HUMANS: Glenda van der Leeuw

Esther Liu

HOM Staff Writer

The Silhouette: Please introduce yourself.

Glenda van der Leeuw (GvdL): I am Glenda van der Leeuw. I am a student counselor with McMaster Student Wellness Center and a registered social worker.

Last summer, you ran a program called “You Belong in the Room” [with McMaster University’s Student Success Centre]. How was it?

GvdL: I decided to facilitate “You Belong in the Room” for Black students to create a safe space for them and talk about imposter syndrome from a Black lens. [In the program] we talk about how that sometimes hinders our drive and, often, how our confidence is really harmed when we have self-doubt . . . We’re really trying to stress with students that yes, of course the system is broken. We can all acknowledge that. [But] what do we do from here? In order for those systems to be corrected, dismantled or fixed, there needs to be leadership spaces for racialized people in those spaces.

Another part of the program and my work was learning how to manage the stressors from discrimination. I hope to empower our students [to] learn to love and value their own identity. I’m hoping this group will give a lasting confidence, highlight their value and the unique strengths they bring. Altogether, it also relates to courage. Recognizing your own value can be the instant courage when we’re afraid to take action. It motivates students to seize opportunities and encourages them to step out of their comfort zone to transcend the lack of diversity and racism that’s keeping them down.

“Yes, of course the system is broken. We can all acknowledge that. [But] what do we do from here? In order for those systems to be corrected, dismantled or fixed, there needs to be leadership spaces for racialized people in those spaces.” “Our wellness is so important, especially when we’re experiencing racism. We need a space to talk about these things and unpack them. That’s where community really steps in. Community support is so, so important to thriving.”

Since “You Belong in the Room” has ended, have there been other, similar programs?

GvdL: We’ve established the Black X-scape. It’s a support group for students that centers mental health. It’s only been running for the last couple weeks and it’s a drop-in. When I first facilitated “You Belong in the Room,” I saw these conversations needed to be furthered. So, we created this space where students can reclaim their mental health and have discussions about the barriers they’re experiencing. It’s all students, a lot of shareable knowledge. That comfort, that support is really valuable. Our wellness is so important, especially when we’re experiencing racism. We need a space to talk about these things and unpack them. That’s where community really steps in. Community support is so, so important to thriving. It’s where we learn, feel safe and also where we can acknowledge how to navigate these spaces. I’m learning from my past and sharing it with the students in a way we can reflect so they can take away something from these experiences and use it to their own advantage.

What are your goals, both personal and related to your work?

GvdL: I always strive to reach my own potential. I have my own imposter syndrome and underlying doubts. We talk about the upper limits that, sometimes, we are afraid to reach. We each have to reflect on our upper limits, our fears and how we can confront them. So, I think I want to do some speeches talking about that in conjunction with anti-Black racism. In terms of the students, the students are just amazing. That’s really what I want to do with my own role: use my experiences and create a platform for them to share and express whatever they would like. I’m hoping with Black X-Scape, students will further explore what they need and be able to showcase their skills.

Have there been any experiences that really stand out to you?

GvdL: We talk about celebrating your achievements, something that really internalizes confidence. It prepares you for the next challenge. When you reflect back on all of your skills, your assets, what prepared you for this moment. When I think about that, I feel overall just happy with myself and my drive despite the struggles and barriers I’ve overcome. This last year at McMaster has been a whole new journey for me. I’m really excited to see what McMaster has in store, to expand on the potential and go from there. Not to mention, I’ve really enjoyed learning from my Black elders. Listening to them has created positivity for me and informs how I’m moving forward, understanding my role as a learner and as a leader, developing further understanding and honouring our identities. That’s what I aim to do in my space: honouring students’ intersectionalities, their whole identity. It’s so important to live completely in your own identity and be confident.

Arts & Culture

Understanding variations within the Black experience

Intersections between Blackness, culture and self-acceptance are essential in constructing individuals unique experiences

Ahlam Yassien A&C Contributor

As an Ethiopian woman in Canada, I haven’t had the opportunity to think concretely thought about my identity and what my identity means to me. Instead, my identity has been constructed through experience and at least, for myself, experiences of self-hatred and acceptance were intrinsically intertwined.

For example, as a child I begged my parents to allow me to cut my hair and perm it, not because I hated my hair but because I felt it would be easier to manage and would make it stick out less in public. Nonetheless, my hair remained long and curly, in part because I did genuinely like my hair long even if I felt my frizzy hair made me stand out, but also because hair is a prized possession in my culture.

So, on one end my culture encouraged me to value my natural hair while on the other it also taught me my worth was directly connected to my hair. However, the desire to have straighter hair has been promoted in many Black communities and myself alongside other Black women have been simultaneously fighting for different kinds of acceptance which were all rooted in confronting anti-Blackness, whether that be acceptance from our White peers, from within our culture or from within our own communities.

When I found myself styling it to appear more similar to the hair of those around me, I fell into a hamster wheel of self-hatred as my hair lost its volume and curl, making me feel as if my worth had also decreased. The desire to remain valuable in my culture was clashed with my desire to fit into Western culture.

These experiences of trying to reconcile cultures as well as ideas of self-hatred and self-acceptance are common for many Black folks.

“Since I was a kid my parents have always reminded me to love and embrace my country, my history and my culture. Ethiopian culture is very religious and is all about celebration — celebration of life, culture, family and God. However, my [culture] also categorizes their own people . . . an example is like skin color. They’re always uplifting and loving lighter skin tones more than darker skin tones. Body shaming and sexism are also common,” explained Beemnet Feleke.

Though it’s also worth noting that while many Black folks have these shared experiences of self-hatred and discomfort, the experience of being Black is still felt differently across groups. For myself, the desire to remain beautiful both within and outside of my culture had been at the forefront of my struggle with self-hatred and self-acceptance but my experiences as an Ethiopian Black woman are certainly different from the experiences of many others not only within the Black community but within my own culture as well.

For example, in certain Caribbean communities, anti-Blackness rhetoric is so heavily ingrained in the culture and history it often goes unnoticed. Consequently, children grow up maintaining and enforcing it in their communities.

“Throughout her childhood, [my mother] was taught that if you were of lighter skin and had looser curls, that you were “prettier” or

superior than others who didn’t have these characteristics. She was also taught that one with Eurocentric facial features had “nice” facial features. Unfortunately, as a child these notions were passed on to me as well. I used to project my feelings and perceptions onto other classmates and friends, which, unbeknownst to me, was [perpetuation of] anti-Blackness. Now, as a young adult, my perceptions of Blackness have changed drastically. I hope that with the knowledge I have today, I can educate others in hopes of eradicating texturism, featurism and colourism,” explained Donelle Peltier.

It’s also important to note it is not the fault of these cultures themselves but rather the result of the White supremacy and colonialism that run rampant in many histories. Interrogating anti-Blackness remains an important goal within and outside of the Black community.

While sharing these experiences can help with this and highlight diversity within the Black experience, they still only paint a fraction of the full picture, a picture which may never be entirely clear. However, that doesn’t mean sharing these experiences is any less important, particularly because of the essential part culture plays in upholding and denouncing anti-Blackness.

YOOHYUN PARK/PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

These experiences of trying to reconcile cultures as well as ideas of self-hatred and self-acceptance are common for many Black folks.

Creating a more inclusive world, one book at a time

The Art Gallery of Burlington is creating a more inclusive world with their new book clubs

Emma Shemko A&C Contributor

Hosted and facilitated by Jasmine Mander, the Art Gallery of Burlington’s new Echo Black, Indigenous and People of Colour book club works to create a safe, inclusive and accessible space for marginalized folks. The club prioritizes the lived experiences of BIPOC folks through reading and discussion of critical texts written by BIPOC authors.

Currently the curatorial assistant at the AGB, Mander has worked at a number of art organizations over the years, including Hamilton Artists Inc., where she coordinated Incoming!, an initiative to address and support the needs of newcomer, immigrant and refugee artists.

Mander is passionate about uplifting BIPOC voices and she wanted to create such a safe space for BIPOC folks to talk about their experiences and ideas, where they felt they could bring down their walls and share openly without fear of being judged.

“[The book club] is an opportunity to come together, discuss as a group and unpack ideas. It’s like learning together . . . Maybe you see somebody who looks like you and there’s this sense of guard that’s just dropped. And then, the more you get to know the people in the group, the more times people voice their opinions or their stories and really express themselves, you just grow more and are confident in being able to discuss your ideas,” explained Mander.

Echo’s reading list consists mainly of memoirs and personal accounts of BIPOC authors.

Mander hopes book club attendees can see their experiences represented and feel seen and heard when reading these stories.

The book club is geared towards youth aged 16-25, with the idea of facilitating the sharing of knowledge between generations and encouraging conversation around how BIPOC communities move forward with these histories.

“A lot of the work and the knowledge that I’ve gained, I feel is super important to pass on to this next chapter in this next generation. You’re passing on the knowledge. All the work that you’ve done is not lost, but you’re investing in the youth so that you’re providing them with spaces, mentorship and support,” said Mander.

At its heart, Echo is about creating safe spaces and part of that is ensuring the club itself is as accessible as possible. The monthly sessions are held online, eliminating the need for a commute. The online environment also allows participants to leave their cameras off and participate as much or as little as they wish.

Mander also wanted to move away from the constraints of the average book club, encouraging readers of all levels and experiences to join and removing the usual obligation to finish the book before attending. Echo is about the quality of discussion over the quantity of books read, so participants are welcome to join monthly discussions even if they’ve only read a few pages.

“I try to think about myself as a participant, I try to think if I was entering this conversation, how would I navigate it? . . . Part of that, for me, is encouraging people to be able to come and go in space as needed, based on their energy levels,” said Mander.

Additionally, Mander recognized the increasing cost of books might pose a barrier to some and to ensure Echo does not become a financial burden, a free physical copy of each month’s book will be mailed to registered participants a month in advance. Participants are encouraged to sign up as early as possible as space is limited.

The Echo book club is meant to be an inclusive space for all BIPOC community members and allies, offering the opportunity for them to learn and grow with these stories and to feel part of a community.

“One of my key phrases and one that I always like to repeat in my mind over and over again is this: I want BIPOC folks to feel like they can go from a place of just surviving to thriving. I want to see that happen. And so this [book club] is my way of contributing a space to my community,” said Mander.

“And then, the more you get to know the people in the group, the more times people voice their opinions or their stories and really express themselves, you just grow more and are confident in being able to discuss your ideas.”

Jasmine Mander

Curatorial Assistant, Art Gallery of Burlington & Facilitator of Echo

JESSICA YANG/PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

“I want BIPOC folks to feel like they can go from a place of just surviving to thriving. I want to see that happen. And so this [book club] is my way of contributing a space to my community.”

Jasmine Mander

Curatorial Assistant, Art Gallery of Burlington & Facilitator of Echo

Echo will be launching April 25 at 6:30 p.m. with the discussion of Eternity Martis’ They Said This Would be Fun: Race, Campus Life and Growing Up.