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“The King of Jamaican Comedy”, veteran actor OLIVER SAMUELS, makes his annual visit to Toronto this month for Mother’s Day with a new show, “Lucky Money”. Samuels, who has been entertaining audiences in this city for over 35 years, will be joined on stage by costars Karen Harriot and Pablo Hoilett, who is also the play’s director. See story on page 3. Photo contributed.
Gov’t must stop blaming others for lack of affordable housing
By ARNOLD A. AUGUSTE, Publisher/Senior Editor
n its recently tabled budget, the federal Liberal government committed some $8 billion towards new housing in its attempt to “restore fairness” to the housing market. That is a lot better than its earlier inclination which was to blame others for the crisis in housing, one of its early targets being foreign investors who remain banned from purchasing Canadian real estate.
While foreigners have found our real estate to be a good investment, it is a stretch to imagine that they could have played a major role in the dramatic increase in the cost of housing in this country or the lack of affordable housing over the past few years.
Fingers were also pointed at real estate developers who were blamed for not doing enough. But they are in the business to make money by providing housing, not to provide housing as some altruistic endeavour. Let’s be real.
The role of government is to provide for its people and that includes providing access to affordable housing. The fact that we are having a crisis in housing is evident that our governments, on all levels, have failed us. And their efforts at distraction are just that, to point us away from their failures.
This new federal money is expected to provide 250,000 homes – just a fraction of
the 1.3 million homes projected to be built by 2031. Is that going to make a serious impact with our growing population and the addition of some half million immigrants expected in each of the next few years?
The government’s efforts to reduce inflation, much of it caused by the meteoric rise in the cost of real estate, served also either by design or happenstance to reduce the demand for housing by significantly increasing the cost of borrowing through higher interest rates.
With money more expensive, a lot of would-be purchasers retreated from the market but that didn’t seriously affect home prices which are still out of reach for many. What it did was make home ownership much more expensive especially for those who already owned their homes and had mortgages coming up for renewal.
Those looking for a new mortgage or to renew were faced not only with a higher rate but also had to meet the requirements of a stress test. Which means that even if they could afford the current increased mortgage rate, they would need to be approved for a rate that was two or three points higher just to make sure that if their rate goes up they could afford it.
Homeowners failing to meet the stress test were denied and either had to sell their homes, in many cases at a loss, turn the keys over to the banks or go to a predatory lender who charged much higher interest rates, some as high as 15 per cent.
The government’s messing with this hurt a lot of people. The only beneficiaries
of these policies seem to have been the big banks and other mortgage providers who have been making out like bandits.
Most people who couldn’t buy before still can’t buy and for those who could buy, home ownership just got a lot more expensive thanks to the government’s intervention.
According to a recent article in the Toronto Star, the Crown agency responsible for housing stated that a total of 3.5 million homes will be needed by 2030 to “restore affordability” to 2004 levels.
Two thousand and four levels? Is that being realistic?
Every few years, the provincial government reassesses the value of all properties for tax purposes. Whether or not one has added value to their property through upgrades chances are that the government’s reassessment would always show an increase in value. That’s why when the local politicians boast that they are not raising property taxes, one still can end up paying more as the rate, although unchanged, is based on the new assessment.
Back in 2000 a small three-bedroom detached house could have been purchased for less than $200,000. That house would now be assessed at closer to $600,000 with market forces increasing the price closer to $900,000. If the government had left the assessed value as it was, it is doubtful that market forces alone would have had such a dramatic impact on prices.
But that is not practical. The government has to raise money to provide the
services we need. And a significant portion of that is through property taxes. I get that. Roads need to be repaired; water and sewerage systems need to be upgraded and maintained; snow need to be cleared; transit and other systems need to be funded. And the cost of labour increases every year.
Periodically increasing the assessed value of each property provides a huge injection of needed capital to help maintain our infrastructure. But that results in an overall increase in the basic cost of housing.
In their scramble to address the lack of affordable housing, either through ignorance or an effort at deception, politicians especially at the municipal level and advocates for the unhoused and underhoused, tend to focus attention (and ire) in the wrong direction.
The recently instituted Vacant Home Tax is a case in point.
Launched in Vancouver some years ago at one per cent of the assessed value of a residential property, it is now at five per cent. Toronto followed two years ago also at one per cent but increased to three per cent this year.
So, a property that was declared vacant for at least six months of the year and assessed at $400,000 was fined $4,000. This year, that fine will be increased to $12,000 with politicians and officials gleefully boasting about how much more money the city will rake in.
Blackhurstcentresignslong-termleasewithcity
By RON FANFAIR
Blackhurst Cultural Centre (BCC) has signed a 49-year lease with the City of Toronto that will kickstart construction of its permanent home at 777 Bathurst St.
“This is indeed a significant moment in history for the Blackhurst Centre as this neighbourhood carries the spirit of the Underground Railroad and so many outstanding Black Canadians,” Managing Director Itah Sadu said at the signing ceremony last week. “This week, we celebrate the pioneer Donald Moore and his historic trip to Ottawa to petition the government to open up immigration from the Caribbean.
“Today I am proud to be in a gathering where some of the early domestics came and women were part of those early greeters at the airport. As I look around the place I see history and I also see young people working here. This is a great moment for generations.”
The non-profit centre and destination that provides opportunities to experience the culture and history of Canadians of African and Caribbean ancestry is located in the Bathurst St. and Bloor St. W. neighbourhood that has been home to many Black homeowners and businesses,
including the defunct Contrast community newspaper, Mascoll Beauty Supply and a few barbershops.
“I attended one of the first meetings with the City to discuss the lease,” said investor and developer Andrew Garrett. “At that time, we were optimistic. It has taken time, but today my wife and I are truly proud of the outcome and this significant milestone.”
In December 2020, the City of Toronto approved a 49-year long-term lease as part of the rezoning with Westbank Corporation which purchased Mirvish Village in 2013.
“There is never an ordinary day when you work at the Centre,” Christina Mayers said. “I love working with the team here because when the doors open up magic happens. That's great for us young people.”
The BCC commissioned Grammy Award winner Ossie Gurley to write a theme song for the centre, ‘Welcome to the Jewel of Bathurst’
“The song came about because the intended address of the new Cultural Centre was formerly a dog spa and Gurley was part of the ‘Who Let The Dogs Out’ fame,” Sadu said.
Blackhurst Cultural Centre Managing Director ITAH SADU Photo by Ron Fanfair
Oliver Samuels back for Mother’s Day with ‘LuckyMoney’
By LINCOLN DEPRADINE
When reference is made to “The King of Comedy” in the Black and Caribbean community, one name invariably comes to mind. That is veteran Jamaican actor Oliver Samuels.
Samuels was in Toronto last year to perform in the hilarious stage production of “Teet an Tung”, which he also wrote and directed. He’s back this year and is preparing for a new show, “Lucky Money”
The play not only includes “a lot of laughter”, but also “serious messages rel evant to our society”, Samuels told “I play the role of Anton DeSouza. He is a suffering salesman.”
“Lucky Money” will be staged in Etobi coke this Friday, May 10. It will be followed by three other presentations in Scarbor ough as part of the “23rd Annual Mother’s Day Weekend Event” of comedy that’s described as “a show for the entire family”.
In “Lucky Money” , Samuels co-stars with Karen Harriot and Pablo Hoilett, who is also the play’s director.
“We have been in rehearsals for the past six weeks,” said Samuels, whose international tours have taken him to Canada for more than 35 years.
One of the characters in the comedic drama of “Lucky Money” is “Walter Nelson”, who is married to “Alzira”.
Walter, portrayed by Hoilett, is described as a self-righteous university lecturer, political activist and radio talk
in a dispute between her husband and Anton, a “small man”; poor and humble, but street-smart.
Walter tries to cheat Anton out of cash due to him from money that was won in a huge lottery from numbers Anton gave to Walter.
Anton’s name is signed on the back of the winning ticket but Walter refuses to share the winnings fifty-fifty. Instead, he offers to provide Anton with a washing machine and a second-hand fridge.
“The show deals with quite a number of issues like dishonesty and someone fighting for their rights,” said Samuels, who has been a fixture on the entertainment circuit for more than a half-century, after finding fame on the popular Jamaican Broadcasting Corporation’s TV series “Oliver at Large”
“The show also, to some point, deals with faithfulness. Because the wife, in spite she knows that Walter is a thief and him try to rob the small man, she still stick around with him.”
“Lucky Money” opens May 10, 8 p.m., at Woodbine Banquet Hall, 30 Vice Regent
Boulevard, Etobicoke.
The remaining weekend performances – on Saturday and Sunday – are at The Metropolitan Centre, 3840 Finch Avenue East. On Saturday, May 11, there’s one show beginning at 8 p.m. There are two shows on Sunday. The first is at 4:00 p.m. and the other at 8 p.m.
Tickets, bought in advance of the shows, are $45 each. Patrons, purchasing tickets at the door at the venues, will pay $50 each.
Further information about “Lucky Money” is available by calling 905-887-3297 or 647-994-5831.
OLIVER SAMUELS
Vaughan launches action plan to challenge anti-Black racism
By LINCOLN DEPRADINE
The City of Vaughan, as part of an eightyear “action plan”, has committed itself to “promoting economic prosperity and job creation, and supporting diverse Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned businesses” in the municipality that includes Concord, Kleinburg, Maple, Thornhill and Woodbridge.
The city’s “action plan” is endorsed by a Special Advisory Committee comprising of seven members from the Black and Caribbean community who noted the contributions made to Vaughan by its “diverse African, Caribbean and Black communities”.
“Our unique contributions have helped
Walkathonwillraisemoney tobuildschoolsinJamaica
The COVID-19 pandemic, which was responsible for more than seven million deaths worldwide, also impacted people’s lives socially and economically; it also affected children’s education.
Among those children were students at Jamaica’s schools, said Karl Hale, founder and chair of Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation (HHJF), a charitable organization dedicated to education development through investment in areas such as infrastructure, health and wellness.
“The literacy rates, due to COVID, have dropped significantly, because the children didn’t have access to the internet, computers, tablets and other things. We need a big push to get those literacy levels back to where we want them,” Hale told Share Hale made the comment in an interview, while encouraging broad public support for the 2024 HHJF fundraising walkathon.
The 5K “Jam-Walk” walkathon which is now in its 18th year will be held on Saturday, May 25, starting at the Palais Royale at the waterfront in downtown Toronto. Participants will be treated to brunch.
According to HHJF organizers, this is a “one-of-a-kind event” that brings together “fundraising, philanthropy and island hospitality”, and which also allows participants to “enjoy a morning filled with family fun and excitement, including a delightful brunch, refreshments, reggae music and more”.
The HHJF is committed to “ensuring that every child – regardless of socio-economic status or location – has access to education. We invite all who share this belief to join us for Jam-Walk,” urged Hale, a former Jamaica Davis Cup tennis player.
The walkathon, and other fundraisers of the foundation, have enabled members to offer scholarships to students, to finance school-feeding programs and to implement community initiatives such as an elderly food assistance program.
HHJF also has been responsible for building libraries, lavatories and clean water systems in various parts of Jamaica.
However, as HHJF puts it, its “core mis-
sion is building new schools”.
So far, the foundation has constructed 26 schools, including the Goodwill Early Childhood Learning Centre in Port Antonio dedicated to HHJF founding member, the late entertainment promoter Denise Jones.
In 2023, HHJF celebrated the completion of the Orange Bay Infant School.
The foundation wants to raise at least $50,000 with this year’s event on May 25, said Hale. The money will support construction of the Dumfries Infant/Primary School in Jamaica’s St. James Parish.
HHJF volunteers are planning a trip to Jamaica in July to work on the school, which they expect to be ready for the start of fall semester.
“We want Jamaicans, friends of Jamaica, and Caribbean-Canadians to come out and support us and support education in Jamaica at the Jam-Walk 5k walk and brunch,” Hale said.
HHJF, whose mission is to enhance “the lives of the next generation of children, young adults and their communities”, is encouraging would-be walkathon participants to register online.
The foundation will host another fundraiser on Friday, October 18 titled the Jamrock Gala.
to build a vibrant and prosperous city, where people from different backgrounds, identities and living experiences live, work and play together,” the advisory committee said in a statement. “We celebrate our contributions and achievements, while recognizing that anti-Black racism exists and must be addressed and dismantled.”
The statement was released in the aftermath of Vaughan Council’s approval of the “Reimagining Black Futures in Vaughan: Addressing Anti-Black Racism Action Plan 2024-2031”.
The plan, according to Mayor Steven Del Duca and other City of Vaughan officials, is a “strategy to challenge anti-Black racism in all its forms”.
“We recognize that anti-Black racism is a deeply ingrained systemic issue in Canada, and our city is not immune to it,” Del Duca said.
Acknowledging that anti-Black racism in the country is “perpetual” and “pervasive”, the city’s plan involves steps it would take to “improve municipal programs, policies and procedures to address anti-Black racism and ensure full and meaningful participation of the Black community in services, events and general city life”.
The action plan was developed after outreach and consultation with Vaughan residents including business owners, seniors, youth, newcomers, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and community leaders such as representatives of the Black advisory committee.
Committee members said they “provided guidance and assistance on the various components and phases of the action plan development and content”.
The plan contains approximately 25 objectives and 58 “key action items”.
Among the critical actions are the establishment of a standing “Advisory Committee on Addressing Anti-Black Racism”; a pledge to “embed the perspectives of diverse Black communities in city initiatives and promote the engagement of diverse Black communities in city initiatives and feedback mechanisms” and also to “identify and adapt city policies and procedures to reduce systemic and institutional barriers for diverse Black communities”.
Three surefire ways to show mom some love
By KATE MOORE, Senior Editor, News Canada
(NC) Mother’s Day is on the second Sunday of May every year. This year, that means it’s on Sunday, May 12. Which also means you don’t have a lot of time to pull together gifts and ideas to show her how important she is to you. Here are three ideas to get you started.
A shared interest
HHJF says it has “set its sights on raising significant funds to construct schools that will transform the education level, and increase education access, for children living in Jamaica’s under-resourced communities. These schools will be equipped with classrooms furnished with age-appropriate student furniture and essential facilities, including kitchens, staff and student bathrooms, sickbays, fencing, playgrounds, and water-harvesting systems”.
More information about HHJF is available by calling 416-988-9898; and at Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation.
DEPRADINE
Your relationship with your mom can be complicated. Consider finding fresh ways to connect this Mother’s Day and then seeing where they lead you. Taking advantage of a shared interest can be a great way to create a reliable conversation starter or spend lowkey time together. For example, if you’re both into history you could introduce her to a podcast like Parks Canada’s ReCollections, which brings listeners fascinating stories from national historic sites across the country. That should get you talking.
A favourite scent to savour Candles, perfumes, bath bombs and the like are classic gifts for mom, containing
essential oils that provide exquisite scents that transport her to another time or place. Just remember that even though essential oils are substances made from plants, that doesn’t mean they are always safe. Under the federal government’s Chemicals Management Plan, Health Canada has been evaluating the safety of different essential oils. Keep an eye out for any findings and remind mom to always follow the product’s directions.
A delicious meal
Brunch or breakfast in bed is a classic Mother’s Day gift that never goes out of style. Consider switching it up a little this year by opting for a theme. It could be anything from creating an international feast to choosing only local ingredients. You can learn about local growing from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association. Or, give traditional brunch options a twist; think huevos rancheros, a sweet and crunchy salad, or get fancy by grilling asparagus wrapped in prosciutto. www.newscanada.com.
Mayor STEVEN DEL DUCA
KARL HALE
Hall of Fame honour for long-time sports executive
By RON FANFAIR
Bernice Carnegie, the daughter of late hockey pioneer Herb Carnegie, will be inducted into the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame later this year.
Established in 1994, the organization honours athletes, administrators, officials, media and individuals who have achieved the highest standard of sports excellence.
“This award is special because I am being recognized for my work in sports administration,” Carnegie said. “It feels good to know people are paying attention to what I have been doing to change the face of hockey in Canada.”
She and Bryant McBride co-founded the Carnegie Initiative that hosts an annual summit, bringing together stakeholders to discuss issues of racism and inclusivity in
hockey.
Nearly seven decades ago, Herb Carnegie introduced the Future Aces Creed to enhance the development of young participants in the Future Aces Hockey School he and Doug Hester started in 1955 at Mitchell Field.
Over the years, Bernice Carnegie has led the way to spread her dad’s message.
Schools around the world have adopted the Future Aces Creed that inspires parents, educators and community leaders to encourage young people to focus on virtuous qualities, including good attitude, sound ethics, service and civic responsibility.
Through a foundation bearing Carnegie’s name, hundreds of dollars of scholarships were presented to high school graduates across Canada pursuing higher
education.
Many of the recipients are excelling in myriad professional fields.
As a community leader for four decades, Carnegie has been the recipient of numerous federal, provincial and community awards for education, development, communication, speaking and volunteerism.
She is the executive producer of the captivating documentary, ‘Beyond Their Years’, whose work stands as a testament to her father’s enduring legacy, inspiring generations to come.
Born in Toronto and raised in North York, Carnegie is a renowned speaker, author, and storyteller.
The induction ceremony takes place on November 7.
NeoliberalismisCanada’srealproductivityproblem
By ANDREW JACKSON
It is rare for the Bank of Canada to say that we face a national economic emergency. But that is exactly what Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers did on March 26. She was referring to Canada’s dismal record on labour productivity, which is indeed a major, albeit long-standing issue. Her widely publicized speech put a sharper focus on very weak Canadian economic performance, especially relative to the United States.
As Rogers said, “labour productivity measures how much an economy produces per hour of work. Increasing productivity means finding ways for people to create more value during the time they’re at work. This is a goal to aim for, not something to fear.”
The labour movement has long understood that raising output per hour of work through more investment in machinery and equipment (as opposed to work intensification) lays the basis for negotiating rising wages and living standards and investing in social programs and public services. Higher productivity can also support the reduction of working time.
Productivity on the Decline
We can all agree that Canada’s productivity record is appalling. According to Rogers, output per hour is now just 70 per cent of the U.S. level, down from almost 90 per cent in the early 1980s. Over the long run, our performance has been the worst of any major industrial country save Italy.
Economists across the political spectrum agree that the main sources of long-term productivity growth are investments in machinery and equipment, new technologies embodied in new products and services, intellectual property and education – and skills. High productivity, high wage economies are on the cutting edge of innovation.
Mainstream neoliberal economists and policymakers generally argue that governments should mainly set the stage, or create favourable conditions, for the business sector to invest. This is done through so-called market friendly framework policies such as low inflation, liberalized trade, deregulation and privatization, and low taxes on capital.
Rogers calls for fostering more competition and encouraging businesses to invest more. Mainstream economists and policymakers generally give the priority to private investment and lower taxes, rather than public investment, even though the latter can make a powerful contribution to productivity growth.
Public investment in areas like infrastructure and education are clearly basic building blocks of a successful economy, complementing business investment. Going one step further, public investment in skills and research and development as well as all kinds of subsidies and even public enterprises like Crown corporations have partially made up for the chronic deficiencies of the Canadian private sector.
A central problem with the mainstream approach is that it has been tried and has manifestly failed.
A recent Globe and Mail column by Andrew Coyne was headlined “How could we do so poorly? We did everything right!” Legions of economists have lamented the failure of neoclassical economic policies to deliver.
Coyne further notes that this failure also largely applies to modestly interventionist and costly government policies such as subsidies to business investment. These fall well short of public sector leadership and genuine investment planning, which has fallen into disfavour in the neoliberal era (though “Bidenomics” may mark a modestly successful shift in direction).
Key Structural Problem
Rogers is silent on the key structural problem, specifically the nature of Canada as an export and foreign investment driven resource-based economy with only a relatively small, sophisticated industrial sector.
Canadian political economists from Harold Innis to Mel Watkins have long identified the staples underdevelopment trap and the need to deepen the domestic economy through managed trade and hands on industrial policies. These were pursued in the 1970s but were largely undercut by the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement from 1988.
It is deeply ironic that “free trade” was sold as the cure to Canada’s productivity
problem, and is widely held to be a great success by the same policymakers who lament our poor productivity record. Instead, neoliberal policies resulted in deindustrialization outside the booming energy sector.
Rogers also fails to acknowledge that the neoliberal economic framework may actually exacerbate the productivity problem. Targeting low inflation even more stringently than the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of Canada has often, as today, undermined business investment through excessively tight monetary policy.
In the U.S., governments have more often let the economy “run hot”. Low unemployment results in higher wages which pressure companies to invest in new capital equipment and skills, raising productivity.
In Canada, the unemployment rate has been generally higher than in the U.S., and temporary workers have been used to contain wage growth. Yet no one at the Bank of Canada is calling for higher wage growth to boost productivity.
The left should not discount the importance of raising productivity. But more of the same economic policies is not the answer.
Andrew Jackson is the former Director of Social and Economic Policy at the Canadian Labour Congress, and author of the recent book, The Fire and the Ashes: Rekindling Democratic Socialism (Toronto: Between The Lines, 2021).
Plan is to maintain dialogue with Black community
In addition, the city “recognizes the importance of developing events that celebrate Black history, culture and community, and empower the Black community to participate”.
The action plan “outlines our pledge to maintain a continuous and meaningful dialogue with diverse Black communities about decision-making processes and institutional barriers, and ensure municipal programs, services and initiatives are inclusive”, said Mayor Del Duca.
perspectives and insights during the plan.”
“There is more work to do, and we are committed to doing it. The Addressing Anti-Black Racism Action Plan is a part of that commitment. I am grateful to the diverse group of individuals who contributed their
Black advisory committee members said that part of their advocacy has been for the “implementation of an accountability framework that embeds transparency throughout all stages of the action plan, while monitoring progress and holding stakeholders responsible”.
According to committee members,
“we cannot hope to effectively address anti-Black racism without listening to, learning about and believing lived experiences of African, Caribbean and Black communities – even when those experiences don’t match our own. This requires empathy. It’s a collective step we can all take towards reimagining Black futures in the City of Vaughan”.
BERNICE CARNEGIE
Vaughan Rd., Toronto, Ont. M6E 2Y5 Tel. (416) 656-3400 • Fax: (416) 656-3711 Internet: www.sharenews.com • E-mail: share@interlog.com
• Readership 130,000 each week (estimated) • Founded January, 1978 • Member of the Ethnic Press Council of
Sell it or rent it?
CONTINUED FROM Pg. 1
There was an assumption that some people pur chased real estate as an investment and were just holding them until the price increased so that they could sell them and make a huge profit. While that might be true in a few cases, especially for people with deep pockets, it doesn’t make sense for the average small investor who would rent out the property and have the rent cover their expenses rather than eat the expenses themselves.
New leadership in Haiti must press for reparations
What is more likely is that some people purchased a second property when prices were much more affordable either as a vacation home (instead of a cottage, for example), a pied-à-terre or for their retirement when they are no longer able to care for a larger property. That would make sense for those who are thinking and planning ahead.
However, with the housing market being what it is now, some have been questioning the fairness of one person having two properties when others have none.
Actually, one fellow said as much in a social media response on the subject.
“Why should someone have two houses when I don’t have one?” he said.
The right response should have been: “Why don’t you have one?”
But he was just reflecting the government’s position: If you have two residences you either rent one out or sell it. That’s harsh!
Everyone who needs it should have a right to affordable housing. The question is: who should be responsible for providing it? And the answer has to be the government. At all levels. But that would take courage. Instead of scapegoating individuals by turning us against each other, the goal of the municipalities should be to house everyone through fair tax increases across the board supplemented by willing support from the higher levels of government.
If we are O.K. with the government ordering people to rent or sell their properties, what happens when someone in government decides that a large house is too much house for a couple and orders them to rent out part of it?
What happens when a widow is forced to move into a smaller home or into retirement living so that a large family could take ownership of her larger home?
Where would it end?
Real estate has always been presented as a great investment, mostly by those trying to sell real estate and others who made money on such sales. But they were not wrong.
Most people who were not born into money have few opportunities to lift themselves out of poverty. Owning real estate is one of the few available options. To get into the stock market, for example, one has to have money to invest. To purchase real estate, one only has to come up with a portion of the cost with the bank providing the rest through mortgage(s).
Of course, there are challenges. This is not for the weak of heart. But those who are willing to make the sacrifice and take on the challenge could find themselves richly rewarded later on in life and be better able to provide for their loved ones.
There are those who make a conscious decision to rent finding it less challenging without all the headaches of ownership such as mortgages, taxes, maintenance etc. To each his own. The downside of that is that they would have missed out on one fairly secure way of acquiring wealth.
But then you don’t blame and penalize those who made different choices. And people in positions of authority shouldn’t use this to turn us against each other to mask their failures or for political gain.
Over the years, a lot of money has been spent by the various levels of government (and individual politicians) on vanity or other pet projects while the basic need for affordable housing was ignored. So, we end up with a problem.
Hopefully, the newly rediscovered passion for housing will result in easing the crisis. But, be warned, it will take time.
By PATRICK HUNTER
The enslavement of African peoples meant they were captured, bound and transported in hellish conditions for several days to lands distant from their homes. They were then sold to plantation owners to work their fields, without pay and, again, under hellish conditions.
The enslaved Africans of Haiti who were subjected to this kind of treatment rose up against their masters to claim their freedom. That rebellion led to Haiti being the first independent nation led by ex-enslaved Africans.
Today, Haiti is in crisis – again – and certainly one of the worse. This is a country which, in modern times, has seen dictatorships, hurricanes and earthquakes that have left the country in very desperate conditions. Now, reportedly, gangs have taken over the capital, Port-au-Prince, leaving people dead in the streets, and other citizens taking flight away from the city.
The gangs that have taken control of the city also control the airports and harbours which prevents incoming relief. The conditions are such that, according to reports, the country is in a state of near famine.
The gangs not only barred the country’s prime minister from returning home but forced his resignation, preventing him from returning home from a mission to get help.
As the United Nations and some countries tried to come up with a plan to try to restore order, Kenya offered to send troops but on condition that some form of leadership be established. In the meantime, Canada has just completed the training in Jamaica of a group of military personnel, taken from other Caribbean countries. Their task would be to provide support to the Haitian police.
A transitional council has now been sworn in to do the business of government until, one hopes, things have settled down and a formal government can be elected.
On reporting on the state of things in Haiti, a few journalists have mentioned, in passing, the fact that the people of Haiti had to pay their former slave masters for the loss of their “possessions” through an agreement made to avoid being overcome by threatened military action against the then newly independent Haiti.
The New York Times, in 2022, published an extensive article on Haiti which traced some of the root causes of the country’s troubles today. Faced with the threat of a massive French attack, “Haiti’s president, eager for the trade and security of international recognition, bowed to France’s demands. With that, Haiti set another precedent: It became the world’s first and only country where the
descendants of enslaved people paid reparations to the descendants of their masters – for generations.”
The article continues: “Even the first installment was about six times the government’s income that year…But that was the point, and part of the plan. The French king had given the baron [Baron of Mackau] a second mission: to ensure the former colony took out a loan from young French banks to make payment.”
The New York Times’ research estimate that Haiti paid about $560 million in today’s dollars and believes that if that money had stayed in Haiti, it would have generated about $21 billion over time.
According to the Times’ article, the last slaveholder payments were made in 1888. However, the debt incurred through loans to make the payments continued.
France was not the only “benefactor”. The United States began occupying Haiti in 1915 and payments to those officials for salaries and expenses came from the people of Haiti.
When Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a former priest, became president of Haiti, he began a campaign to have France repay the money paid to the former slaveholders. Not surprisingly, France and the United States arranged the removal of Aristide from power taking him in exile to the Central African Republic.
Now that other stories have taken over the headlines, it is not clear where things stand in Haiti. Some news reports have noted that gang attacks have continued even after a new prime minister has been sworn in. It is also unclear when the UN-supported Kenyan police will take up the assignment to help quell the violence.
Governments appear to have taken the position that reparations will never be paid. It would appear, as David Cameron, the former UK prime minister (and current foreign affairs minister) told Jamaicans some years ago: “It’s time to move on.” Notwithstanding that position, CARICOM, of which Haiti is a member, intends to press for reparations for slavery.
To their credit, some institutions have taken steps towards some form of reparations for their role in the enslavement of African peoples. Some families, including the British Royal family, have begun to examine their role as well. France, on the other hand, seems to have put forward the position that reparations will never happen, even though they are aware of their role in Haiti’s history.
Pursuing this objective has to be a main priority for the transitional council and any future elected government. It is perhaps one of the most immediate ways to help solve Haiti’s economic mess.
Email: patrick.hunter11@gmail.com / X: @pghntr.
Country music was influenced by African music
By MURPHY BROWNE (Abena Agbetu)
“I was wondering about our yesterdays, and starting digging through the rubble and to say, at least somebody went through a hell of a lot of trouble to make sure that when we looked things up we wouldn’t fare too well and that we would come up with totally unreliable portraits of ourselves.
But I compiled what few facts I could, I mean, such as they are to see if we could shed a little bit of light and this is what I got so far: First, white folks discovered Africa and they claimed it fair and square.
Cecil Rhodes couldn’t have been robbing nobody ‘cause he said there was nobody there.”
Excerpt from Black History/The World by Gil
Scott-Heron
In 1980, African American jazz poet, singer, musician, author and spoken-word artist Gilbert Scott-Heron released “Black History/The World” on the album: “Moving Target.” Gil Scott-Heron deconstructed colonialism, racism and African history as told and documented by people who were not African. Those “historians” told their version of our story.
In “Black History/The World,” Gil Scot Heron illuminated the African proverb: “Until the lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter.” Similarly, until the Africans from the African continent and in the Diaspora began documenting their own stories, everyone else told and wrote their version of African stories.
Gilbert Scott-Heron wrote and performed “Black History/ The World” in 1980. In 2024, several decades later, some people who do not know the African stories are telling their version.
I was reminded of Gil Scott-Heron’s “Black History/The World,” when I read about Asa Blanton, a White Indiana State University nursing student who said Beyoncé is “not country” because Beyoncé is not White. Blanton said in a video shared on TikTok: “I’m sorry, but if you’re Black, you’re not country. I don’t care, I wish I meant that in the nicest way, but babe, I know you were raised in the country
MURPHY BROWNE
Family’s focus on education paid off for UWI award recipient
By RON FANFAIR
Far too many bright and gifted young people seeking higher education are denied the basic right because their parents cannot afford tuition costs.
In the 1960s in apartheid South Africa, schools created specifically for Blacks designed curricula to prepare students for menial jobs.
Derrick Kamanga, who passed away in 2011, was very fortunate. Born in Barberton which is the South African town where gold mining began, he attended secondary school in Malawi and received a scholarship to pursue higher education in Canada.
“If someone had not given my father that scholarship, he would not have had the opportunity and I would not have had the opportunity to be where I am today,” said Deland Kamanga who is BMO Wealth Management Group Head. “It does not just help that one person. It helps multiple generations. When I look at my two daughters, they would not have the education and opportunities they have if someone had not given their paternal grandfather a scholarship nearly 60 years ago.”
Kamanga was the recipient of a Vice-Chancellor Award at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Toronto Gala on April 20.
In the last 15 years, the nearly $3 million raised has funded scholarships for over 700 students.
Of all the accolades Kamanga has received, this one stands out.
“Opening doors for higher education and offering young people the chance to succeed are priorities for me,” he said. “This prestigious honour is coming from an organization providing thousands of dollars in scholarships to students in the Caribbean.”
Education was an important part of life in the Kamanga home. The family patriarch insisted his two sons hit the books instead of kicking a soccer ball or dribbling a basketball.
“Dad wanted us to stay in school and focus on education,” said Kamanga, who is on the SickKids Board of Trustees and SickKids Foundation. “He knew that was his way out and saw that as our way out. He also wanted us to have a business. He did not like it when my brother and I ended up in the banking industry.”
Thinking that real estate would be a profitable business to pursue after completing an Economics degree at Western University, he changed course in his final year after stumbling across the New York Times bestseller, ‘Barbarians at the Gate’ which centers on RJR Nabisco Chief Executive Officer F. Ross Johnson’s plans to buy out the rest of the company’s shareholders.
“I thought this was like real estate, but for companies,” said Kamanga who is a chartered financial analyst. “As I delved more into the finance business, I became interested in this sector. From a young age, I was interested in the stock market, but I thought you need a lot more money to invest in the market. In real estate, it is known that you could invest a little bit and have a lot of debt. That is what I saw with this private equity business, and it made me learn more about finance. After graduating, I said I would start there and once I got $100,000, I would leave and start a business. Here we are 33 years later, and I am still working for someone else.”
Getting a job in the financial sector was not easy for the new graduate. With his resume failing to generate interviews, Kamanga felt his name was a barrier.
Mike McPhillips, who has been with BMO Nesbitt Burns since 1983, gave him his first job.
“He took a chance on me and even after he hired me, one of his managers was not comfortable with the hire and wanted to demote me to see how I would do,” said Kamanga. “Mike stood his ground, fought his boss and said let’s give this guy a chance. Having someone who doesn’t know you vouch for you made all the difference in my career.”
Starting in 1991 at BMO Nesbitt which was the predecessor to BMO Capital Markets, he moved on two years later to CIBC Bond Desk where he spent a decade, including a year in New York, setting up their cross-asset derivatives operation.
Back in Toronto to join his wife who was admitted to the Ontario Bar and a young daughter, Kamanga worked in RBC Fixed Income Derivatives section before returning to BMO in 2006 to run their cross-asset derivatives business.
Married for 28 years, Nicole Stewart Kamanga is the great-grandniece of Vincentian-born Hugh Mulzac who was the first Black man to obtain a Shipmaster’s unlimited license and the first Black Merchant Marine Ship Commander in 1942 when he skippered the SS Booker T. Washington with an integrated crew of 18 nationalities.
The second time around with BMO, Kamanga has found joy and happiness.
“We have a very collegial culture here that wants to
be a great bank as well,” said the 2022 Structured Product Industry Hall of Fame inductee. “We want to work together as a team and be number one. In addition, this place cares about the client. Once we do that, the bank will be taken care of long-term. Having seen the cultures of other banks, I thought this would be the place to be.”
On the way up the corporate ladder, Colleen Moorehead, Laura Ross and Wendy Smith then at CIBC and Ray Williams, who co-founded the Black Opportunity Fund, offered a helping hand.
“Colleen and Laura gave me a chance on the trading floor,” said Kamanga who is a Women in Capital Markets Board member. “Wendy was in charge when electronic trading started in the early 1990s and she allowed me to trade risk. Ray was one of the few Blacks on the trading floor who did not have to help anyone. Though well
See KAMANGA Pg. 14
DELAND KAMANGA
Scarborough Walk of Fame honours special achievements
By RON FANFAIR
On their way to be inducted to the Scarborough Walk of Fame on April 10, brothers Stephan James and Shamier Anderson did a very cool thing.
Instead of riding in a limousine, the actors hopped on the 190 Scarborough Centre Rocket to the fourth-largest mall in the Greater Toronto Area.
For a few minutes, they relished reliving some of their childhood past riding the TTC to the Town Centre and other nearby venues.
“I took that bus every day from Bay Mills at Birchmount & Sheppard to either dance at Tropicana (Community Services), catch a movie at Famous Players with a sweeter thing (pretty girl) or grab a bite at my favourite Scarborough restaurant, Fredericks,” said Anderson who played Mr. Nobody in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’. “Anybody that knows me knows I am a proud Scarborough boy at heart.”
Raised by a single mother with two other siblings at 365 Bay Mills Blvd, Apartment 207, James reflected on life growing up in Scarborough.
“Inside those four walls,
my brother and I built the foundation that would define the rest of our lives,” the
30-year-old award-winning actor said. “My first memories of summertime were
TMUcoursetrainsstudentsintheCarnivalArts
By LINCOLN DEPRADINE
One of the skills of carnival arts that many worry could become a thing of the past is wire-bending. Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), however, is playing a role in ensuring that wire-bending, and carnival costume-making in general, are continued into the future in a program taught by Jamaican-born Candice Dixon.
“I am a wire-bender. I think it’s an artform that is getting lost; a lot of the people in Toronto that do it are elders and it’s not being passed down.
“So, it’s something that I want to make sure lives on,” Dixon told Share
The TMU course is a collaboration between the university’s School of Fashion and SugaCayne, a company founded and co-owned by
Dixon and partner Dwayne Dixon.
SugaCayne, described as a “boutique Caribbean carnival costume design and production company”, was launched in 2010 and has participated in several high-profile events such as Toronto Carnival, “Artworx TO” and “The Bob Marley Experience”.
“We are artists first and foremost,” Dwayne Dixon said in an interview with Share. “We push the bound aries when it comes to fabrication, feathering, beading and wire-bending. But we also understand that things change; when mas’ began, it was about using the elements and material that were around you.”
Dixon is a former executive director of the Nia Centre for the Arts.
“Fast-forward to 2024. If you look at what’s around you today, you’ll find 3D printers and laser-cutting machines and those are some of things that we now incorporate on top of the foundation to push evolution through carnival costumes.”
The TMU Carnival Arts course, which is said to be the first-ever costume design program in Canada, started about seven years ago and was developed by Candice Dixon.
It’s a “trans-disciplinary live event super-course”, said TMU’s Caron Phinney. “It’s a big course.”
Phinney, an assistant professor, is also director of the undergraduate program in inclusion, design and technology.
She was present at a student-curated Carnival Arts showcase at the university. The runway event also featured a display of select costumes from SugaCayne’s “Innovation in Mas” collection, and included entertainment from Panatics Steel Orchestra, as well as the sharing of carnival history information by entertainer and former Canadian Calypso Monarch, Henry “Cosmos” Gomez.
Phinney described the students’ production as
“colourful and intricate design work that celebrates not just Caribbean tales, but also encourages students to learn from, explore and embrace their own cultural background”.
Students in the Carnival Arts credit course engage not only in wire-bending, but also utilize other things such as thermoforming, digital fabrication, recycled material and laser-cutting techniques.
Candice Dixon, who is trained in fashion design and visited Trinidad on an Ontario Arts Council-sponsored study visit, said the TMU course is “all about carnival arts and carnival history”.
“The beginning of the course is really about the history of carnival; where it started, why we do this. It’s more than just a street party; that we’re actually celebrating our freedom,” Dixon said.
The course’s second part, said Dixon, is about “storytelling”, with students being asked to “come in with an idea, like a pretty costume they’ve seen and that they want to replicate. Here, they must tell a story with an
overarching theme, with five sub-themes and they must dive in and tell me a story.
“That is about fabrication and how the costume is going to be produced”.
Wire-bending, Dixon added, “is an essential part of the selection of their final costume piece. But I also understand that we are in the 21st century; that technology is a huge part of everything that we do. And I want to elevate the artform a little by adding some digital fabrication, such as 3D printing and laser cutting.
Environmental sustainability is also a component of the program, and students are encouraged to reuse material and incorporate it into their costume design. Dixon, creative director of SugaCayne, said carnival in Toronto has been “a part of the fabric” of her life.
“I decided in 2017 that I really wanted to learn more so I received a grant from the Ontario Arts Council and went down to Trinidad and was a mentee under one of the best designers down there in terms of wire-bending, feather-placing, beading, and all of that,” she said.
walks to ‘On the Run’ for our favourite slushies, trips to Agincourt Pool where the
chlorine was way too harsh, playing basketball at Holy Spirit where I could hear my
mom screaming, “Shamier, Stephan, Sheldon, come See WALK OF FAME Pg. 12
STEPHAN JAMES (left) and brother SHAMIER ANDERSON
CAMESHA COX
Dr. VIVIAN RAMBIHAR (center) with wife PERDITA (left) and their daughters VANESSA, SHERRYN and NADIRA Photos by Ron Fanfair
CANDICE DIXON
Photo by Lincoln DePradine
Today’s classrooms are complex, but solutions are within reach.
Students deserve smaller class sizes to get one-on-one sup-
Students deserve special education supports to help them learn and thrive
Students deserve smaller class sizes to get one-on-one support
Students deserve certified occasional teachers for contin-
Students deserve special education supports to help them learn and thrive
Students deserve certified occasional teachers for continuous learning
As parents and educators, we see it. Our kids are going through a lot. Student needs are more complex than ever. And years of funding cuts make it harder to get the supports they need.
Underfunding of public education in Ontario has led to larger class sizes and fewer caring adults in our schools. That’s made the challenges in our schools even bigger.
Building better schools starts with more supports for our kids. Instead of investing, the government has introduced almost $292 million in cuts.
Together, we can help our kids thrive with more classroom supports and safer schools for everyone.
Let’s give our kids the best start at school.
LEARN MORE
Filmmaker Roger McTair told stories of ‘ordinary people’
By RON FANFAIR
One of Canada’s earliest Black documentary filmmakers has passed away. Roger McTair died on April 8 from Parkinson’s complications. He was 80.
Telling stories through African, Trinidadian and Canadian lenses, he produced nine films between 1977 and 2000.
The response to the films was overwhelming.
“There were people lining up around the block coming to see them,” award-winning producer Karen King said a few years ago. “The screenings were sold out. Roger told the stories of ordinary people. He told stories that are so important because they are the ones that actually tell us what Black life was like here in Canada, what was really going on in families as they gathered to celebrate their heritage or as they struggled to keep their children out of jail…Roger told our stories through an African, Trinidadian and Canadian lens. They were the most difficult to tell, but he insisted because it was at a time when we had to learn that our stories are valuable.”
Migrating from Trinidad & Tobago in 1970 and failing to secure a job in advertising after being told by several agencies that he did not have enough Canadian experience,
McTair freelanced for several years before making his first film, ‘It’s Not an Illness’
He wrote a diversity column for the ‘Toronto Star’ for nearly three years before teaming up with his ex-wife Claire Prieto in 1991 to produce ‘Jennifer Hodge: The Glory and the Pain’ that paid tribute to the life and ground-breaking work of Hodge
whose pioneering projects in the 1980s established the dominant mode in African Canadian film culture.
The daughter of the late Canadian activist, author and TV personality Mairuth Sarsfield, Hodge succumbed to cancer in 1989 at age 38.
McTair also collaborated with Hodge on ‘Home Feeling: Struggle for a Community’, a feature film released in 1983 that examined the tenuous relationship between the police and residents in the Jane-Finch community and he directed ‘Jane Finch Again!’ four years later.
Just as he was completing ‘Journey to Justice’ which was the story of six Canadians who took the racism they faced to court, McTair got a job offer from Seneca College.
“I got on my high horse and told them I was a freelancer and I didn’t want to work for anyone,” he said. “They asked me to give it a try because they needed someone; and I did. The first cheque I got after two weeks was a good one and the second one after the first month was also good.”
McTair spent 18 years at the college.
“What I really liked about teaching was that I got to challenge young minds and having them challenge me,” he said.
With assistance from his son Ian Kamau, McTair’s first book, ‘My Trouble with Books’, a collection of short stories, was released in 2018.
Set in Toronto, Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados, the 13 short stories are filled with memories of childhood and adolescence as well as snapshots of his flat, calm and stoic style of writing.
“Roger always called to introduce us to new books and writings,” said storyteller and entrepreneur Itah Sadu. “He understood the human condition and was a griot in many ways. You always felt good in his company.”
Toronto Metropolitan University launched a scholarship in 2017, in the name of McTair who was involved in several community initiatives, including the Black Education Project and The Library of Black People’s Literature.
“The pride of our alumni is really the proof that this university has done its work but, in many ways, you are the proof that this university is what it is and what it will become,” then TMU Campaign Executive Director Krishan Mehta told McTair. Black students pursuing filmmaking studies at the university’s School of Image Arts are the beneficiaries.
AreyoueligibleforthenewCanadianDentalCarePlan?
(NC) In December 2023, the Government of Canada began rolling out the new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) to help make oral healthcare accessible to residents without dental insurance.
The plan, which will benefit up to 9 million Canadians once fully implemented, will help ensure more people can afford to take care of their oral health.
Are you one of them?
Who is eligible?
To qualify for the plan, you must meet the following criteria:
· be a Canadian resident with no access to dental insurance;
· have an annual family income under $90,000; and
· have filed your tax return for the previous year.
When can you apply?
The application process is opening in phases, starting with seniors.
Applications opened in December 2023 for seniors aged 87 and older.
· Applications for 77 to 86-year-olds opened in January 2024.
· Applications for 72 to 76-year-olds opened in February 2024.
· Beginning in March those aged 70 to 71 were able to apply.
· Seniors aged 65 to 69 can apply for the plan in May.
Canadians with a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate and children under the age of 18 will be able to start applying online as of June.
All other eligible residents will be able to apply in 2025.
How can you apply?
By the end of March 2024, seniors aged 70 and older who may qualify for the plan would have received a letter from the federal government inviting them to apply. The invitation included instructions on how to confirm their
eligibility and apply by telephone. If you think you are eligible and haven’t received a letter, or you have lost your letter, you can contact Service Canada in person or online, or by phone at 1-833-537-4342.
In May 2024, applications will shift to an online portal and will open for eligible seniors 65 and older. More information on that portal will be available closer to its launch date.
What’s covered under the program?
The CDCP will help cover the cost of most basic oral health care services, including check-ups, x-rays, cleanings, fillings, root canal treatments and dentures.
Members will be reimbursed a percentage of the cost at the plan’s established fees. These depend on the members’ income level, and some people may have to pay the rest of the expense amount out of pocket.
For example:
if you have a family income under
$70,000, you can have 100 per cent of eligible costs covered;
if your family income is between $70,000 and $79,999, 60 per cent of eligible costs can be covered; and with a family income between $80,000 and $89,999, 40 per cent of eligible costs can be covered.
Oral health providers may charge a higher price than the established plan fees. In these instances, the patient will be required to pay the balance between these two amounts. When will coverage start?
Once enrolled in the plan, seniors who are covered will be able to start seeing an oral health provider as early as May. Coverage start dates will vary based on when you can apply, when the application is received and when enrolment is completed. To find out if you are eligible and when you can apply, visit canada.ca/dental. www.newscanada.com
Things to consider before you sign a rental lease
(NC) For those of us who rent, the time to renew your lease may be coming up. You may also be looking at renting for the first time. Here are some things you should know before signing on the dotted line.
Consider the total costs
Aside from paying the rent, you could be responsible for paying utilities (heat, water and electricity) depending on the place you’re renting. And if this is your first place, think about the other costs you may have to pay, such as parking, laundry, transportation and major one-time costs like hiring movers or having to buy new furniture.
Typically, you don’t want to spend more that 35 per cent of your gross income
on housing costs. To make this easier to calculate, use a budget calculator like the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s Budget Planner. Know what you’re signing
The rental agreement, also called a lease, is a contract between you and your landlord. It includes the terms, conditions and duration of the agreement. If you ever have a dispute with your landlord, you’ll need to refer to the lease, so it’s important to understand everything that’s in it. It’s also important to know that laws governing landlord and tenant relationships vary by province. Do your research to understand what terms a landlord is allowed or not allowed to include.
Security deposits
Among other requirements, many landlords require some type of security deposit. There are different rules on this in different provinces. It’s usually not more than one month’s rent and may also be referred to as “last month’s rent.” It’s an amount of money set aside in case damage occurs to the rental unit. At the end of your lease, if you leave your unit in the same condition as when you moved in, that money is usually used to pay rent for your last month there.
Credit checks and guarantors
Some landlords may require checking your credit report to make sure you’ll be able to pay rent consistently. If you don’t have a credit history, or you’ve had credit
trouble, a landlord may require a guarantor, which is a person who agrees to pay your rent if you can’t.
Beware of rental scams
While on the hunt for a rental unit, be wary of what is offered. Some signs that could point to fraud or scams include:
· Offering very cheap rent compared to what is on the market.
· Asking for a deposit without a formal agreement in place.
· Ads that show pictures of the outside of the unit only, or pictures that don’t match the actual property.
Get more tips about renting a home at canada.ca/housing. www.newscanada.com
ROGER McTAIR
5 questions all first-time home buyers should ask
(NC) Buying your first home can be both exciting and overwhelming, but doing your research and asking the right questions can help you reduce stress and make your purchase with confidence.
Here are five questions every first-time homebuyer should ask themselves, according to Royal Bank of Canada.
1.What shape are your finances in?
Your finances need to be in good shape to qualify for a mortgage and a good interest rate. Lenders will look at your credit report to determine your credit risk. If your credit history isn’t the best, now is the time to work on your credit score.
2.How much will a home cost?
Most first-time buyers are surprised at the hidden costs that go into buying a home. Beyond the mortgage, down payment and closing costs, there are insurance fees if your down payment is less than 20 per cent of the
value of the home. Other expenses include setting up utilities, legal fees, insurance, maintenance costs and property tax. Collectively, they can add a lot more to what you originally expected to pay.
3.How will you save for your down payment?
Saving for a down payment can be one of the most challenging steps for first-time home buyers, but there are savings tools that can help. For example, the First-Home Savings Account is a registered account that can help you save for your first home, without paying tax on the money you earn or take out. You can contribute up to $8,000 a year tax-free to this account, up to a lifetime limit of $40,000.
4.What are your non-negotiables and trade-offs?
It’s important to think about whether you have any “deal-breakers” you aren’t willing
Walk of Fame honours inductees with permanent ‘stars’
inside” and not to forget the rides on the 190 Rocket that brought us right here to Scarborough Town Centre.
“This mall was always seen as a bit of a getaway for us. You could see a movie, eat at Koya (a defunct Japanese restaurant in the mall) and even play a game or two in the arcade all for less than 20 bucks. Those were the good old days.”
James guest starred in the CBC television mini-series, ‘The Book of Negroes’, was cast as civil rights leader John Lewis in ‘Selma’ that received an Oscar nomination, won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor for his role as Jesse Owens in ‘Race’ and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for portraying Walter Cruz in the Amazon series, ‘Homecoming’
“I remember when Whitby felt like Beverley Hills,” he said. “I can now proudly say I have seen the real Beverley Hills and it is nice, but it is no Scarborough. The food, the culture, the vibes, how everything in life was seemingly set up to bring us down, but somehow we laughed at the pain and always found a way to prevail. It is that resilience that has taken us from Scarborough to the world.
“I could have walked this mall a thousand times and never noticed that standing on one of these stars literally meant I was standing on a pillar of my community. Today, I stand with my brother and be celebrated as a pillar myself.”
Conscious of supporting other artists as they ascend the ladder of success, James shouted out actors Lamar Johnson, Dewshane Williams and Shemar Charles, rapper Jimmy B, three-time Juno nominated hip hop artist & educator Keysha Freshh, writer Catherine Hernandez, whose debut novel, ‘Scarborough’ was published in 2017, and Degrassi star Jahmil French who passed away in March 2021.
Four years ago, the brothers created the Black Academy which is an extension of B.L.A.C.K (Building A Legacy in Acting, Cinema & Knowledge) which they started in 2016 to facilitate the development of young and emerging Black talent in the entertainment industry.
The Black Academy launched the Legacy Awards in 2022 which is an annual showcase recognizing Black Canadian talent and rising stars.
Since 2006, the Scarborough Walk of Fame has honoured inductees with permanent stars near the Food Court to form a footpath.
This year’s inductees also include Camesha Cox who launched The Reading Partnership 13 years ago, graphic artist Mark Stoddart, cardiologist Dr. Vivian Rambihar and Canadian men’s basketball team General Manager Rowan Barrett.
The latest recognition is a full-circle moment for Barrett who was raised in Scarborough near the Toronto Zoo.
He graduated from West Hill Collegiate Institute, secured a basketball scholarship to St. John’s University, captained Canada at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame last year.
“I see people here that supported me all the way and I think it is poignant that this Scarborough Walk of Fame is powered by volunteers,” Barrett said. “My early life was powered by volunteers, whether it was playing for the Kingston Galloway Lancers or in my little community. Whatever I was doing, the people who coached me were all people who took time out of their day to volunteer.”
Because of those volunteers and mentors, he started the Canada Basketball Junior Academy program.
“It is for young men who sometimes just cannot get all the way through and end up falling by the wayside,” said Barrett. “I wanted to go in there in elementary school and get them. We did.”
Jamal Murray, who won a National Basketball Association title with the Denver Nuggets last year, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder who co-led the league in steals and was third in scoring during the just concluded regular season, are products of the Junior Academy.
“That is important for me because I am looking at young men who are changing the trajectory of their families,” he said. “They are impacting their families and communities and inspiring people around the world. I am proud to be part of that. For every one of them in the NBA, there are 100 of them that did not make it.”
Barrett acknowledged his mother, an immigrant from Jamaica who worked two jobs to support her family, wife Kesha Duhaney and former Toronto Metropolitan University coach Richard Dean who was a member of the undefeated 1974 and 1975 George Brown College teams.
He coached the West Hill Collegiate side that included Barrett who played professionally for 12 years in Europe.
“There are many people that poured into me, but none more in my young life than Richard Dean,” he said. “So many of us have had productive lives because of his time and effort. He came into our home and told my mother he would not let me fail on his watch. He devised a plan to get me where I needed to go and helped me hone my skills. He promised my mom I would do my schoolwork.
“He took me to elementary schools when I was in high school to speak to kids, he helped me manage the expectations of being the number one player in Canada and the 65 scholarship offers that came from schools across North America. He protected me from all the adults that came, some with good intentions, some with bad. He always told me the truth without sugarcoating it. He did everything he told me and my mom and I accomplished all the things he said I would.
“Thank you, Coach.”
Hours after the formal ceremony and the hoopla subsided, Camesha Cox returned to the spot where her star is cemented.
“I just wanted to have a moment of quiet reflection,” she said. “While standing there, a woman came up to me, saying she had seen me on television receiving the honour. She also said she did not know any of the inductees, except me and was very proud of what I had done. That touched me and meant a lot.”
Starting with a $12,000 United Way Community Action Grant, Cox and two other young Scarborough high school graduates and educators piloted the first Reading Partnership for Parents in April 2012 to assist caregivers in the Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park community with helping children, between the ages of four and six, to read.
“We began with 12 parents, paying each of them $100 to commit to our 12week play base program that promised to teach them how to teach their children to read,” The Reading Partnership’s executive director recounted. “We said we would and we did. Here we are over a decade later having served hundreds of families through the program not only here in Scarborough where it was incubated for many years, but across the Greater Toronto Area, in Ottawa and Nova Scotia with plans to expand nationally and globally.”
The volunteer-led initiative-turned-Canadian registered charity has nine fulltime employees and an annual operating budget of over $1.8 million.
The Reading Partnership also offers 360-degree Stories and Kids ReadTO programs for pre-teens. The 360 Degrees initiative is a month-long virtual program for aspiring young authors to write, illustrate,
edit and publish a story in an anthology and attend their official book launch.
Professional writers and illustrators lead weekly 75-minute workshops that give students the tools and one-on-one support to tell stories.
The works of close to 200 young authors between ages nine and 12 have been published through this initiative and over 600 kids connect online yearly through the virtual book clubs.
“These initiatives are impacting children and their families beyond the borders of our beautiful community, Scarborough, to the world,” added Cox. “For the last 12 years, we have been laser-focused on ensuring that amazing things happen for children and families in our community.”
Serving Scarborough as a cardiologist and community worker for more than four decades, Dr. Vivian Rambihar is recognized for his global contributions to medicine, science, society and humanity.
As a pioneer in the field of chaos and complexity science, he applies these ideas to medicine, proposing their use in solving complex work problems, including peace, health, development, poverty reduction and climate change.
The second of eight siblings (one is deceased) who received a Guyana scholarship in 1969, Rambihar has also led the way in diversity/ethnicity and health, developing innovative ideas for reducing obesity, diabetes and heart disease with a multi-level complexity, ‘Health in All Policies’ approach, including grassroots action and social change and social occasions for health.
He becomes very emotional when reflecting on the honour.
“I served this community for so many years and it is a blessing to help so many people,” said Rambihar who started practicing at Scarborough Health Network-General Hospital in 1980.
His three daughters have followed in his footsteps.
“I conscripted them at a young age and they worked in Scarborough doing health promotion,” added the 2012 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant honouree and 2017 University of the West Indies Toronto Benefit Vice-Chancellor Awards recipient.
Dr. Sherryn Rambihar is a staff cardiologist at Mackenzie Health and an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Toronto Department of Medicine; Dr. Nadira Rambihar is a psychiatrist and lecturer at U of T and Dr. Vanessa Rambihar is a family physician at Women’s College Hospital and an assistant professor and clinical teacher at U of T.
“We are very proud of our father,” said
CONTINUED FROM Pg. 11
to compromise on and if there are any trade-offs you are open to making when buying a home. Would you be willing to embrace a smaller living space or a different location to buy a home sooner? Are you willing to wait for a home that checks more boxes, or do you want to get into home ownership as soon as the price is right? Your answers to these questions are likely to influence when and what you buy.
5.How will you deal with bumps in the road?
The surest way to learn if you can afford a home is to test-drive your monthly pay-
Vanessa Rambihar who won a Gordon Cressy Award for Student Leadership in 2012. “We spent many hours in his office assisting him and learning about the community. He is an inspiration for us.”
She and her father co-developed the Global Heart Hour, an innovative global movement bringing people together to inspire and sustain humanitarianism which was launched with U of T medical students in 2009.
Instead of watching the live stream from his residence in England, younger brother Dr. Brian Rambihar made the transatlantic flight to attend the ceremony.
“This is not only about recognition for the work Vivian has done as a doctor,” said the occupational health physician and medical educator. “It is about his community work that has spanned over four decades. That is very significant and I had to be here.”
To say that Mark Stoddart is ‘Scarborough to the bone’ is not an understatement. He still resides in the community where he was born and raised.
“I can’t go anywhere else,” said the co-designer of the Black Lives Matter tribute apparel worn by Toronto Raptors members. “There is something about the soul of Scarborough that fuels creativity.”
Being inducted with Barrett is special for Stoddart who graduated from Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute.
“We grew up together,” he said. “We played basketball and did a lot of things together. For us to be in this space now is heartwarming.”
Stoddart, whose art is part of Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri, film director Spike Lee and former Olympian John Carlos collections, broke the record for nominations honouring inductees with a star on the Walk of Fame.
“As I reflect now, all I can see is a young Black boy carrying a basketball in one hand and an art portfolio in the other, but never compromising his three ‘As’ – athletics, activism and art,” he said. “I understand what legacy is about and leaving a mark as you pass through this life. You have to understand those marks are your gift and that is what you have to leave with the world.”
Also inducted were former Scarborough Member of Parliament Pauline Browes, Marg Middleton who co-founded several Scarborough organizations, including the Scarborough Walk of Fame and Sam Ibrahim who is the President & Managing Director of Arrow Group of Companies that financially supports the Toronto Police Service 41 Division scholarship program.
ments. Start by estimating your monthly mortgage and home-maintenance costs. Then, look at your current monthly costs, including rent and what you are putting into savings. Would you have enough to cover the cost of owning a home or would you need to find a way to cover any financial gaps?
Knowing how well you handle the payments before you buy can help determine the size of the mortgage that you are most comfortable with.
More advice on buying your first home is available at rbc.com/mymoneymatters. www.newscanada.com
Sports Academy focuses on developing well-rounded athletes
By RON FANFAIR
Winning a silver medal in a relay event at York University in 2006 thrilled Mitchell Sharpe and his young teammates.
Tony Sharpe was also euphoric.
After doing some dryland training with his son’s hockey and soccer teams, the 1984 Olympics sprint relay bronze medalist founded The Speed Academy Athletics Club which specializes in sprints and hurdles.
To focus on building the Pickering-based entity, he transitioned from a two-piece suit to a tracksuit in 2009.
“I was not feeling it anymore,” said Sharpe who spent 16 years in sales at Xerox and Bell Canada. “Those jobs helped me pay the bills and support my family. Track and field was not going to do that.”
In the three years before leaving his corporate job, the club went to elementary meets in the United States.
“My daughters came on board after soccer in Grade 9,” Sharpe recalled. “They told their friends and we started getting scholarships for student-athletes around 2011.”
In the past 13 years, nearly 100 Speed Academy members have received scholarships to attend American universities.
Six-time Olympic medalist Andre DeGrasse, sprinter Wesley Best and 400-metre specialist Shaquan Williams were the club’s first scholarship recipients in 2012.
DeGrasse attended Coffeyville Community College in Kansas before transferring to the University of Southern California in his junior season in 2015.
“Andre came to me when he was in Grade 12 and very raw,” recounted Sharpe who set a Canadian 200-metre record in 1982 with a time of 20.22 secs. “He is such a hard worker and it did not take a lot. We run a good training program and everyone gets better once they adhere to it.”
Christopher Morales Williams, who Sharpe developed from Grade 8, is the latest Speed Academy graduate to make waves.
Named the Southeastern Conference Indoor Runner of the Year last month, the University of Georgia sophomore won the NCAA indoor 400-metre title in 44.67 secs. and set all-time collegiate and Canadian indoor records at the SEC championships in February with a time of 44.49 secs.
It was the third time he had set the Canadian indoor 400-metre record this year.
Morales Williams’ stellar performances do not surprise Sharpe who attended Clemson and York universities.
“Christopher is a natural runner,” he said. “The amount of force he applies to the track and the amount of distance he covers on every stride stand out. People tend to think he is over-striding. He is applying tremendous force in the right place under his hip.
“He has unlimited potential not just because of his physical attributes, but also because of his mentality and the way he prepares. He is gifted and getting stronger and more confident. When you combine that with his work ethic and commitment, the sky is the limit. An outdoor record is doable because he has all the tools.”
Aliyah Logan started hurdling in 2019 when she joined the Speed Academy. On a scholarship at New Mexico State University, she set a personal best of 8.21 secs. in the 60-metre hurdles at the Don Kirby International last January.
“I am so grateful for what all the coaches have done for my daughter and the other kids,” said Nancy Chambers. “Even though she is away, they keep up with what she is doing. It is a good coaching team that cares about the young people.”
More than just securing scholarships,
Sharpe wants the young athletes to be well-rounded.
“I insist they focus on their schoolwork because there are no track scholarships if you don’t pay attention to the books,” he said. “We bring in resources to educate the kids and the parents because you can’t leave this in the hands of teachers and guidance counsellors. They don’t know anything about the process and I wish we could put on seminars to educate them.”
Sharpe also insists his athletes practice basic good manners.
“Hello, thank you and goodbye seem to be the simple things kids have forgotten,” he said. “After spending nearly three hours with a young person during a training session, one of the volunteer coaches would look around, asking, ‘Where is Billy?’ He leaves without saying goodbye to anyone. We don’t want that. We teach them to be mannered because they would walk by us as if we were part of the building’s infrastructure. That does not work for me.”
The Speed Academy athletes travel to the United States about six times during the indoor season.
“The facilities are much better and more conducive to good performances,” Sharpe said. “There are a lot of oversized 300-metre indoor tracks that allow for that. The young athletes also bond during these trips. While they individually compete on the track, getting them to buy into the team concept is important. They also get an idea of the requirements for an NCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Association) scholarship.”
Unlike other clubs, The Speed Academy doesn’t recruit athletes.
“I think the brand represents itself very well,” said Sharpe. “The only challenge we face is getting them into the program at an early age. I will try to look at kids in Grade 8 and see if some are not involved in the sport and can come on board when they get to Grade 9 because we only coach kids in high school. You can’t tell what kids will be when they are at an elementary age. I don’t say no to anyone because I don’t know what they will be when you are 19. We welcome all and focus on individual performance.”
The Speed Academy enjoyed a phenomenal 2023-24 indoor season with their athletes establishing 119 personal bests which is the most in club history.
In early February, the club’s 27-member team set 16 personal bests at the Spire Scholastic Showcase Meet in Ohio. Two weeks later, 41 athletes clocked 67 personal best times at the Youngstown State High School competition.
Kiara Webb, who lowered her personal best to 55.10 secs., joined The Speed Academy last June.
Though residing in Brampton, she doesn’t mind travelling at least three times weekly to Pickering to train.
“It is worth it because I love the super intense workouts and I feel the program caters to me as a quarter-miler,” said the St. Roc Catholic Secondary School Grade 12 student who carpools with other athletes living in her community. “I enjoy that. Also, the coaches have their personalities, but they work together to create the best environment for their athletes.”
With an enrolment of 57, this is the largest cadre of athletes The Speed Academy has had in a season since it started 18 years ago.
Having seven volunteer coaches makes it easier to help develop the young athletes.
“These are not just nice dads and people that we pull off the sidelines,” said Sharpe who is a volunteer assistant coach at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in
Pickering. “Some were NCAA athletes and national track and field performers and coaches. More importantly, they are great role models. They represent what I want the youths to see. They are well-rounded people with children doing well athletically and academically.”
Two-time Canadian Coach of the Year Anthony McCleary joined the coaching staff in 2019. He has coached several Olympians, including hurdlers Priscilla Lopes Schliep who won a bronze medal in 2008 in Beijing, Phylicia George who was sixth at the 2012 London Games and Nikkita Holder who reached the semi-finals at the same Games.
“It is just a matter of giving back,” McCleary said. “Someone helped me and it is my turn to do the same by paying it forward. I like what the club does in terms of trying to get scholarships and giving the youths a chance to secure a degree. Some have the talent to move on and do great things on the track.”
Having his wife and daughter as coaches mean a lot to the family-oriented Sharpe who migrated from Jamaica at age 11.
He and Colene Taffe Sharpe have been married for 32 years.
Their first date was the inaugural Harry Jerome Awards in 1983 to mark the record performances of Black Canadian athletes at the 1982 Commonwealth Games where Sharpe was a member of the 4x100-relay team that captured a silver medal.
What has sustained the relationship?
“Colene is a fantastic mother who is very committed to our three children,” he said. “I am, but sometimes I have to tell her to give them space and think about herself. She loves coming and training our athletes and going to track events. The fact that we are together doing something that we both love is one of the reasons why this is such a great relationship. I am very lucky.”
Mitchell, the eldest of three siblings, is an art director.
Taylor Sharpe graduated with a master’s degree in Higher Education & Policy Studies – Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida in 2021 while twin sister Sommer is an associate attorney in Chicago.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law 2022 graduate is the recipient of a 2024 Law360 Distinguished Legal Writing Award for her contributions to the Akerman LLP team presentation, ‘What You Need to Know About Brand Protection in NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) deals’.
While proud of the work he and his coaches are doing to ensure young athletes get scholarships and are well-mannered and rounded, Sharpe provides just one word when asked what his career highlight is. ‘Redemption’.
In early April 1989, Sharpe put on his big boy pants and took ownership for using banned substances while competing on the track.
“We got caught up in that little craziness which was the only way to get results,” he said. “I did it because I was young and didn’t have much support from anyone in terms of family because they didn’t know much about it. I told the truth (to the Dubin Inquiry looking into the use of drugs and banned substances in sports) because that is how I was raised. That cost me a lot. For me to get legal counsel and be reinstated is redemption.”
In 2012, Sharpe’s lifetime ban from federal funding was lifted, opening the door for him to coach at the national and international levels.
“It is funny because I am teaching from a perspective of doing it the wrong way,” the two-time Athletics Canada Development Coach of the Year said. “It is a lot easier because I did it the wrong way and the script flipped where I can give these young people everything possible so they don’t make the mistakes I did.”
The club’s outdoor season, which runs from April to the middle of August, is open to athletes 14 years and older.
Interested individuals can apply through www.speedacademy.ca
TONY SHARPE
Kamanga encourages leaders to promote inclusion and diversity
established, he went out of his way to help people he thought deserved that opportunity. If there is one person from our community on whose shoulders many of us on the trading floors on Bay St. stand, it is Ray.”
While in Malawi, he developed a strong passion for numbers after a conversation with his father.
“When I asked dad when he decided what he would specialize in, he told me he couldn’t learn German, French or Spanish while in high school,” said Kamanga, who was recognized with the Catalyst Honours Business Leader Champion Award in 2021 for his work in accelerating progress for women through workplace inclusion. “He said he would learn English because that was the language the teachers were using and Math because that is a language that is spoken across the world. He inculcated in us that Math was another language to embrace.”
Like his father who advocated for inclusivity, the former BMO Head of Global Markets is doing the same in his workplace.
Kamanga encourages senior leaders to be inclusion and diversity promoters and inspires employees to live these values. He has played a key role in enhancing programs and policies that nurture an inclusive culture, including returnships, parental leaves and hiring procedures that directly affect women.
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This has resulted in an increased presence of women at all levels in Global Markets and more women with the potential to advance to senior roles across the bank.
Women hold over 42 per cent of senior leadership roles and half of the independent directors on BMO’s Board of Directors are women.
For the fourth straight year, BMO was recognized
in The Globe & Mail Report on Business magazine’s ‘Women Lead Here’ list which is an annual benchmark of Canadian businesses with the highest achievement in executive gender diversity.
When Darryl White became BMO’s Chief Operating Officer in 2016, the bank’s Black Professional Network (BPN) in Canada had about 30 members.
After White indicated it would be the first employee resource group he would certify in his new role, membership soared to about 300 at the official launch. The BPN now comprises over 1,000 members.
“We have seen a lot of growth with people getting a voice at the table,” said Kamanga who founded the BPN Canada as an executive sponsor. “In the last few years, we went from zero Blacks on the Executive Committee to two (Kamanga and Darrel Hackett who is BMO Financial Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer).”
As an Executive Committee member, he leads BMO Wealth Management’s strategic direction, including Private Wealth Canada (BMO Nesbitt Burns and Private Banking, United States Wealth Management, BMO Global Asset Management, BMO InvestorLine and BMO Insurance.
Born in Ottawa where his father was pursuing a civil engineering degree at the University of Ottawa, Kamanga spent seven years in Malawi when his dad returned in 1971 to work as an engineer at the Blantyre Water Board.
Moving back to Ottawa six years later with his family was a culture shock for Kamanga.
“I saw what it was like to live very well when I was in Africa,” the Jackie Robinson Foundation member said. “At the time, I didn’t understand why my life was good and others were not. When I came back to Ottawa, we lived in subsidized housing on Saint Laurent Boulevard and I quickly realized we are a minority family. I have seen both sides, but I feel I have been fortunate because I had my parents’ support.”
Derrick Kamanga started an engineering company in 1983 and provided services to First Nation communities in Canada before his sudden death at age 68.
“While my dad was very accomplished, he had a lot of empathy for people and advocated forgiveness,” said his son who co-chairs the BMO Employee Giving Campaign. “We didn’t realize the magnitude of what he had done until he passed away. Many First Nation people attended his funeral because he did so much for that community in Canada. He never told us a lot about what he did.”
The professional engineer represented the Chiefs of Ontario, a coordinating body for First Nation communities in Ontario that was set up to make representation to Canada’s political leaders on issues affecting First Nations people.
To memorialize his legacy, the Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation, with which he was a quality assurance engineer providing water and wastewater systems advice to First Nations communities, established an award in his name that is presented to a First Nations student studying engineering in those fields.
When Kamanga stepped up to receive his UWI Vice-Chancellor Award, he was thinking of his parents. He dedicated the award to his mom who attended the event.
“If my father was alive, I would have dedicated it to both of them,” said Kamanga who enjoys reading non-fiction and travelling. “As much as my dad was larger than life and he was someone I looked up to and emulated, my mother helped my brother and I get through life. She could not understand why we could not get a scholarship, so she secretly sent us money to get through university. She sacrificed the most for our success.”
Nancy Kamanga, 82, worked in Pfizer’s Human Resources department for many years before retiring and becoming a tax preparer and real estate agent. She is a descendant of escaped slaves from Virginia who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1785.
Countrymusicbeganwiththebanjo
CONTINUED FROM Pg. 6
or your grandparents were … but they was picking, OK? They wasn’t planting. Just keep that in mind. They wasn’t making money. They were getting sold for money. You ain’t country.”
Asa Blanton and many others like her do not know of the historical African influence on country music, even during the enslavement of Africans. “In reality, just like most popular music genres, country music in the U.S. began with Black people.”
The story of country music begins with the banjo. The modern-day banjo is a descendant of a West African instrument, made from gourds, called the Akonting. When Africans were taken from Africa and enslaved in America, the knowledge of making their instruments came with them. Enslaved Africans created their own music, hymns, spirituals and field songs – all with roots in African music. The banjo was seen as an exclusively African American instrument. White people did not play the banjo during that time.
In the 1850s, minstrel shows became popular with the racist satirical form of entertainment where White performers in Blackface mockingly used the banjo as a musical instrument as they imitated the music and dance of enslaved Africans. The minstrel shows brought the banjo to White audiences and gave rise to hillbilly music during the 1920s. Hillbilly music was renamed country and was claimed as the music of the south. The performers drew inspiration from slave spirituals, field songs, hymns and the blues, which were African American music.
In the 1920s and 30s, despite segregation, some White hillbilly performers collaborated with African American artistes to record music. Patrick Huber, a White history professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology acknowledges: “Nearly 50 African American singers and musicians appeared on commercial hillbilly records between those years – because the music was not a White agrarian tradition, but a fluid phenomenon passed back and forth between the races.”
In 1778, James A. Bland, an African American from New York wrote “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” which became the official state song of Virginia in 1940. An African American minister wrote a hymn “When the World is On Fire” which became a 1928 hit “Little Darling, Pal of Mine” by “The Carter Family,” a White family of musicians. That song inspired “This Land is Your Land” sung by White performer, Woody Guthrie.
In Nova Scotia, Canada on May 12, 1785, under the heading “Negro Frolicks” Prohibited: “Officials in Nova Scotia ordered “50 Handbills [to] be immediately printed forbidding Negro Dances & Negro Frolicks in [the] town of Shelburne.”
“Libya and Egypt used to be in Africa, but they’ve been moved to the ‘middle east’. There are examples galore I assure you, but if interpreting was left up to me
I’d be sure every time folks knew this version wasn’t mine which is why it is called ‘His story.’”
Excerpt from BlackHistory/TheWorld
By Gil Scott-Heron tiakoma@hotmail.com
