to the event.

Free brunch is also another initiative the committee is hosting on the last day of the month, February 28. While quantities last, students will be able to visit UTM’s Student Centre at 12 p.m. and receive free servings of food. The event will showcase a wide range of Black cultural dishes and bring students together for an interactive meal.

Lastly, the Closing Ceremony is planned for the same day from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is planned to resemble a midnight jazz cafe, complete with Black performers and virtual karaoke.

The Zoom registration links to all these events can be found on UTMSU’s Instagram page, @MyUTMSU along with more details.

In commemoration of Black History Month, these in-person and virtual events provide a safe space for Black students to gather and share their experiences. Being a marginalized group, it is especially important for students and faculty to celebrate and recognize the achievements of Black individuals.

U of T contributes to the launch of Canada’s first Black Food Sovereignty Program With hundreds of children at risk of being food insecure, U of T collaborates with the City of Toronto to deliver a sufficient and effective food plan.

Jonathan Divine Angubua Contributor

L

ate last year, Toronto’s city council passed Canada’s firstever Black Food Sovereignty Plan with an objective to develop food security for the local community. The campaign was aided by researchers at University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health in partnership with the City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit and the Afri-Can FoodBasket based in North York.

The Black Food Sovereignty Plan addresses the problem of food insecurity experienced by Black Torontonians while taking immediate action.

“The plan reveals shocking data regarding Black communities and their inability to access reliable green spaces, gardens, and farmland.”

The plan reveals shocking data regarding Black communi-

ties and their inability to access reliable green spaces, gardens, and farmland. According to the council’s findings, 28.4 per cent of Black Torontonians are food insecure, 36.6 per cent of Black children live in food-insecure households, and 63 per cent of Black food organizations anticipate their funding to run out in six months or less.

With the help of multiple organizations, this plan is set to completely redefine and elevate the bleak trajectory of Black communities in Toronto. >> FOOD PROGRAM continues on page 03

03 >> FOOD PROGRAM continued from page 02 Considering this plan, it is important for individuals to understand the meaning of food sovereignty. Unlike food security, food sovereignty is concerned with controlling the entire process of food production from field to plate, rather than only ensuring access to food.

“Food sovereignty is concerned with controlling the entire process of food production from field to plate, rather than only ensuring access to food.”

For this reason, it is critical that Black communities gain greater access and green spaces to urban farming—especially for Black food hubs, cultural markets, and community nutrition programs.

Winston Husbands is an associate professor at U of T’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health who contributed to the formation of the plan. In an interview with U of T News, Husbands emphasizes that Toronto’s standard plan to address these issues is insufficient and further action is required.

The council’s plan demonstrates why there is a huge need for Black communities to have access to sustainable and healthy foods.

Several reports reveal that high food insecurity is linked to multiple medical issues such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, and depression. This information pushed the City of Toronto to recognize the urgent need for healthy, affordable, and culturally-appropriate foods. The Black Food Sovereignty Plan was a response by the council to address these needs and issues of antiBlack racism as a public health crisis.

“Proper and consistent nutrition is one of the Black Food Sovereignty Plan’s main goals.”

Proper and consistent nutrition is one of the Black Food Sovereignty Plan’s main goals. In order to maintain health and safety, it is vital for the Black community to have equal access to the food economy.

With hundreds of Black children residing in foodinsecure households, Toronto’s council and U of T calls for healthier food infrastructure to be accessible to Black communities. It is critical that Black children thrive at the same rates as their peers regardless of their background.

KINDEL MEDIA/PEXELS

UTM_CAMPUSSAFETY/INSTAGRAM

UTM invites students to discuss the flaws of campus policing Professor Akwasi Owusu-Bempah addresses the evolution of campus law enforcement and how they can effectively ally with marginalized communities against systemic racism.

Shreya Joshi Staff Writer

O

n January 27, in honour of Black History Month, the AntiRacism and Cultural Diversity Office at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) held a meeting about Campus Safety and its impact on marginalized students.

The meeting was hosted by Entisar Yusuf, the founder of the Black Graduates Student Association and featured criminologist and Assistant Professor Akwasi Owusu-Bempah from the Sociology department.

Owusu-Bempah began by arguing that the Royal Canadian Police Force promotes an ongoing systemic racism problem and that UTM’s Campus Police are no exception. Officers who are patrolling campus grounds are granted a large amount of discretion when handling students.

The meeting went on to outline the two main models of campus policing and their significance. First, special constable officers, who despite being granted authority by both U of T laws and the Peel Regional Police, are not permitted to carry firearms and generally have limited jurisdiction.

Second, there are in-house officers who are like private security. Although they have arrest authority, similar to citizen’s arrest, in-house officers are solely employed by the university and lack full police powers.

The meeting then looked at UTM Campus Safety compared to the Black Lives Matter movement using previous data.

As such, in 2019, as a response to the tensions between students of colour and law enforcement, Doug Ford switched the term “Campus Policing” to “Campus Safety” with Bill 68. The name change brought forth criticism for its performative nature and challenged Ford’s ruling with several controversial instances in which Campus Safety was anything but safe.

In November 2019, a UTM student by the name of Natalia Espinosa reached out to a nurse at the Health and Counseling Centre and confessed to suicidal ideation. As per U of T proto-

col, the nurse then reported this information to Campus Safety.

Once officers arrived, they found that Espinosa had a premeditated plan to harm herself. Shortly after, they handcuffed Espinosa and took her to the nearest hospital.

Despite Espinosa’s compliance and anxiety, Campus Safety dragged her in handcuffs across campus. Espinosa recalled the incident to CBC News, stating, “I felt like this was basically all my fault for coming to get help. I feel like that should be a thing that people should never feel when they ask for help.”

A similar incident took place in October 2017, where police brutality occurred at a house party at Trinity College. After officers arrived at the scene to investigate the disturbance, they arrested Bardia Monavari, co-head of the college, made polarizing comments towards him, and pushed him to the ground despite a lack of evidence for the accusations.

After going over these incidents, Owusu Bempah critiqued anti-bias training being used as a “quick fix.” Implicit bias is deep-rooted and cannot be undone through a training seminar.

Owusu Bempah advocated for a trauma-informed approach that can be very effective, especially when Campus Safety is called to help students like Espinosa.

However, training as a whole is not enough and should be part of a wider array of solutions. Owusu-Bempah also critiqued the notion that we should defund the campus police. “I say detasking as opposed to defunding. Detasking is an ongoing conversation that predates defunding. Defunding is highly politically charged and creates too much antipathy and tension.”

Owusu-Bempah ended the meeting on a thought-provoking note by addressing the role and function campus safety should play. He brought up the fact that due to police brutality and particularly the conversation surrounding it over the past couple of years, students who have racial tensions with the police may not always feel safe with officers patrolling the grounds.

For this reason, it is critical that authorities, not only on campus, but in local communities recognize the challenges Black individuals face on a daily basis.

04

Students voice their concerns regarding the current leave of absence policy The UTLU invites students to a virtual meeting where speakers discuss the current state of mental support and accommodations offered by U of T. Larry Lau Associate News Editor

O

n January 20, Alicia Krishna from the U of T Law Union (UTLU) hosted a virtual meeting where speakers discussed the risks of the University Mandated Leave of Absence Policy (UMLAP). Students were invited to join via a public Zoom link and ask questions.

Over the years, the policy struck controversy among the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) community, as its administration bore the right to remove students from their courses if deemed mentally unstable and a threat to others’ safety.

The speakers consisted of four panellists: Courtney Joly-Lowdermilk, director of the Strategic Services Initiatives for the Center of Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University; Diane Wintermute, a lawyer at the ARCH Disability Law Center; Karen Bower, a lawyer whose practice focuses on disability discrimination cases in higher education settings; and Nkem Ogbonna, a U of T alumna who currently works with the ASE Community Foundation for Black Canadians with Disabilities.

However, the issues regarding U of T’s mental health services extend beyond the UMLAP. “If the accommodations process [for students in need of assistance] is robust and proactive, I wonder whether we would need a mandate for the policy,” says Wintermute, bringing to question the adequacy of the university’s existing mental health support and accommodation services.

She continues by stating that the application form for accommodations is 20 pages long, already a barrier to accessibility.

Some of the questions asked in the policy were also brought up in the discussion, where some deemed them inappropriate. “There was a question about disclosing your diagnosis. With [Navi] Dhanota and York University, the settlement prescribed that diagnosis cannot be a condition for getting accommodations in post-secondary education,” Wintermute says.

“Students don’t really feel like they can advocate for themselves especially if they are being perceived as a threat due to things that are actually just rooted in racism, phobia and so on.”

Ogbonna begins by describing the frustrations felt by several students regarding the university’s current mental health services. “Students don’t really feel like they can advocate for themselves especially if they are being perceived as a threat due to things that are actually just rooted in racism, phobia and so on,” states Ogbonna.

Ogbonna emphasizes her experience as a Black student is not the same as other students. She goes on to mention that the treatment she received by UTM is notably different from students who are not Black.

Her concerns raise questions about the university’s policy and have caused several students to question whether marginalized groups are treated differently based on their visible features.

“A lot of times [Black students] would be talking to themselves or be talking to their ancestors as part of their spiritual journey,” Ogbonna explains. She mentions that the policy does not consider the cultural differences of students at UTM, and how mental health is a different experi-

By: Reid Fournier

ence for everyone.

“I think transparency is essential. We want to encourage students to take leaves of absence if it’s necessary,” states Bower. Having an accessible, written policy is critical for students to determine a fair leave of absence policy.

“You can’t have discriminatory conditions placed on a student who is placed on a leave of absence,” explains Bower. She goes on to argue that for a student under consideration of being placed on mandatory leave and one that already is on leave, discriminatory handling of the accommodations process cannot be tolerated.

COTTONBRO/PEXELS

“The application also includes questions about family history of mental issues, which is considered invasive, labelling, and irrelevant by several UTM students.”

The application also includes questions about family history of mental issues, which is considered invasive, labelling, and irrelevant by several UTM students.

Joly-Lowdermilk argues that if the university cannot offer suitable accommodations and support, it should recommend external resources, such as off-campus counselling services to students in need.

The meeting enabled several students to voice their concerns regarding U of T’s current and controversial policy.

The mental health of students is a pressing matter, and students should not feel that their choices are limited when it comes to seeking help.

05

Anjalli Becharbhai Staff Writer

U of T doctor responds to a medical emergency on a Qatar Airways flight

SAMIRA KARIMOVA/THE MEDIUM

UTM organizes a virtual meeting to celebrate the Annual Research Prize Symposium Four UTM recipients gather to share a few words after being awarded for their contributions in the Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences departments.

Razia Saleh Associate News Editor

O

n January 24, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) held its annual Research Prize Symposium celebrating professors’ contributions to research in the Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences departments. UTM students, faculty, and staff were all welcomed to join the celebratory festivities in their virtual event.

The virtual event was hosted by Professor Steven Short of UTM’s Biology department and coordinated by the Office of the Vice-Principal, Research as well as Professor Elspeth Brown from the Department of Historical Studies. The meeting consisted of roughly 50 participants.

Created in 2016, the symposium awards prizes of up to $2,000 to the contributions of aspiring researchers early in their careers.

As stated on UTM’s website, the award is available to “tenured or tenure-stream faculty whose major appointment is at [UTM], and who hold the rank of Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor for a period up to and including two years post-tenure.”

For this year, the four recipients were Professor Andrew Beharry from the Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Professor Bailey McMeans from the Department of Biology, Professor Cosmin Munteanu from the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology, and Professor Owen Ware from the Department of Philosophy.

Each researcher was selected based on their contributions to their own department.

McMeans took time during the meeting to mention where her interest are rooted as a researcher.

“Seasonality is widespread but surprisingly understudied,” she stated. According to McMeans, several aquatic ecologists predominantly focus their studies on open-water productive seasons.

“It has been presumed that nothing is happening

in the winter.” With the rapidly changing climate, McMeans emphasized the importance of looking into fish food webs during these winter months.

On the other hand, Beharry was recognized for studying and treating various types of cancers. As he was unable to attend the event, Beharry pre-recorded his presentation to share with the virtual attendees.

Professor Cosmin Munteanu was awarded for his outstanding research on the interaction of humans and computers, specifically designing applications for older adults. User experience design, digital inclusion, ageing, natural language processing, and ethics were also the main focuses of his research.

Short commented on his contributions as by mentioning, “I think all of us with aging parents can really grasp your research and understand it very deeply [as it] personally triggered me.”

Ware’s research focused on enlightenment and 19th-century philosophy. As he describes, “Enlightenment is to understand a lot of the words we live in today. So, like what it means to live in a free society.

Ideals concerning the inherent identity of persons, and the various political and moral implications of the value of freedom, these come from the enlightenment.” His current research involves thoughts of how Europe encountered Ancient India in that era.

After all the recipients had a chance to share a few words, Brown concluded the event by congratulating the professors and thanking all the attendees for joining.

“Thank you all so much for coming today and for the award winners presenting wonderful presentations on your research. I also want to remind all of you this is in fact an annual award so, please nominate colleagues of yours, speak to folks in your department who are looking after awards to perhaps nominate a colleague of yours for next year.”

The Annual Research Prize Symposium is important in recognizing the efforts of professors and motivating faculty in completing and sharing their research journey.

Last month, Dr. Aisha Khatib, an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine of U of T, helped deliver a baby over international waters. On her overnight flight from Doha to Uganda, the flight crew was urgently seeking any doctors amongst the passengers on board to help the mother in labour. Khatib, a physician at St. Michael’s Hospital who specializes in travel medicine, responded swiftly to the medical emergency and helped slow down the labour, making for a healthy and safe delivery once landed.

PHF’s Toronto Six Saroya Tinker mentors Black female hockey players On January 25, TSN Hockey tweeted on their page, @TSNHockey, that defence player Saroya Tinker for the Toronto Six of the Premiere Hockey Federation would be featured on a TSN original segment called “NAKED.” The special aired on Bell Let’s Talk Day. Tinker, a 23-year-old young adult graduated from Yale University, is an artist who actively paints as a form of expression. She is a role model to many Black female hockey players who struggle with body confidence due to stereotypes surrounding Black athleticism. She aims to inspire other Black female athletes on how painting and evoking emotion through artwork has helped her overcome racialized stereotypes while being an athlete. She shares her story on how painting has helped her conquer depression coupled with an eating disorder.

University of Saskatchewan hosts conference to connect Black Canadian scientists The Canadian Black Scientists Network is hosting a Black Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine, and Health (BE-STEMM) virtual conference. This conference is set to take place from January 30 to February 2 and will give Black scientists the opportunity to network and hear about current innovative projects amongst Black Canadian research hubs and communities. Dr. Erick McNair at the University of Saskatoon will be leading the panel discussions dealing with healthcare practices. Discussions will involve speakers with experience in matriculation from undergraduate, medical school, and graduate school, residency, fellowships, and professional practice in administrative medicine. Panel discussions will address ways to overcome barriers to succeed within the healthcare workplace and pursue their studies within the field.

CBC releases Black on the Prairies Teacher’s guide CBC News is offering a free trial available in the month of February to access Black on the Prairies Teacher’s guide for teachers to implement in class. The guide was crafted by senior reporter Omayra Issa and CBC radio host Ify Chiwetelu and showcases the history of Black people and their time on the Prairies. The guide will specifically enumerate these struggles based on the Black people in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Students will be able to access an array of projects, articles, personal essays, and pictures that fully convey the racism and different hardships faced by Black individuals in history.

U of T Margaret Ikape discusses her passion for science and research On February 7, there will be a Black Excellence in STEM Careers and Research session via Zoom offered by Margaret Ikape, a PhD candidate from U of T. During the meeting, Ikape will be discussing her experience with scientific research and her experience in her field. Topics will include her journey with disciplines involving Astrophysics and Astronomy.

TTC Riders sprayed with an unknown substance by a dangerous suspect Earlier this month, the Toronto Police announced that an unidentified suspect has been spraying TTC riders with an unknown substance. On January 4, an assault took place at the Greenwood TTC Subway Station. The male suspect also sprayed another passenger at Finch Station. His motive for spraying passengers is unknown, as he assaulted different passengers with no affiliation to him. As the suspect remains unidentified, the Toronto community is advised to contact authorities if any similar occurrences take place again.

MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Provost editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Elisa Nguyen managing@themedium.ca News May Alsaigh news@themedium.ca Opinion Aroni Sarkar opinion@themedium.ca Features Ricardo Jaroslav Valdes features@themedium.ca

06

How to be antiracist We need to challenge our discussions and actions against racism to make sure that we are all actively being antiracist.

The Medium

D

Sports Duaa Nasir sports@themedium.ca Photo Hayden Mak photos@themedium.ca Design Manjot Pabla design@themedium.ca

Videographer Nikolas Towsey video@themedium.ca

ASSOCIATES & APPOINTED ROLES Larry Lau, News Razia Saleh, News Kareena Kailass, Opinion Haya Abu Ghosh, Opinion Dalainey Gervais, Features Prisha Nuckchady, Features Aidan Thompson, Arts Dellannia Segreti, Sports Gladys Lou, Photo Simrah Siddiqui, Photo Isik Vera Senel, UTMSU Correspondent Julia Skoczypiec, Theatre Erindale Correspondent Robert Bui, Campus Athletics Correspondent Erin Delaney, Satirist Helen Yu, Comic Artist

TO CONTRI BUTE & CONNECT: themedium.ca/contact @themediumUTM

@themediumUTM

@themediumUTM

@themediumUTM

@themessageUTM

@humansofUTM_

BRETT SAYLES/PEXELS

Copy Juliana Stacey juliana@themedium.ca

Social Belicia Chevolleau social@themedium.ca

Editor | Aroni Sarkar opinion@themedium.ca

Editorial

A&E Danica Teng arts@themedium.ca

Miguel DaSilva miguel@themedium.ca

OPINION

uring the height of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, Ibram X. Kendi’s book How to be Antiracist dominated public discourse and awareness. The phrase, “it’s not enough to be ‘not racist,’ you must be ‘antiracist’” ignited an important discussion about collective and individual action against racism on the institutional, cultural, and societal levels. Almost two years since summer 2020, a lot has changed, but a lot remains the same. We need to revise our discussions, and most importantly, our actions to make sure we are all actively antiracist.

First, we need to be educated on the history of racism and the history of antiracism within our societies. There have been centuries of injustices that have ingrained themselves in legal institu-

tions and cultural nuances. Educating oneself about how systemic racism has settled in, and what action has been taken throughout history to combat this is a critical first step. We need to learn, unlearn, and then challenge ourselves and our understandings of racial dynamics.

Second, we need to dedicate energy and contribute to antiracist efforts. There are organisations, movements, and efforts led by Black people in Canada that we can work with or learn from. However, the want to help shouldn’t come from a place of superiority or feeling good about doing something, rather, it should be from a genuine commitment to both be antiracist as an individual, and help others become antiracist as well.

Lastly, hold yourself, the people around you, and people in power accountable. Notice your own actions and words and catch yourself. Take the time to unlearn the deeply rooted racist practices within our society. If you notice that your friends or your peers are saying problematic things, don’t shy away from calling them out. Make sure that they are aware why it is wrong so that everyone can work towards improving and becoming antiracist.

It is not possible to become antiracist overnight. It takes time and dedication to challenge the various ways our society is designed to be racist, and how many of us have benefitted from racism without knowing. The time to start was yesterday, but it is not too late.

Revising the Canadian school education of Black history The exclusion of Black history in education promotes racial discrimination in Canadian schools.

Simran Rattanpal Contributor

A

lthough it has had such a profound impact on the foundation and growth of Canada, Black history has largely been ignored in our education system. Solutions and different education approaches have been proposed, but still our education of Black history is incomplete and insufficient.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario developed a project named 365 Black Canadian Curriculum. The purpose of this project was to include Black history in every part of the elementary curriculum, and not just during Black History Month.

Within this curriculum elementary teachers would also be provided with the factual resources that would support learning behind Black History Education.

You would think that curricula like these would be the start of a definite change in the education system. However, many schools still exclude scholarly work from Black Canadians and the historical impact of Black history. The movement towards a more inclu-

sive curriculum seems to be on the backburner for educators in Ontario.

This theme follows in provinces all over Canada. In Saskatchewan, multiple students have spoken out about being the targets of microaggressions. Belan Tsegaye, a grade 12 student said, “from Grade 9 to Grade 12, I’ve struggled with racism, stereotypes, and discrimination on the daily.”

A petition amassing more than 70,000 signatures to mandate Black history and anti-racism education within schools in the province has been pushed towards the Saskatchewan School Boards Association. But there is still no confirmation on whether voices will be heard.

Educators and municipal governments are continuously failing to give students a safe environment where they can learn alongside their peers. These kids are not asking for much, they should be able to go to school and not fear what form of racial discrimination they will have to face that day.

Natasha Henry is one of the many people advocating for Black history to be mandated in Ontario. >> EDUCATION continues on page 07

07 >> EDUCATION continued from page 06 The Ontario Black History Society, which Henry is the head of, has been pushing the province toward taking this action for decades.

Advocates like Henry have identified that the way history is taught in Canada is Eurocentric.

The contributions of Black Canadians are simply mentioned a handful of times throughout the curriculum. Students’ perspectives are formed around the assumptions that European contributions to the development of our country are more prominent than others.

False narratives and systemic exclusion are some of the root causes of anti-Black racism in schools. Canada is one of the most racially diverse countries in the world. The idea that so many different cultures and ethnicities live within our communities is what we pride ourselves on. But how can we be prideful about the diversity when racism is still a concern, especially in schools?

“Black history is Canadian history,” says Christian Mbanza, a teacher from Saskatchewan who is an advocate for Afrocentric approaches to learning. Students who have been taught by him, especially those who are Black Canadians, express their gratitude that their teacher has taken this step. Kids can now draw connections between racial discriminations from the past and connect them to movements that continue to address the issue today.

“When these stories are not included, it really continues to perpetuate the idea of Black people being the other, of Black people being outside of, as Black people being newer to Canada, even though there is a 400-year presence of Black people in what is now called Canada,” explains Natasha Henry.

Anti-Black racism in schools need to be put to an end. Kids are not racist or discriminatory by nature. Young children need to be taught the importance of Black Canadian history to identify racial discrimination and know how to stand against it. Our education system needs to do better.

Four Black Canadian figures that have shaped Canadian society It is critical to recognize and learn about Black achievement and innovation in Canada.

Hadeel Rashed Staff Writer

A

s a Canadian society, it is critical for us to recognize, remember, and celebrate Black Canadian figures and their accomplishments, which have contributed to Canadian society. This is because it celebrates diversity, unity, and creates an opportunity for us to understand the privileges we now have as well as encourage young Black people to thrive. Here are four significant Black individuals in Canadian history that are the epitome of Black achievement.

Elijah McCoy was born in 1844 in Canada West and was considered one of the most significant Black figures of his time.

By 1837, his parents had escaped enslavement and arrived in Upper Canada. In his early life, Elijah worked as a fireman in Michigan.

Steam-powered engines presented a challenge for many at the time as they experienced frequent mechanical troubles because the industrial lubricants wore out. Elijah devised a mechanism to ensure the smooth operation of steam-powered engines. The device was known as the “oil-drip cup” and would regulate the amount of lubricant added to the engine. His invention spread rapidly and in the late nineteenth century, the hydraulic lubricator for locomotive engines, as well as his designs for ship engines, had a considerable impact on the transportation industry. His most elaborate invention, however, was the graphite lubricator, which he patented when he was 72 years old.

Portia White was born in Nova Scotia in 1911, and her deep contralto voice made her an international sensation in the 1940s. Her father was a Baptist minister and thus Portia joined the choir at the age of six. At eight years old, Portia was given the opportunity to sing on Canadian radio broadcasts. She stopped performing in 1952 after

travelling throughout North America took an incredible toll on her body. She has received many honours including a Portia White stamp from Canada Post and was named a Person of Historic Significance on a plaque in the Nova Scotian town of Truro, making her the first Canadian woman of African heritage to do so. Portia White died in 1968 after losing her long fight against cancer.

Donald Oliver, a businessman, lawyer, and senator (1990-2013), was born in 1938 in Nova Scotia. His Baptist parents fostered in him the importance of community and no doubt this lesson led him to a career in politics, particularly to fight for racial equity in Canada. In 1990, Donald became the first Black Canadian man to be appointed to the Senate of Canada. He continues to have a strong impact on our everyday lives as he introduced an amendment to the section of Criminal Code in the private Member’s bill dealing with stalking and online harassment.

Viola Desmond was a successful independent businesswoman as a beautician who created the Desmond School of Beauty Culture to teach and employ young Black women and grow her business. Viola Desmond was arrested in 1946 and forced to spend the night in jail because she refused to leave the Roseland Theatre in Nova Scotia’s “White’s Only” section. Despite efforts from the Black community in Nova Scotia, they were unable to clear her of accusations, and she spent the rest of her life in jail until she received a free pardon from Nova Scotia. Viola Desmond was named a National Historic Person by the Canadian Government in 2018 and is featured on the Canadian $10 bill.

Recognizing Black Canadians during Black History Month allows us to reflect on the accomplishments that Black people have had and continue to have on our present society and lived experience. It is also a way to showcase and learn about Black culture and innovation, which have cultivated Canadian history in many ways.

On being a Black woman and student Bringing love, humanity, and Blackness to Anthropology.

Gordane Calloo Contributor

B

lackness cannot be contained nor categorized. As a Black woman and student here at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), the double jeopardy of being both Black and a woman connected me to the past colonial social constructions of Black women as a subset of humanity. This began to define and redefine Black women from past colonial introduction to modern day repercussions, and their lived experiences negated by social and cultural construction.

The embodied realities and conceptions of ourselves as Black individuals are mediated through our bodies within time and place through regulation, discipline, control, and serves as a symbolic function and social inscription.

As one of the few Black female

students specializing in Biological Anthropology, I realized the need for focused Black studies in Anthropology. The focus on African Diasporic Archaeology, exploration of Black Feminist Archaeology and intersection of Critical Race Theory into Anthropology gives authorization to Black individuals’ ways of life in the past. I faced challenges in my attempt to diversify anthropology by incorporating these theories and intersections. Being the “token” Black student while discussing post-colonial effect on anthropology remains monotonous.

The lack of diversity is problematic. The disproportionate number of non-Black archaeologists ignoring the perception of past ways of lives that establish context to material culture and shapes how we learn and are taught to interpret archaeological evidence. Therefore, my identity of being Black, female, and a student as part of the Anthropology specialist program, is crucial to demystifying race, gender, and social con-

struction in the field of Anthropology. Recognizing the socio-historical treatment of Black people justifies agency among Black students to interchange ideologies among these topics.

A well-known and exceptional professor, social activist, author by the pen name of bell hooks, who recently passed away in December 2021 is one of the few individuals that have shaped me into the woman I am today. Many of her written works include the Black perspective on familial relationship, community, and selflove. In her book All About Love, she writes, “By choosing men who were not interested in being loving, I was able to practice giving love, but always within an unfulfilling context—I got what I was accustomed to getting—care and affection, usually mingled with a degree of unkindness neglect and on some occasions outright cruelty.”

I was ashamed to have encountered unrequited love by individuals who lack self-awareness. I became an object, a care-taker who stood behind men for their use instead of the person that illuminated their own light. Her books made me realize what it means to encompass real love as a Black woman individually and the struggles Black women and men face within platonic and romantic relationships.

The intergenerational trauma that resurfaces within many relationships among families and relationships are embedded in our community.

Her analysis highlights the multiple voices of diversity, richness, and power of Blackness to combat these traumas. This has changed my outlook of who I am and who I will become.

Many individuals believe they will never know fulfilling love and are willing to settle for strategies to ease pain. Therefore, we look to self-help books and the bestsellers list to transform our lives, but that simply isn’t enough.

Love cannot be defined by workable and useful definitions. Addressing love and our capacity to be self-actualized isn’t simply a feeling. It is honesty, responsibility, commitment, and respect. Therefore, I am unfinished.

I spent five years in a program that is beginning to change every year and I am proud to finish my degree this year. A special thank you to Dr. Madeline Mant for being an amazing professor, mentor and individual. She has shown me my love for Medical Anthropology.

Thank you to Dr. Michael Brand and Lisa Small for introducing African Diasporic Anthropology into this year’s special topics.

I am forever grateful. I have more to become and more to give.

08

At the heart of justice—Maya Angelou Maya Angelou will be featured as the first of many commemorative women within the American Women Quarter Program.

Aia Jaber Contributor

I

t’s difficult to grasp that the Civil Rights Movement occurred only within the last 100 years, and that the painfully unjust stories, agonies, and triumphs of Black people are not historical but present. And while we, as a society, are late in appreciating those who deserve to be appreciated, the U.S. government has decided to commemorate Maya Angelou, a Black female poet, singer, dancer, actress and civil rights activist, by minting her face on the quarter.

Maya Angelou lived a life of extraordinary strength and intelligence. She was the first female Black director in Hollywood. She fought alongside Martin Luther King Jr. until his assassination, after being politically awakened by his moving speeches. She aided his civil right organisation, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, by collecting funds through staging a revue. Angelou was also a companion of Malcolm X. The two developed

the Organization of Afro-American Unity.

She continued to inspire countless lives even after passing in 2014.

Angelou advocated for racial justice, inaugurated Bill Clinton, fought for same-sex marriage, and she was the only female editor of a newspaper, The Arab Observer.

She fought for economic justice by demanding fair wages for workers and the abolition of poverty. Angelou’s writing was comprised of her experiences in regard to childhood trauma, sexual assault and racism. She wrote her own narrative; one that shows the beauty, intelligence and wit of both women and Black people. While her stories are painful, it is necessary that the young and old are acquainted with them and their messages. They depict a harsh reality of what Black people had to face, and still must face. Her writing is a continuous reminder of American society’s deeply evil past.

Now, she is featured on the U.S. quarter

with arms wide open. I can’t think of a better pose for her than one that shows how free, brave, and unapologetic she was in doing the right thing. Angelou is the first of many in the American Women Quarters Program. The effort will also commemorate physicist and first woman astronaut Sally Ride, as well as the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, Wilma Mankiller. The magnitude of the importance of these women, including Angelou, can be seen in the line of individuals featured on coins prior. It was all white men, and many of them were slave owners. It is time to strike out the names of all those who erased the Black narrative and create an environment where only those who deserve the appreciation receive it.

Angelou’s honesty and expertise in writing and art is essential in inspiring all ages. The power of language can turn the most ignorant hearts into empathizers. The beauty of art is that it shows different perspectives, it

strengthens our will for change, and is one of the greatest weapons at our disposal.

While some may argue that this commemoration on a coin seems insignificant, this is no small feat in the battle for racial justice. All progression is good progression. As a Middle Eastern Muslim woman who finds inspiration in writing, I look at Maya Angelou and see a woman who pushed the barriers forced upon her, on a literary, artistic, and social level. She took control of her future, but her work isn’t over. Racial injustice, ethnic cleansing, poverty, and prejudice—these are all things still prevalent within our society. Keeping her legacy alive empowers change.

Maya Angelou was a pivotal inspiration to women and Black people within the U.S. and outside of its borders. She pushed the boundaries of the rigid frameworks presented to her within the art world, and she executed her art to perfection. Maya Angelou risked her life for the sake of justice and truth. Truth remains consistent, and prevalent, and that which she fought for will always live longer than any of us will. She will remain the heart of justice.

Chidiebere Ibe’s Black fetus illustration will be published Ibe reignites the conversation of the lack of skin of colour representation in medicine and innovates solutions to combat it.

Hema Ramnarine Staff Writer

H

as this ever happened to you? While changing, or maybe walking by a mirror, you catch a glimpse of something on your body that wasn’t there yesterday. You take note of it or just ignore it and move on with your day. A few days later, you wonder, why is it still there? Has it gotten bigger? The discovery of this new spot, or mole, or rash sends you running to Dr. Google for your worries to be assuaged with results saying, “it’s a blackhead, it’ll fade in a few days” or “that’s just a pen mark.”

Sometimes, the problem is more serious and the explanations not so readily available. This was the situation I found myself in when a recent scare sent me looking for the symptoms of psoriasis and melanomas. Slightly hypochondriacesque? Perhaps. But my frantic Web MD-ing was put off by the fact that the majority of what I found wasn’t helpful to me at all. As an Indo-Caribbean individual with dark skin, how exactly was I supposed to see the telltale signs of “redness” on the skin?

This minor example seems harmless enough (it turned out to just be eczema), but the problems I had with finding information for darker skin are representative of a much larger issue. In the medical field, the issue of underrepresentation in textbooks, instruction, and medicine itself has been an ongoing issue for decades. Thankfully, some are making strides to close this gap.

Chidiebere Ibe, a medical student in Nigeria, whose illustrations went viral in December, is going to have his illustration published in a book—the second edition of Mind the Gap:

A clinical handbook of signs and symptoms in Black and Brown Skin. Ibe’s illustration of a black fetus garnered much attention online, with many people observing the fact that they had never seen a darker-skinned pregnant woman or fetus depicted in a medical illustration before. This drew focus to the ever-present issue of the lack of representation in medical illustrations.

According to the Association of Medical Illustrations, this is something they have been trying to combat. “[A] stark majority of the most circulated illustrations that are actively used

EBEREILUSL TRATE/TWITTER

by medical schools and healthcare professionals to this day include depictions of mostly white, male, able-bodied figures,” they said in a press release. Not only this, but the majority of those accepted to the small medical illustration programs are typically from a privileged minority.

This is what Ibe is trying to challenge with his illustrations.

“The whole purpose was to keep talking about what I’m passionate about—equity in healthcare—and also to show the beauty of Black people,” he explains. “We don’t only need more representation like [white, male, able-bodied figures]— we need more people willing to create representation like this.”

The problem with the lack of representation isn’t just a social issue. In many handbooks and classrooms, medical students are often told that certain conditions will present differently on darker skin, but they are not always told how. How exactly are medical professionals expected to diagnose and treat certain conditions in skin of colour without even knowing what to look for? If someone is scared and looking for answers online, how will they find anything?

These issues are more than skin deep. A study in 2018 found higher rates of mortality in Black Americans, with an excess of over 74,000 deaths per year. The rates of mortality were higher in some cities than others, with links to income inequality levels. Beyond the issue of representation in medical illustrations, it’s also about equality in healthcare.

More recently, studies have found that pulse oximeters used to test the oxygen level in the blood, and crucial in Covid-19 care, do not work as effectively on darker skin.

Ibe recognizes this larger issue. “It’s not just about the skin conditions. It’s just about giving everybody the value that they deserve. Black, white, Asian—let’s all have equal healthcare that we deserve.”

Ibe has created many more images, depicting various skin conditions and health issues on Black skin, and plans to illustrate a textbook on birth defects in children, with conditions depicted on Black skin. He says, “I want it to be a norm that whenever a person searches online for a particular skin condition, a particular health challenge, that the first pop-ups are Black illustrations or are illustrations of people of color.”

Hopefully the next time I, or someone else with skin of colour run to Dr. Google, we will be comforted by the representation of our skin and bodies in medicine, no matter how big or small the issue.

09

features

Editor | Ricardo Jaroslav Valdes features@themedium.ca

Paving forward: Emmanuela Okon on building E’s Element, a jewelry and athleisure wear business Okon reflects on her entrepreneurial journey and the challenges she faced after graduation.

Alice Fanny Han Contributor

E

mmanuela Okon, an alumna from the Communication, Culture, Information, and Technology (CCIT) program at the University of Toronto Mississauga, decided to “stick with [her] gut” when she launched E’s Element in January 2021, an online jewelry and athleisure wear business. While simultaneously planning the launch of her business, she landed a contract job at Shopify upon graduation. “Everything pretty much happened on a schedule with no intention to happen,” she says.

In university, Okon admits to being introverted, finding presentations in her classes challenging. On top of managing a double major in Political Science and CCIT, she also wrote for her blog while holding down a part-time job. Her favourite courses at UTM were web design, photography, and videography—all of which taught her valuable and transferable skills she now uses.

“I created E’s Element because I wanted to give people easy and quick access to quality jewelry and athleisure wear.”

The idea of starting her business came to her during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. “I wanted to start a business once I graduated from university,” shares Okon. “I created E’s Element because I wanted to give people easy and quick access to quality jewelry and athleisure wear.”

Debuted as E’s Element, her jewelry business enables her to fully utilize her creativity, creating quality products that co-exist with each other.

Okon uses premium fabrics for her athleisure garments, carefully cutting and sewing them in-house to fit a desired look. She also uses stainless steel and plated finishes for her jewelry pieces. According to her website, E’s Element uses sustainable packaging that reduces waste without sacrificing quality.

Though Okon loves her craft, it does come with its challenges. She runs her business full time and spends her weekends strategizing and planning for the following weeks. As an independent Black female entrepreneur in the field of fashion, she states that gaining brand awareness was one of her biggest obstacles. “Still, like every other small business, these things take time,” Okon adds. “I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded by a very supportive Instagram community which has dramatically impacted the traction E’s Element has

gained—especially as a small [Black and female] owned business in Canada.”

When asked what kind of challenges she prefers between those she faced as a student or as an entrepreneur, she answered, “I would go with entrepreneurial challenges mainly because I can cope with [those] that come my way.” Okon states that these challenges have helped her shape her brands. “I love being creative every day.

My business ventures give me the opportunity to express my creativity on social media as well as help educate my audience online,” she explains.

Despite her challenges, Okon notes that being surrounded by other Black women showcasing their love for entrepreneurship, media, and fashion is a unique experience. “These are the three things I am extremely passionate about,” she concludes.

“Getting to enjoy the craft as a Black woman, as well as inspire others within my age range to do the same is such an amazing feeling.”

To learn more about Emmanuela Okon and E’s Element, follow her on Instagram @ellahh and @ellaelement.shop.

EMMANUELA OKON

10

Bravery is one of the keys to fighting systemic oppression Dr. Andrew Campbell shares how education and leadership act as powerful tools.

Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady Associate Features Editor

“W

hat’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘Black’?” asks Dr. Andrew Campbell, a sessional lecturer in the Department of Education Studies and Language Studies at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), as well as a faculty member of the Master of Teaching Program at U of T. This simple exercise is meant to demonstrate the common negative associations and stereotypes held against the Black community. After centuries of deficit caused by unwarranted systemic oppression, the Black community is owed overdue justice. Combatting this oppression starts in our education system.

Dr. Campbell believes in “sharing, giving, pumping life into people, sharing hope, and especially, sharing the #BlackJoy.” Inspired by his passion for activism, his research focuses on 2SLGBTQI+ issues, equity, diversity, inclusion issues, cultural competency, and education leadership. Alongside his academic work, he is a motivational speaker and workshop facilitator.

Dr. Campbell explains that one of the biggest forms of oppression is the lack of Black history education taught in schools. This includes the underrepresentation of marginalized communities, the lack of awareness, and the lack of conversation on racial issues. This lack of conversation is caused by people’s reluctance to engage in discussions about racial inequality because they are afraid of being wrong. Dr. Campbell highlights that “race is not a one-time discussion purely because it’s Black History Month.”

Moreover, universities might have a few Black professors in each department to “ful-

History taught in schools through the curriculum is largely monotone—Black History is not an integral part of teaching.

But the fight for its inclusion remains. In February 2021, Ontario historian Natasha Henry urged the province to include Black history as part of the Ontario curriculum.

In an interview with CBC news, Henry shared that “if we are attempting to reckon with the impact of antiBlack racism, the curriculum must be responsive.”

Although there are currently policies

“We need people to act their titles. We need courageous conversations because people are still hiding from the topic of race.

They prefer to be ‘politically correct.’”

“I see myself as a voice for those in need of a strong voice, for those crying for equity, justice, and access.”

“I see myself as a voice for those in need of a strong voice, for those crying for equity, justice, and access,” he says. “But I don’t want to speak on behalf of people. I want to speak alongside and with people.”

Dr. Campbell currently teaches EDS291: Introduction to Black Education Studies at UTM, a course that explores issues such as Black education, the Black community, and the concept of Afrofuturism. According to him, learning about race is essential because we live in a racialized society—one where residential segregations and socioeconomic inequalities such as income and job opportunities are the norm.

Race forms part of our past, our present, and our future. We do not get to pick and choose when to see race—it’s omnipresent. “We can’t get away from race. It’s part of our identity and we must spend time to discuss the things that impact us,” explains Dr. Campbell.

For some, society discriminates and creates barriers based on race. For instance, these barriers have often prevented the Black community from gaining access to the service and justice they are owed. According to the United Nations, discrimination leads to poor mental health. When individuals internalize their prejudice, it manifests “in shame, low self-esteem, fear, and stress.”

Through all this, the Black community has fought for their rights and is still battling for equity.

to act.

A c cording to him, our society already has many appointed leaders that are scared to act bravely.

Without bravery, conversations that must happen, voices that need to be heard, and injustices that need to be brought to light will remain overshadowed.

fill a requirement,” he adds. But there’s rarely a diverse community of Black individuals.

Dr. Campbell notes that this misrepresentation and underrepresentation leaves racialized students disengaged in the classroom.

A rare counterexample to this is Howard University. Founded in 1867, Howard University embraces Black research and ranks among the “highest producers” of Black professionals across all industries in the United States. Howard University encourages equity, diversity, and promotes empowerment, boasting a faculty that is more than 85 per cent Black.

in place aiming to alleviate oppression in our education system, Dr. Campbell stresses that they are not enough. He notes that although policies are in place, real change is lacking. The work that is being done appears to touch on superficial levels—only a tiny fraction of what needs to be done.

“It’s a little drop in the bucket,” he adds.

“We want intentional, deliberate equity policies and practices that promote real change in our education system.”

There are many ways to achieve intentional change; Dr. Campbell sees leadership as a solution. We need good leaders that push us

“We need people to act their titles. We need courageous conversations because people are still hiding from the topic of race. They prefer to be ‘politically correct,’” he remarks.

Dr. Campbell is on the Durham Children’s Aid Society Board of Directors and has been a member of other boards within the Black community. He believes that his leadership roles enable him, alongside others, to tackle the root causes of injustice and oppression. These positions of power are where concrete decisions are taken and challenges are raised.

“My strategy for volunteering is about getting a seat at the table where I can,” he explains, noting that he wants to make impactful first-hand decisions that will promote change.

Black history is filled with slavery and prejudice. This is why Dr. Campbell teaches Afrofuturism in EDS291, which offers strength and hope to move beyond the prejudice. “Instead of hearing murder [associated with Black], you hear grace, opportunities, access, wisdom,” he concludes.

“It’s about being open to differences and decolonizing society so that [everyone] sees a future of hope.”

Learning about race—not just through history, but through the current work of activists and brave leaders—is crucial to understanding our society. In doing so, we promote engagement from students in racialized communities by increasing representation. Implementing intentional policies that impact real, direct change that seek to end oppression, rather than blindly instituting rules, is the most crucial task.

11

Ayomide Bayowa: Mississauga’s poet laureate leaves his legacy through verse Bayowa uses language and poetry as a means of resistance, remembrance, and accountability.

Jonathan Divine Angubua Contributor

“M

y appointment as a poet laureate remains a surprise, not disbelieving my poetic proficiency but, in comparison to other great poets in Mississauga, I doubted my ranking,” says Ayomide Bayowa, the newly appointed poet laureate of Mississauga and a current student at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). His surprise is a familiar one among individuals that have made remarkable strides in their fields of work.

Cultural icons such as Albert Einstein and Maya Angelou were also known to have encountered their own kinds of “surprise” at their achievements—a reluctance to fully believe in their power, a scrutinization of their worth in proximity to others and the tenets of their craft.

The art of poetry did not always come easy to Bayowa. Back in Nigeria, he always struggled with poetry as part of his Literature class in high school. Time and time again, Bayowa failed his exam because of poetry and endured floggings from his teacher. It wasn’t until he memorized the assigned poems of Gabriel Okara’s “Piano and the Drums,” Gbemisola Adeoti’s “Ambush,” and William Blake’s “The Schoolboy” that he explored the possibilities, techniques, images, and language that poems closely employ. With his newfound passion for poetry, he started getting excellent grades in his Literature class.

“I couldn’t explain myself in the simplest way anymore.”

Bayowa graduated as the best student in Literature-inEnglish and went on to the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, where the voices of the poets he read continued to tool him. “I couldn’t explain myself in the simplest way anymore,” he says.

“It isn’t that poetry is the best way of conveying the things I have [in my brain], it is just the simplest and as well, challenging way.”

During his time at the University of Ibadan, Bayowa made friends with other poets. They stimulated and stirred him, continually motivating each other to write well. His first awardwinning poem was inspired by the “wannabe, competitive spirit” he had with his poet friends back in his first year at Ibadan.

Shortly after, Bayowa’s father sponsored him and the rest of his family to move to Canada. “It was [my father’s] dream that neither of his kids should grow in a country with such a retrogressive government, economy, and educational system as Nigeria,” he shares. However, moving to a new country came with its own set of challenges. There was a communication barrier, the cold winters, and the re-socialization to an order unlike what he knew growing up in Nigeria. Still, with time and a few hard-learned lessons over the months, the start of his UTM journey helped Bayowa gather his footing as a creative academic and a new citizen.

“Canada was a place where he could easily forget where he came from. Diaspora became an overwhelming, choking force, as well as an inspiration.”

Despite quickly adjusting to Canadian society, he was also navigating life as a young African Black man for the first time.

These experiences, alongside his studies in sociology, shaped his world view and informed his writing in new ways. Home was no longer “another morning in one’s childhood bed,” but now the “smells of the kitchen, the mall, work, [and] church.”

Canada was a place where he could easily forget where he came from. Diaspora became an overwhelming, choking force, as well as an inspiration. Bayowa adopted ideas of asylum, remembrance and forgetting, generational experience, oppression, and intersectionality.

NICK IWANYSHYN

He learned to be aware of race and how Blackness and identifying as a man are processed through the collective white gaze. The observation of his little brother partnering with his white friend at school to beat up a younger kid brought this awareness into focus. His brother was suspended. His brother’s friend was not. His brother’s friend was white. In a world where Black boys have been killed for as little as walking down the street, Bayowa learned that the young must grow up quicker and that family must be protected with a deeper urgency. He learned that navigating a biased system required mindfulness.

At UTM, Bayowa continues to pursue his passions and rises to new heights. Building on his previous theatre training, he studies theatre and drama alongside sociology, refining his skills as a filmmaker and actor, as well as a poet. His first book of poetry, titled Stream of Tongues (Watercourse of Voices) was published in 2018. His writing was longlisted for the 2018 Nigerian Students Poetry Prize, shortlisted for the 2018 Eriata Oribhabor Poetry Prize as well as the 2019 Christopher Okigbo Interuniversity Poetry Prize. He also wrote the award-winning short film Do I Need To Remind You? in 2019 and directed short films Thus Said Zara (2020) and Home; Nowhere (2019).

Bayowa’s work has also appeared in several publications and literary magazines.

In November 2021, he was appointed as the poet laureate of Mississauga. It was a “raised level” for him, a poet of his caliber, and an artist with “terrific mitosis-like pursuits.” It was a public acknowledgment of his work—an endowment of a certain power as a force of culture in association with the city’s administration. Bayowa wasted no time in exercising this power with full courage. At his inauguration, he read his poem Fallen Walls, Mere Floating Portions, an ode to the killing of Ejaz Choudry at the hands of the exonerated police. He wrote and recited from a charged political space with boldness; he interrogated a terrible act of violence before the very institution

that enabled it; an artistic collaboration with fact to challenge a more effective allocation of the city’s mental health and police resources.

As poet laureate, Bayowa is determined to do his job. How his work shall be processed in response to, in celebration of, or interrogation of the world around him is a responsibility that he defines for himself.

“As a Black artist, he understands the looming possibility that he was only being included in conversations around change and political dialogue as a party trick, an empty gesture of performative activism and hollow moralizations.”

As a Black artist, he understands the looming possibility that he was only being included in conversations around change and political dialogue as a party trick, an empty gesture of performative activism and hollow moralizations. If that is the case, at the very least he will have the validation of his art to hold onto. Getting into these spaces alone is a step forward in the right direction, and that is worth celebrating. This one is a mantle he is ready to take on, just like his predecessors did—a crux he shall wield in the execution of his vision for this city.

As an immigrant, a student of sociology, a filmmaker, and a master of the poetic form, Bayowa aspires to lead and contribute to concerted efforts for important socioeconomic change in the communities that he writes to, for, and about. In so doing, he is honoring his heritage, and making his father’s labour worthwhile by making the “Bayowa” family name of constant reference in Canadian history.

12

Arts

Editor | Danica Teng arts@themedium.ca

Jasaña Alleyne’s Portrait of Inclusivity In an interview with The Medium, this visual artist and UTM alumna highlights a lack of diversity, showing art as an incomplete canvas.

Aidan Thompson Associate Arts and Entertainment Editor

“W

hat drives my work the most is representation,” said Alleyne, a Trinidadian artist and UTM alumna whose work is inspired by the likes of Kehinde Wiley and Kent Monkman. Like her inspirations, who materialize minority representation in the Eurocentric history of art, her work seeks to decolonize nineteenth-century painting by repurposing the aesthetic traditions and techniques to portray Black people.

Alleyne’s series Renaissance Reimagined emphasizes the dominant aesthetic techniques of the Renaissance period while using a contemporary lens to critique and acknowledge its lack of diverse representation. The aesthetics of her work are heavily inspired by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, a nineteenth-century English painter and member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood—a group of artists formed in 1848.

Alleyne’s work does not strive to denounce the canonical works of Western art but rather seeks to bring equality to the Renaissance.

By diversifying representation, she hopes to

create an inclusive body of work that inspires people toward art rather than away from it.

“In my first semester I was sitting in all these art courses, [looking at] all of these beautiful paintings, and the only people who looked like me were slaves, or savages, or deviants.”

“In my first semester I was sitting in all these art courses, [looking at] all of these beautiful paintings, and the only people who looked like me were slaves, or savages, or deviants,” said Alleyne.

Throughout her formal training at UTM, Alleyne immediately recognized that this lack of representation was not only confined to what is framed within the painting; there is also a severe lack of representation of Black artists.

“If you look at representation in galleries, if you look at artists who are celebrated, there are so many amazing Black artists that we don’t really get exposed to,” said Alleyne.

[Our representation] is even missing in institutions and edaucation,” she added, recalling the lack of diversified art courses offered at UTM. Not only does this lack of representation make it difficult for minority groups to feel included in art history, but it also affects the way museums are curated, classes are taught, and artists are discovered. If every “masterpiece” you studied was of a white man and by a white man, you would be forgiven for holding a few biases.

“If we want all of these students to go out into the world and have inclusive classrooms, or curate responsibly, why aren’t we shaping the whole educational experience to expose them to art from everywhere? If we want well-rounded art historians we can’t say ‘here’s a million courses of Western art, now go do your thing.’”

Alleyne noted that a lack of representation is not just something that needs to be corrected from the past, it needs to be corrected in the present or else its consequences will continue to shape the future.

“Art managers, art historians, education administrators—I think it’s up to everybody to make a little bit of a change so all those changes can become something huge.”

JASAÑA ALLEYNE, INSIDE OUT, 2021

“Art managers, art historians, education administrators—I think it’s up to everybody to make a little bit of a change so all those changes can become something huge.” Alleyne is currently working on a series of portraits of Orishas. Orishas are a collection of deities from the Ifá oral tradition and Yoruba-based religions of West Africa. The paintings continue to reimagine established classical aesthetics by subverting Catholic imagery with West African religious imagery.

Alleyne plans to finish the series by the end of 2022 and is currently in talks with a curator about an exhibition. In the meantime, you can follow her on Instagram @Jazzy_jasana, Twitter @Jasana_Alleyne, and visit her website at jasana-alleyne.com.

Rap Sheet Ayomide Bayowa, Poet laureate of Mississauga (2021-2024)

; Moradeyo Adeniyi, Contributor Where dreams are birthed and horizons meet, in the depths of love and valleys of death, between the sword tips and beneath the riverbeds, wrapped in silk, on a canvas of thorns, the wilting roses searching for the sunwhere meadows weep but angels sing, dancing on gold, with a halo of fear, stretch out your love, in the warmth of your palm, and hold me. teach me to breathe: glory in, worry out.

To breathe and to be;

(i.) My mama’s obsessed with uniforms. She wished I grew quicker to end up in one. We birth naked to fold our likeness in slanderous skin into an unbranded up and down. “Wow wow wow,” I pulled up to her in a soft hand-on-waist pose and she’s hooked. All I wanted to become was a rapper. A poet, she bartered. Not in my right senses could I let a spelling bee sting me to starvation of rejected manuscripts. Facts and nothing but fax. (ii.) It’s winter and I’m shedding a new skin; a confused yellow with a little touch of brown. My blackness is turning a muddy poetry. There’s a mix-up somewhere in my dermis. I’m maturing, sticking to things I don’t know, not this elementary nature’s art. Just “wow wow wow,” I ain’t seen none like this before. I am eating up in malnourished rusts. How many more percent of oxygen could I hold? or trees may I unhang or burn to ventilate my lung longer? Mama knew better but she bit the kitchen’s rug’s dust before she could whiten her teeth on a June date. I’m left to maintain this uniformity myself. (iii.) So, loamy-boy, uh? Not as stated in my CV but thanks, I’ve got no more bars except they’d like to put me in one. My cufflinks pin me tighter to this shaggy ‘T’ that I may seem to them one of the good ones. Even without headlock records nor Rasta hairlocks, unfortunately! Then a longer gaze through the office window to the public bus like a deportation plane’s an intense view of clouds putting up Juneteenth cotton picking show, before untacking my cufflinks & rubbing my face to reality, like taking a systemic fate into my hand as a bleaching lotion. Like Bruh! No other way but to do time or make a living on time.

Freetown, Sierra Leone Dagale Mohammed, Contributor I learned something new about Black Acadian history, here is my attempt to write a poem about it so here I go: They were promised rich, dark soil, and were given stone, Told they should, ‘be thankful’, ‘curb their expectations’, ‘join the Halifax workforce!’

‘It’s the price one pays for Emancipation for all!’ (Within reason of course) So why the shock? Why the surprise?

That among all these broken promises they chose to dream, to pursue better lives So they sang under the Cotton Tree, reveling in a land of their own, Rest easy! And welcome, to Freetown, Sierra Leone

Remaining resilient in The Son of the House Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia’s debut novel captures the struggle and strength of Nigerian women.

Dalainey Gervais Associate Features Editor

Spoiler warning: this review contains plotlines from The Son of the House.

T

his book is not about men, despite what the title might suggest. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia’s debut novel, The Son of the House, is about two strong women challenged with betrayal, pain, loss, and the patriarchal systems that steal their agency. After being kidnapped and held hostage together in a basement, Nigerian women Nwabulu and Julie pass the time by sharing their life stories.

“These experiences show struggle and resiliency, allowing readers to reflect on the patriarchal systems set in place across the world.”

These experiences show struggle and resiliency, allowing readers to reflect on the patriarchal systems set in place across the world. Onyemelukwe-Onuobia keeps readers engaged until the very last page of the novel with detailed descriptions of each character’s personal growth. Although it is an easy, wellwritten read, heavy topics such as sexual assault, domestic violence, and child loss draw on readers’ emotional strength.

After her father died when she was a child, Nwabulu is forced to drop out of primary school to take on the responsibilities of a housemaid for her stepmother. In the house, she is confronted with the expectation to be an obedient African woman, which causes conflict and she is sent to a stranger’s house to continue on as a housemaid. There, she falls in love with a wealthy boy in the neighbourhood and becomes pregnant. During her pregnancy, Nwabulu is betrayed by her loved ones and fends for herself in a harsh and violent environment.

Juxtaposed against Nwabulu’s story of struggle under a patriarchal system of perpet-

ual violence and mistreatment, Julie’s timeline represents a modern take on Nigerian women.

GOODREADS

Julie is a single woman who lives on her own and finds herself a boyfriend. Later, she discovers that her boyfriend is married and intends on taking her as a second wife.

Once finished, setting this book down was difficult. Parting ways with the novel felt like leaving behind a friend. Onyemelukwe-Onuobia is a genuine storyteller, pushing readers to inevitably fall in love with her characters.

Through Onyemelukwe-Onuobia’s words, we feel Nwabulu’s pain when she realizes that she will never see her beloved son again. We understand Julie’s struggle with the concept of polygamy and infertility.

If you are interested in learning more about the role of women in traditional Nigerian households and the restrictions set by a patriarchal system, Onyemelukwe-Onuobia’s, The Son of the House is a book to pick up. The novel highlights class and power structures in Nigeria as the story ranges over four decades, showing readers what it is like to be a woman in the country. A story of women’s resilience set against the plot of a kidnapping keeps readers intrigued and desperate to learn more.

14

A celebration of Black Voices in media Featuring Black creators, find your next favourite in this collection that aims to educate and entertain.

Music—Celeste Serena Uribe Contributor

C

eleste is an American-British singer of English and Jamaican descent. In 2017, the soulful, jazzy blues and R&B soloist released her debut EP The Milk and Honey. Since then, Celeste has steadily released a slew of EPs, albums, and songs—including a feature in the soundtrack of Disney and Pixar’s Soul. She has also received several awards, including a 2020 BRIT Award for her song “Herself ” in the “Rising Star” category, and multiple nominations.

It is Celeste’s sultry, lulling, and gritty rawness that hooks you. Her vocals are reminiscent of soul, jazz, ballads, and blues masters of the past intertwined with contemporary R&B and neo-soul. Celeste’s style renders homage to Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin, and Erykah Badu, surely making them proud as she remains true to her own unique style.

Celeste’s songs explore an array of topics and emotions: from new love to old love, break-ups to breakdowns, from hardships to healing, to loving yourself and feminine empowerment, and it does not stop there. For soothing melodies, harmonious instrumentals, and raw emotion, you can find Celeste’s music on all platforms.

YouTube—Shanspeare Sidra Durrani Contributor

W

hile it may feel like the commentary space on YouTube is filled entirely by white men, YouTuber Shanspeare offers a refreshing perspective on the platform as a Black woman. Her videos give fascinating insights into various topics ranging from pop culture to academia. With her biting wit, clever sense of humor, and wardrobe that expertly matches the subject of her videos, she entertains hundreds of thousands of subscribers. Whether she dresses up as a playboy bunny to discuss the “girlboss-ification” of horror movies or dons a grey wig and beard to talk about mommy issues as Sigmund Freud, there is bound to be something on her channel for everyone.

Shanspeare often addresses aspects of culture that are not widely discussed, such as the unique challenges that Black women face, and it is vital for allies to listen to and help amplify BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) voices. In an age where viewers are becoming more open to the idea of longform video essays, Shanspeare’s videos are a great place to start if you are not familiar with the medium or if you are looking for a new channel to binge.

Book—The World Doesn’t Require You Whitney Buluma Contributor

R

ion Amilcar Scott’s The World Doesn’t Require You celebrates Black subjectivity, using satire to deftly expose the distorted absurdities of racist and sexist stereotypes. This bizarre collection of 11 short stories and one novella is set in the fictional town of Cross River, a majority Black community established in Maryland after the only successful slave revolt in America.

Scott’s lyrical prose breathes life into Cross River. One story, “Rolling in My Six-Fo,” confronts blackface and minstrel shows with surrealism—satire nested within satire. The last novella, “Special Topics in Loneliness Studies,” is a sometimes earnest, sometimes acerbic exploration of a professor’s descent into madness. However, it is also a smart, multilayered analysis of the dangers of uncritical belief and didactic teaching practices.

At every turn, Scott leverages Cross River’s rich alternate history to reckon with the tyrannical lasting impact of slavery.

His focus on showcasing a multiplicity of Black voices means that the characters’ inherent humanity shines through—and perhaps because of—the absurdity.

Film—In the Heat of the Night (1967) Ahmed Azeemuddin Contributor

I

n the Heat of the Night is a 1967 film directed by Norman Jewison and is an adaptation of the eponymous 1965 novel

by John Ball. The film stars Sidney Poitier as a Black Philadelphian homicide detective named Virgil Tibbs, who passes through the town of Sparta, Mississippi; Rod Steiger plays Sparta police chief Bill Gillespie, who is forced to work with Tibbs to solve a murder.

We see the first of several racist encounters that Tibbs faces as he silently allows the deputy (Warren Oates) to frisk him and haul him down to the police station. Poitier’s strong performance as the morally righteous Tibbs defies the stereotypes that Black characters would normally have in films.

Poitier is regarded as Hollywood’s first Black film star and is heralded as the “Martin Luther King Jr. of Hollywood” in the sense that he paved the way for other Black film stars. It was common during this era for Black characters to be written as stereotypes or in smaller parts that were easily cut from the film, but Poitier’s prominence in films opened the doors for more representative roles.

Virgil Tibbs is regarded as Poitier’s most famous role, and while the film can be uneven at times, it is worth it to see the man they called Mister Tibbs.

Artist—Esmaa Mohamoud Serena Uribe Contributor

E

smaa Mohamoud is a Toronto-based artist of African descent who was born and raised in London, Ontario. As a contemporary artist, her art spans various mediums like photography, installation, sculpture, performance art, and drawings. She navigates issues of race, gender, and class with a specific focus on the Black body. Mohamoud draws her artistic inspiration from the history of slavery to post-emancipation and the civil rights era, modern and contemporary issues of racial politics, and the politics of the Black body. In many of her works, she harkens back to her own upbringing.

Mohamoud is recognized for her talent and creativity, as well as the way she brings light to ongoing issues of racial disparities through her artistic outlets. One of her artworks, a large mural titled The Brotherhood FUBU (For Us, By Us), is currently on display at the Westin Harbour Castle Conference Centre in Toronto.

Podcast—Nosy Neighbors Elizabeth Provost Editor-in-Chief

N

osy Neighbors, a Spotify original hosted by comedians (and friends) Chinedu Unaka and Candice Thompson, offers the inside scoop of the craziest stories of Karen sightings, petty forum posts, neighbour rivalry—and on a positive note—community. The hosts’ charisma and charm, as well as their fine-tuned sense of humour, make Nosy Neighbours a hilarious (and sometimes disturbing) listen. Do your neighbours throw hot dogs into your backyard? Have you seen a loose lion strolling around your house?

Each episode also features a celebrity guest appearance who graces the audience with their own notable neighbour stories, including actors and comedians like Whitney Cummings, Tiffany Haddish, and Damon Wayans Jr. among others.

With these stories and tangents of their own experiences, Unaka and Thompson keep listeners entertained with a new episode every week.

TV Show—Girlfriends Serena Uribe Contributor

G

irlfriends is a traditional sitcom television series that debuted on September 11, 2000. With a predominantly Black cast, the series follows the lives of four Los-Angeles-based girlfriends: Joan Carol Clayton (Tracee Ellis Ross), Maya Denise Wilkes (Golden Brooks), Lynn Ann Searcy (Persia White), and Antoinette “Toni” Marie Childs-Garett (Jill Marie Jones).

Each episode explores a different concern, such as marriage, divorce, breakups, new relationships, friendships, career-related issues, and money problems, as well as addresses more complex issues like race and gender. Through the ups and downs of life, girlfriends Joan, Maya, Lynn, and Toni have each other.

15

Black Voices in Media

Helen Yu Comic Artist

Hip hop and the relationship of self Discussing the power to form identity and transform circumstances with rappers Raz Fresco and Radamiz.

David Krzecko Contributor

E

xisting far beyond the confines of a musical genre and what was initially a dynamic between a DJ and emcee, hip hop has transcended to being the voice for those unheard and a means to reach those not listening.

Apart from the mainstream representation that we have grown abundantly familiar with, hip hop should be thought of as an art form that embodies the expression of oneself.

With many of its early years spent within inner-city streets and occupying impoverished communities, hip hop rapidly grew into a form of identity, and this culture makes it more than just a music category.

Hip hop brought forth a new form of communication.

With lyrics that reflected the social, political, and economic circumstances that were otherwise ignored and perpetuated, younger generations were given a catalyst to speak their truth.

With hip hop emerging and gaining traction around the same time that social injustice issues were peaking in North America, records were reflective of the struggles and poverty that Black and minority communities were subject to. Records about drugs and gang violence were quick to be criticized for their explicit content but were just as quick to be appreciated by members of the communities plagued with those circumstances.

Race-related injustices brought attention to just how much of Black history was stolen and erased. Through years

of slavery, segregation, and persistent exposure to systemic measures of oppression, the history and tradition of Black youth were displaced.

Raz Fresco, a Toronto-based artist, spoke about his relationship with hip hop and touched upon his perspective of how hip hop culture has impacted the lives of youth.

Fresco stated, “Hip hop is an art form that emerged out of people [who] were on the lower end of the societal ladder […] and lacked certain socioeconomic resources.” Hip hop manifests from the lived experiences of individuals within this struggle. Fresco went on to mention how hip hop, as an art form and culture, allowed individuals to change the negativity that they were surrounded with and reproduce that energy to their own benefit.

“For the Black youth, hip hop is their culture. We come from parents who had a lot of their original culture taken from them. Hip hop is cultural identity to a lost people.”

Fresco’s nine-part album series, Magneto Was Right, shows younger generations the steps to uncovering knowledge of self and cultural identity in the same fashion as those before him.

Touching upon the importance of hip hop and its connection to crafting identity, Dominican hip hop artist and New York City native Radamiz said this, “I treat music as a way for me to funnel my thoughts that I have on the world, thoughts that I have on self […] to analyze the flaws of human existence and the flaws in which the human condition has created to distance one another from love, acceptance, understanding, unity, and from forward thinking.”

Through music and culture, messages and intent actualize into the minds of listeners and subjective experiences are presented to the collective understanding.

Hip hop is ingrained deeply in the pursuit of expression and knowledge of self. Since it first emerged during a period of tension and provided an opportunity for unity through the development of cultural identity and acceptance, hip hop has grown to encapsulate the experience of minorities and accommodate for individuals who feel their voices have gone unheard.

ZACHARY NELSON/UNSPLASH

16

sports & health

Editor | Duaa Nasir sports@themedium.ca

Black Canadian athletes in history This month, we recognize and remember Black athletes and their accomplishments throughout history.

Games in Sydney, Australia. Additionally, she placed sixth in the 100-yard dash in the Olympics and took silver and bronze in the 440-yard and 660-yard relays.

Barbara never participated in the Olympic Games, which was postponed due to World War II between 1940 and 1944.

Howard died on January 26, 2017.

Dellannia Segreti Associate Sports & Health Editor John “Army” Howard: Canada’s first Black male Olympian

J

ohn “Army” Howard was born on October 6, 1888. The details of his early life are sparse, and there is some suggestion that he could have been born in Winnipeg or in Minnesota.

He was Canada’s first Black Olympian who competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm.

His nomination to the Canadian Olympic Team was historic, but it was also divisive, with racist coverage in the newspapers. When they gathered in Montreal to board the boat that would transport them across the Atlantic Ocean, he was barred from sleeping in the same hotel as his white companions.

Howard was a top-ranked sprinter in the 100m and 200m dashes, but a stomach problem kept him from competing at his best in Stockholm. He didn’t make the finals in any of his individual events or the 4x100m and 4x400m relays either.

Howard won the Canadian championships in the 100 and 220 metres a year after his Olympic debut. Howard served in World War 1 with the Canadian Expeditionary Force and won bronze in the 100m dash at the 1919 Inter-Allied Games.

The Coloured Hockey League of the Maritimes

SAMIRA KARIMOVA/THE MEDIUM

Barbara Howard: Canada’s first Black female athlete to compete internationally Barbara Howard was born on May 8, 1920, in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is said to be the first Black female athlete to compete internationally for Canada.

She established the British Empire record for the 100-yard sprint at the age of 17, qualifying for the 1938 British Empire

From 1895 to 1925, the Coloured Hockey League of the Maritimes was an all-Black men’s hockey league founded in Halifax. This was organized by Black Baptists and intellectuals, and was created to bring young Black men to Sunday worship, where there was a promise for rival hockey games following the service.

The game’s only rules were the Bible, which left the game to be more physical and led to innovations like the goalie dropping to his knees (or into his butterfly) and the early form of the slapshot.

The league became a driving force for the equality of Black Canadians, with the influence of the Black Nationalism Movement of the period. Games were held between late January and early March because of the restricted access to arenas, which was only permitted after the white league seasons were finished.

Varsity athlete Jade Addai speaks on her experience with stereotypes surrounding athleticism as a BIPOC female athlete Anjalli Becharbhai Staff Writer

I

n 2021, Jade Addai graduated University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, Law and Society, and Political Science.

Addai moved to Swift Current, Saskatchewan, a relatively small town, at the age of eight from London, England. She was motivated to study at UTM because she was seeking a change of scenery and a city lifestyle.

Addai was inspired to play basketball at a very young age. In grades five and eight, she met a basketball coach that encouraged her to play the sport. She has played competitively ever since.

When Addai settled into her student life at UTM, she saw a flyer for basketball tryouts and decided to go after the opportunity.

“I was curious about the whole college and sports lifestyle. I knew that this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity and that excited me,” states Addai.

After she started playing, Addai realised that the Recreation, Athletics & Wellness Centre (RAWC) facilitated an environment that catered toward her future goals, both

academically and physically. The resources and spaces offered at the RAWC were diverse and inclusive.

“I felt that when it came to myself achieving goals both on and off the court, I was assisted if necessary. On top of that, I had coaches who knew my potential both academically and physically which pushed me to achieve my goals during my time at UTM,” she says.

She also recognizes that playing basketball while being a student had many mental health benefits. “Whenever I was on the court, I forgot about anything else that was going on in my life. School was very stressful, but it was almost as if I was in a trance for two to three hours whenever I was playing basketball.”

Addai shares her experience as a female athlete of colour. She discusses how UTM’s diverse student body and coaches fostered an inclusive environment that allowed her to grow as an athlete.

“As a woman of colour, I have experienced situations where I have felt as though I do not belong, but that was not the case when playing sports at UTM. The student athlete body was very diverse which helped a lot of us, regardless of the sport we played. I had four amazing coaches who played a huge role

in providing me with a judgement-free environment. I was never afraid to make mistakes or ask questions,” Addai says.

The chance to make mistakes in her sport was a good thing because she believes that “Our society assumes that people of colour, especially Black people, must be good at sports because they are ‘gifted.’”

“When I started playing sports, people made these comments towards me. Some would even be angry with me because, fortunately, I was pretty good at many of the sports I played,” shares Addai. “Many also assumed I didn’t put in additional work into the sports I loved. But this was never the case. I started to train individually because it bothered me that people saw my talent and made unfair assumptions.”

“It felt like they were discrediting my effort and suggesting my genes were the only reason for my athletic success,” adds Addai.

After facing these stereotypes, Addai channelled her frustration into working harder on the court: “Because I started to experience this at a young age, it shaped the kind of athlete that I am today. I stopped caring about what other people thought of me.

I practiced and competed to the best of my ability.”

Addai advises other BIPOC athletes that

may feel reluctant to participate in sports due to racialized stereotypes to understand that selfconfidence comes from within and that regardless of their skin tone, they should go after opportunities.

She concludes by saying, “Although it can be difficult, it’s important that you feel confident in your skin.

Sports will teach you more than just athleticism. They can connect you with people.”

UTM EAGLES

Working hard to achieve success amid athletic stereotypes towards women of colour keeps Addai motivated and confident to continue competing.