Tag: featured

  • Just because.

    The joy that cannot be diminished in spite of hatred and heartbreak. In spite of unexpected evils that seem intent on rising up due to nature’s cruelest whim. I am here, as are you. And we shall not be stopped. I was feeling a little poetic earlier. I’m thankful that deep down, my sense of…

  • Take A Knee

    Take A Knee

    This summer, I worked with a group of teenage ESL students. I remember the first time I taught them our national anthem. Everyone was ok with what we were doing, except one young woman. I’ll call her Emma. After we sang “O Canada,”  I had the students work through an anthem-related activity. Once we were…

  • Your mind matters.

    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.

    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…

  • So I Think I Can Teach.

    So I Think I Can Teach.

    Still. In spite of everything. In spite of being an overly-sensitive dreamer. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve worked for  my local school board. In that time I swore I was done with working in education for good. If only I’d known that this week my Little Demon Chickens would have come home…

  • Idea: BlackGirlMagic Syllabus

    Idea: BlackGirlMagic Syllabus

    I’m in a season of self-appreciation. As a part of my self-care routine, I know that I need to take care of my mind. And as a Black, female writer, I believe one of the greatest gifts I can give myself is a commitment to reading more books that are by or about* Black women.…

  • Books: Brazen

    Books: Brazen

    I remember when I first read Brazen. After an evening out, my copy was at home waiting for me. Earlier, I’d gone to Paris Lectures–an event where I’d shared some of my dreams in front of a hometown crowd. Since then, I’ve paid close attention to my struggle to keep my aspirations alive. Overall, Brazen focuses…

  • Open?

    Open?

    How open are you to life’s possibilities? I mean really, truly open. As I write this, I realize I haven’t been. I thought I was earlier this year. A few months ago, I finally convinced myself that it would be in my best interest to accept my circumstances. (Currently, things aren’t quite as they should…

  • Coming Soon!: CaribbeanTales International Film Festival

    Coming Soon!: CaribbeanTales International Film Festival

    Caribana may have finished, but in Toronto, the celebration of Caribbean culture isn’t over. The city is home to CaribbeanTales, an organization devoted to sharing stories from people of the Caribbean diaspora. The CaribbeanTales International Film Festival begins in September, and runs from the 7th to the 17th of the month. A few days ago…