“A City of Belonging.” AstroSankofa celebrates three years of artistic expression in Toronto

BY SYDNEY WALCOTT

For the third consecutive year, AstroSankofa Arts Initiative collaborated with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) to showcase the talents of six local Black artists who created artwork dedicated to six Black community leaders within the city under this year’s theme, “A City of Belonging.”

The Director of AstroSankofa, Quentin VerCetty, said this year’s theme came from the inspiration of recognizing the unprecedented time the world is in relating to politics, world affairs, and uncertainty of where things are going. This led to the idea and conversation relating to Afrofuturism on being reinforced and celebrating that Toronto is a city of belonging and a place where Black people have been, belong and have been trailblazers for a very long time.

“For the unforeseen future, we hope to continue to be trendsetters and be more part of the decision-making process,” said VerCetty.

The theme of belonging led to the conversation of thinking about the community leaders who have worked towards letting it be known that Black people belong in the city and deserve better treatment and recognition. Here are the six Black community leaders who fit the theme through their work:

Louis March

For the late March, who is VerCetty’s uncle, it was really important for him to recognize there are parts of the city where gun violence is not an issue and people don’t have to worry about being robbed or hit by stray bullets. March looked into how neighborhoods that don’t have these issues can use resources to better serve predominantly Black neighbourhoods that have issues with gun violence. He also wanted people to understand if they recognize that Black people do belong, they’re less likely to commit violence against one another. March was instrumental in successfully realizing there are solutions through his Zero Gun Movement.

Dr. Akua Benjamin

Dr. Benjamin is the one who coined the term ‘anti-Black racism,’ which is acknowledged within and outside of Toronto. She is an educator who looked at how systemic racism affected people from education to the grassroot community. She did a lot of foundational work in terms of the city itself, such as adopting anti-racism policies. Dr. Benjamin’s work helps people address the ways that Black people were not allowed to feel a sense of belonging at work or in the city.

Debbie Douglas

Douglas continues to do phenomenal work with helping newcomers, specifically women, become integrated within the city. She also made tremendous strides working with first and second generation women and at-risk youth who don’t come from families who have a long legacy in the city.

“For the unforeseen future, we hope to continue to be trendsetters and be more part of the decision-making process.”

Adonis Huggins

Huggins has done outstanding work within and beyond Regent Park. Huggins has an organization (Regent Park Focus) which allows youth to express themselves through film and media. The opportunity allows youth to understand they don’t need to limit themselves, or their imagination to their area, or circumstances and are encouraged to create opportunities for themselves despite being marginalized. Huggins has become a groundbreaking mentor to some of the great filmmakers to come from the city.

Angela Robertson

Robertson is an amazing women’s and LGBTQ+ advocate. She is the Executive Director of the Parkdale Queen West Community Centre and works with those who are on those margins in terms of gender equality and health as it relates to accessibility. They deserve care and to be treated better no matter their gender, or orientation.

Colleen Russell-Rawlins

Russell-Rawlins was the first Black woman to be the Director of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). Her work in terms of pushing excellence amongst students within the board has led to ground-breaking results in recent years. The dropout rate for high school students, specifically Black students, has decreased because of support systems implemented to help students receive their diploma and further their studies in post-secondary.

VerCetty noted it was really important to showcase artwork that reflects the work AstroSankofa does as a whole and express why the initiative exists. The purpose of the initiative’s existence is to: celebrate artists within the public atmosphere, celebrate Black artistic excellence in the city and country, and to expand the imagination of the general public through: Afrofuturism, through different elements, symbolisms, and different ways the portraits are made.

VerCetty encourages onlookers to see how the six Black community leaders are being represented in ways that were never seen from before. The vibrant work of arts that has different historical references with layers of symbolisms that all speaks to tell the story of the people being honoured. The art should inspire people that they can also achieve great things in the city and help to make the city a better place for belonging.

Jamera DaCosta is one of the six artists who was part of this initiative. DaCosta has been working with AstroSankofa for the past year as a collective artist. When presented with the opportunity to be a featured artist for the collaborative initiative between AstroSankofa and the TTC, she said “Yes!”  For DaCosta, being part of a project like this is about creating change and spreading messages.

The six figures and their families are grateful for the honour. March knew a piece would be made in his honour before his passing. Although the honour would’ve left him speechless, being considered as an honour would be a huge compliment to the work he’s been doing throughout the years. March’s son and widow had asked for a signed autographed copy of the artwork and said it means a lot to see March being represented in such a way. Russell-Rawlins, who also wanted a copy of the work, and Robertson were both filled with tears of joy at the unveiling and were moved by the work. Huggins was flabbergasted and continuously looked at the work at the unveiling.

The artwork can be seen on six TTC buses and six station installations will be displayed across the city. Throughout the month of February, there will also be walking tours to see the artwork.