Connect with us

Community News

Complicated, courageous, creative. Toronto Caribbean Newspaper’s authors of the decade

Published

on

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

The world as we know it has been created by minds who have the courage to think outside the box, take a look at what already exists, originate or recreate. We are all born with the capacity to create, but there are those who are unique. Iconoclastic. Rebels. Considered leaders of their time. They influence people not necessarily with their beaming personality, but through their innate gifts and talents.

As a writer, it would be amiss for me not to recognize creatives who utilize the pen (more so the computer now) to colour outside the lines of written word. They utilize words as building blocks in their architecture. Their intention is to show the world a picture that they may have not seen before, breaking rules along the way. As a result, a new standard is set, and all writers who follow do so knowing that a precedent has been set. They write to write; not to be noticed, not to sell books, but for the pure joy of painting pictures with words.

Literature coming out of the Caribbean islands was first identified at the end of the 18th century (Britannica.com) Letters and speeches of Toussaint-Louverture showed awareness of cultural identity. It was not until the 1920s that Spanish and French Caribbean writers begin to break away from European ideals and identify themselves with their fellow West Indians, most of who were black (Britinnica.com). West African people brought to the West Indies as slaves were unable to bring their written traditions. They were not able to develop ones while in slavery (postcolonialweb.org). They learned to pass on their culture through storytelling and song. It was after World War II that the true growth was seen. Independent states like Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica began producing anglophone writers who focused their creative written expression on developing Caribbean awareness. Since then, there has been an explosion of work coming out of the Caribbean. Greats including Sam Selvon, Louise Bennet-Coverly, David Dabydeen, Paule Marshall, Frantz Fanon, and a list that could easily fill this page.

This article will highlight prolific writers of this decade. Individuals who in their own ways have stamped their names in literary history. I would like for you to take the time to recognize: Junot Diaz, Nalo Hopkinson, Thomas Glave, and Nadia L. Hohn (home grown talent), Toronto Caribbean Newspaper’s picks for Caribbean authors of the decade.

Junot Díaz

Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New Jersey, Díaz is the author of the critically acclaimed Drwon; The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize, and was the National Book Critics Circle Award winner. This is How You Lose Her became a New York Times bestseller and National Book Award finalist. This Rutgers College graduate was also the recipient of a Mac Arthur “Genius” Fellowship, PEN/Malamud Award, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, the Guggenheim Fellowship, and the PEN/O. Henry Award.

With his success has come some controversy. Ghosts of his past have crept into his present, and he was accused of the sexual assault of a few women. He took full responsibility for his actions, and in turn shares the story of his rape at the age of eight years old, and his dismay of having an erection during the assaults. He speaks in great detail about the need to teach all men about consent and boundaries. “The Silence: The Legacy of Childhood Trauma,” was mostly written for the New Yorker, and it describes the trauma he went through, and his attempts at suicide because of what had occurred.

Nalo Hopkinson

At the age of three, she was reading Homer’s Iliad. She discovered that fantastical fiction was her favourite type of fiction. From Caribbean folklore to Ursula K. LeGuin’s science fiction and fantasy, Hopkinson realized that there was something about this genre that intrigued her. 1993 was her descent into the world of the unknown. Her books include: Brown Girl in the Ring (Warner Aspect First Novel Contest in 1997), Sister Mine was published in 2013 (young adult and middle grade fiction), and House of Whisper, the first of six DC Comics compilation of graphic novels. She won: the Los Angeles Public Library: Best of 2015 Fiction, The Conversationalist: Best Books of 2015, Open Letters Monthly, Top 2015 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books Read.

She now lives in Southern California and is a professor of Creative Writing at the University of California Riverside.

Thomas Glave

Jamaica-American author and LGBTQ activist Thomas Glave was born in the Bronx, and split his time between there and Kingston, Jamaica. His powerful voice has been recognized in his fiction collection, Whose Song? And Other Stories (2000), along with his essay collection, Words to Our Now: Imagination and Dissent (2005). He is also the editor of the anthology Our Caribbean: A Gathering of Lesbian and Gay Writing from the Antilles (2008), the first book of its kind and a compelling contribution to queer postcolonial literatures everywhere.

Glave is the second gay African American writer to win the O. Henry Prize. In 2008, he was nominated for the Stonewall Book Award for his novel The Torturer’s Wife. Glave was also awarded the Fullbright Fellowship to Jamaica for his social justice work, and for founding the Jamaica Forum of Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays.

Nadia L. Hohn

I have had the honour of interviewing Toronto’s own Nadia Hohn, a young writer who shot to fame this decade. From the age of six years old, Nadia L. Hohn has been writing stories, drawing pictures and making books. This has been a powerful year for Nadia, and her achievements are momentous:

Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) Children’s Literature Award 2015-2016

Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) Writers’ Award  2018

SCBWI Canada East Rising Kite Award & Scholarship 2018

6 Black Canadian Writers to Watch in 2018, CBC Canada

A Different Booklist People’s Award for Contribution in Children’s Literature 2016

Helen Issobel Sissons Canadian Children’s Book Award for manuscript of Malaika’s Costume  2014

Along with being 1 of 6 Black Canadian Writers to Watch in 2018, and receiving the Canada East Rising Kite Diversity Scholarship recipient, Nadia has ended her decade with another reading delight, A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett-Coverley Found Her Voice, nonfiction picture book about the performer, playwright, author, and Jamaican cultural ambassador, Louise Bennett-Coverley otherwise known as Miss Lou.

It was nearly impossible to narrow down the list of literary contributions coming from the Caribbean. The writers selected were highlighted for the work they have done, the strides they have taken, the courage it took to do it, and the impact that they will continue to have.

We, as humans are guaranteed certain things in life: stressors, taxes, bills and death are the first thoughts that pop to mind. It is not uncommon that many people find a hard time dealing with these daily life stressors, and at times will find themselves losing control over their lives. Simone Jennifer Smith’s great passion is using the gifts that have been given to her, to help educate her clients on how to live meaningful lives. The Hear to Help Team consists of powerfully motivated individuals, who like Simone, see that there is a need in this world; a need for real connection. As the founder and Director of Hear 2 Help, Simone leads a team that goes out into the community day to day, servicing families with their educational, legal and mental health needs.Her dedication shows in her Toronto Caribbean newspaper articles, and in her role as a host on the TCN TV Network.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Community News

Forgetting isn’t just something to be annoyed about, it’s a smart way to survive

Published

on

Photo credit - Press Foto

BY KHADIJA KARIM

Have you ever forgotten someone’s name, or where you left your phone and thought, “Why can’t I remember anything?” Forgetting might feel frustrating, but it turns out that forgetting things can actually be good for you. Experts believe forgetting might be an important part of human survival and could even have benefits.

You probably think that remembering everything would be better, right? If you remembered every tiny detail, like what you had for breakfast three weeks ago, or the colour of every car you saw today, you would be overwhelmed. Our brains are constantly receiving information, and if we didn’t forget some of it, we wouldn’t be able to focus on what really matters at that time.

Forgetting helps you clear out information you don’t need, and it helps your brain remember the most useful memories. Think about how hard it would be to focus on important things if your mind was filled with random thoughts. Forgetting helps you stay focused and keeps your mind from getting lost.

So, why would evolution make us forget things? Early humans had to deal with dangerous environments that changed quickly. They needed to remember things that helped them survive, like where to find food, or how to avoid predators. They didn’t need to remember every small detail, like what happened last week. Forgetting information, they didn’t need allowed them to make quick decisions based on what was most important at that moment in time.

For example, if you remember a recent storm, you might make sure to stay inside or find shelter. If you remembered every storm you’d ever seen, it would be harder to make decisions about the present. Forgetting irrelevant details helps you stay on your feet and helps you react faster to new situations. This ability to forget likely helped early humans survive and make better decisions in their everyday lives.

Next time you forget something, don’t be too hard on yourself! Forgetting is a natural part of how our brains work and can actually help you stay focused on the important things. It might seem annoying at times, but it’s helping you make better decisions. Forgetting isn’t just something to be annoyed about, it’s a smart way to survive in a world that’s always changing!

Continue Reading

Community News

Blink equity dives deep into the gap between people of colour and decision-making roles in Canadian law firms

Published

on

Photo Credit: AI Image

BY ADRIAN REECE

Representation in the workforce has been a topic of conversation for years, particularly in positions of influence, where people can shift laws and create fair policies for all races. Representation in the legal system is an even more talked about subject, with many Black men being subjected to racism in courts and not being given fair sentencing by judges.

The fear of Black men entering the system is something that plagues mothers and fathers as they watch their children grow up.

Blink Equity, a company led by Pako Tshiamala, has created an audit called the Blink Score. This audit targets law firms and seeks to identify specific practices reflecting racial diversity among them in Toronto. A score is given based on a few key performance indicators. These KPIs include hiring practices, retention of diverse talent, and racial representation at every level.

The Blink Score project aims to analyze law firms in Ontario with more than 50 lawyers. The Blink Score is a measurement tool that holds law firms accountable for their representation. Firms will be ranked, and the information will be made public for anyone to access.

This process is ambitious and seeks to give Canadian citizens a glimpse into how many people are represented across the legal field. While more and more people have access to higher education, there is still a gap between obtaining that higher education and working in a setting where change can be made. The corporate world, at its highest points, is almost always one race across the board, and very rarely do people of colour get into their ranks. They are made out to be an example of how anyone from a particular race can achieve success. However, this is the exception, not the rule. Nepotism plays a role in societal success; connections are a factor, and loyalty to race, even if people are acquainted.

People of colour comprise 16% of the total lawyers across the province. Positions at all levels range from 6% to 27%. These numbers display the racial disparity among law practitioners in positions of influence. Becoming a lawyer is undoubtedly a huge accomplishment. Still, when entering the workforce with other seasoned professionals, your academic accolades become second to your professional achievements and your position in the company.

What do these rankings ultimately mean? A potential for DEI-inclusive practices, perhaps? That isn’t something that someone would want in this kind of profession. This kind of audit also opens law firms up to intense criticism from people who put merit above all other aspects of professional advancement. On the other hand, there is a potential for firms to receive clientele based on their blink score, with higher ones having the chance to bring in more race-based clients who can help that law firm grow.

It is only the beginning, and changes will undoubtedly be made in the legal field as Blink Equity continues to dive deep into the gap between people of colour and decision-making roles in these law firms. This audit has the power to shift the power scale, and place people of colour in higher positions. There are hierarchies in any profession, and while every Lawyer is qualified to do what they are trained to do, it is no shock that some are considerably better than others at their jobs. The ones who know how to use this audit to their advantage will rise above the others and create a representative image for themselves among their population.

Continue Reading

Community News

“The Pfizer Papers!” Documentation of worldwide genocide

Published

on

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

We are living in a world where promises of health and safety came packaged in a tiny vial, one injection was promoted by powerful governments, supported by respected institutions, and championed by legacy media worldwide. Sadly, beneath the surface, a darker truth emerged.

Reports from around the globe began to tell a different story—one that was not covered in the news cycles or press conferences. Families torn apart by unexpected losses, communities impacted in ways that few could have foreseen, and millions questioning what they had been told to believe.

Those who dared to question were silenced or dismissed (the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper being one of those sources). “Trust the science,” we were told. “It’s for the greater good.” As time went on, the truth became impossible to ignore.

Now, I bring more news to light—information that demands your attention and scrutiny. The time to passively listen has passed; this is the moment to understand what’s really at stake.

I reviewed an interview with Naomi Wolf, journalist and CEO of Daily Clout, which detailed the serious vaccine-related injuries that Pfizer and the FDA knew of by early 2021, but tried to hide from the public. I was introduced to “The Pfizer Papers: Pfizer’s Crimes Against Humanity.” What I learned is that Pfizer knew about the inadequacies of its COVID-19 vaccine trials and the vaccine’s many serious adverse effects, and so did the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA promoted the vaccines anyway — and later tried to hide the data from the public.

To produce “The Pfizer Papers,” Naomi, and Daily Clout Chief Operations Officer Amy Kelly convened thousands of volunteer scientists and doctors to analyze Pfizer data and supplementary data from other public reporting systems to capture the full scope of the vaccines’ effects. They obtained the data from the Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency, a group of more than 30 medical professionals and scientists who sued the FDA in 2021 and forced the agency to release the data, after the FDA refused to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request.

It was then that the federal court ordered the agency to release 450,000 internal documents pertaining to the licensing of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The data release was significantly and the documents so highly technical and scientific that according to Naomi, “No journalist could have the bandwidth to go through them all.”

The “Pfizer Papers” analysts found over 42,000 case reports detailing 158,893 adverse events reported to Pfizer in the first three months The centerpiece of “The Pfizer Papers” is the effect that the vaccine had on human reproduction. The papers reveal that Pfizer knew early on that the shots were causing menstrual issues. The company reported to the FDA that 72% of the recorded adverse events were in women. Of those, about 16% involved reproductive disorders and functions. In the clinical trials, thousands of women experienced: daily bleeding, hemorrhaging, and passing of tissue, and many other women reported that their menstrual cycle stopped completely.

Pfizer was aware that lipid nanoparticles from the shots accumulated in the ovaries and crossed the placental barrier, compromising the placenta and keeping nutrients from the baby in utero. According to the data, babies had to be delivered early, and women were hemorrhaging in childbirth.

Let us take us to another part of the world, where research has been done on other pharmaceutical companies. A group of Argentine scientists identified 55 chemical elements — not listed on package inserts — in the: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, CanSino, Sinopharm and Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines (according to a study published last week in the International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice, and Research).

The samples also contained 11 of the 15 rare earth elements (they are heavier, silvery metals often used in manufacturing). These chemical elements, which include lanthanum, cerium and gadolinium, are lesser known to the general public than heavy metals, but have been shown to be highly toxic. By the end of 2023, global researchers had identified 24 undeclared chemical elements in the COVID-19 vaccine formulas.

Vaccines often include excipients — additives used as preservatives, adjuvants, stabilizers, or for other purposes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), substances used in the manufacture of a vaccine, but not listed in the contents of the final product should be listed somewhere in the package insert. Why is this important? Well, researchers argue it is because excipients can include allergens and other “hidden dangers” for vaccine recipients.

In one lot of the AstraZeneca vaccine, researchers identified 15 chemical elements, of which 14 were undeclared. In the other lot, they detected 21 elements of which 20 were undeclared. In the CanSino vial, they identified 22 elements, of which 20 were undeclared.

The three Pfizer vials contained 19, 16 and 21-23 undeclared elements respectively. The Moderna vials contained 21 and between 16-29 undeclared elements. The Sinopharm vials contained between 17-23 undeclared elements and the Sputnik V contained between 19-25 undetected elements.

“All of the heavy metals detected are linked to toxic effects on human health,” the researchers wrote. Although the metals occurred in different frequencies, many were present across multiple samples.

I am not going to go any further with this; I think you get the picture. We have been sold wolf cookies, very dangerous ones. These pharmaceutical companies must be held accountable. I am proud of anyone who has gone after them for retribution, and have received it. Regardless, in many ways, there is no repayment for a healthy life.

REFERENCES:

https://ijvtpr.com/index.php/IJVTPR/article/view/111

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/why-a-judge-ordered-fda-to-release-covid-19-vaccine-data-pronto

https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender_category/toxic-exposures/

Pfizer’s ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ — and Legacy Media’s Failure to Report on Them

55 Undeclared Chemical Elements — Including Heavy Metals — Found in COVID Vaccines

 

Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency

FDA Should Need Only ‘12 Weeks’ to Release Pfizer Data, Not 75 Years, Plaintiff Calculates

Judge Gives FDA 8 Months, Not 75 Years, to Produce Pfizer Safety Data

Most Studies Show COVID Vaccine Affects Menstrual Cycles, BMJ Review Finds

Report 38: Women Have Two and a Half Times Higher Risk of Adverse Events Than Men. Risk to Female Reproductive Functions Is Higher Still.

 

Continue Reading

Trending