True story: A week or so ago, after I’d done my hair, I decided to take a photo. I picked up my phone, and put the camera in selfie-mode. The next thing you know, I was making a screwface at the thing, like, “What kind of [new-twist-on-old-swearword] is this?!?” My new ‘do–which was full and […]
Author Archives: Claire
Sorry? Not sorry.
You know what? I’m tired of people thinking that racism in the workplace isn’t actually a problem unless someone burns a cross on someone’s desk or yells, “Hey, nigger!” Honestly. The signs of bigotry don’t have to be that obvious in order to be harmful. When it comes to claims of racism and believability, writing […]
Read it!: The Universe Has Your Back
I can’t begin to tell you how long I’ve wanted to review this book. I finished reading The Universe Has Your Back a long time ago. So what’s kept me from talking about it? Fear. On one hand you have the fact that I’m spiritually liberal: Religiously speaking, I have a Christian background. I’m familiar with […]
On “Black Friends”
Demetria just about covered it. I read a bunch of comments about Adele on Grammy night that were ridiculous. I swear. My eyes rolled so hard, it’s a wonder they didn’t fall out of my head. Then, I got introspective. What do you hear when someone uses the words “Black friends”? We live in an […]
Stop running.
I remember the day when those words, directed at me, hung in the air. They had been said randomly. If anyone else had uttered them, I think I would have been angry. But the speaker knew me. Not as well as I think they should, but somehow, well enough. “You don’t like yourself.” After hearing […]
Review: Hillsong – Let Hope Rise
Hillsong: Let Hope Rise is billed as a “worship experience”. However, contrary to its press release, to me it didn’t feel like a part of a new genre. Let Hope Rise is, absolutely, a concert film, in the vein of Katy Perry’s Part of Me and Justin Beiber’s Never Say Never. Scenes that offer viewers […]
The Trouble with Teaching
Note: This is a piece on a sensitive aspect of my teaching career. Although currently I live in an area that’s predominantly monocultural, I’ve worked for a school board that has a very diverse population. It was at the top of my mind when I began writing. It took time for me to fall for […]
Black In The 519
I’ve lived in Small Town*, Ontario my whole life. Although certain things are happening now that make me feel hopeful, there are a few aspects of life here that get on my nerves. I’m one of the displaced: A person of colour who has struggled to make peace with life in a non-diverse part of […]
Your mind matters.
This is Mental Illness Awareness Week (#MIAW2016). I can’t speak about how this week gained its notoriety. However, what I wanted to do is speak a bit about therapy. I’ve attended sessions before. Chances are, I may go again. There’s an awful stigma surrounding it that has to change. I’ve heard people make ignorant comments […]
Self-care? Self aware.
Well, guys, I’ve finally made a decision. I’m gonna start talking with you a bit about my struggles with self-care. Over the years I’ve come to realize that it’s something I truly need. A recent edition of Chivon John’s #sidehustlechat focused on this subject. She asked us an important question: “Self-care has a different meaning […]
