Articles
Exclusive cultural and political content highlighting issues affecting the Caribbean diaspora
Counting My Blessings
By now, we would all be amped for holiday sales and spending time with family, but 2020 changed all of that. The United States is now in the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic and there are new travel and socializing restrictions. Right now, many are struggling to get into the holiday spirit this year. Although this has been a craptastic storm of WTF, it hasn’t been all bad. Instead of complaining, I’m counting my blessings.
I Am African
Since Oct 7th, protestors in Nigeria have been using the #ENDSARS hashtag to bring attention to the atrocities perpetrated by the country's Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). On October 23rd, I went live on Instagram with Nigerian-American influencer Glitteratie to break down the history behind the tensions, the demands of the protestors, and why the #ENDSARS movement should be a wake up call for all Black people.
Guyana - Politics and Unrest
In February, I went back to my parents’ homeland to celebrate Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary. The celebration was vibrant and energetic - a true representation of the spirit of Guyanese people. However, Guyana has since had its share of turmoil. From the multiple recounts and confusion over the election in March to a Black Lives Matter movement following the death of two young men, Isaiah and Joel Henry, Guyanese say they are apprehensive about the country’s future.
Cultural Appreciation vs. Cultural Appropriation
Let me catch you up on what has been the talk of the soca world for the past few days. During a recent panel discussion, Caucasian dancer White Chocolate (neé Josh Butler) stated that he is paving the way for Black dancers/influencers. And that’s where everything went left.
Okay, but did you watch "Cuties"?
Several friends reached out to me over the past few days to ask my thoughts on the Netflix movie “Cuties".” I had not seen it, but I certainly saw all of the dialogue surrounding the provocative dancing of pubescent girls. Despite the outrage and it’s 89% Rotten Tomatoes rating, many involved in the conversation admitted that they did not actually watch the film. Well, for those of you who saw the clip of young girls dancing to Yemi Alade’s “Bum Bum,” there’s actually more nuance to the film than that.
My Feteless Summer
Brooklynites are likely still coming to grips with the summer of disappointments. Carnivals were cancelled, we were on lockdown, and Labor Day was just another holiday. While many were willing to deal with fete withdrawal, some promoters still found a way to put on events that were purported to offer reprieve from our quarantine doldrums. As a fete junkie, I found myself hesitant to purchase tickets to events that would either be sparse or possibly get shut down for not complying with city mandates. While I’m glad I saved my money after seeing what the more unscrupulous promoters offered, there were actually some events that I regret missing.
We Going Right Down to the Heart of the Matter
Soca's Premier Videographer Joins Ontario Protest
In Ontario, thousands have flooded the streets throughout 2020 to demand justice for all citizens. In attendance at a protest in Hamilton, ON was Rant and Rave videographer Kordel Fermin. I spoke to him on June 19th to get his perspective of the protests for our podcast series, but his take on the movement caused me to look deeper into how Canada is finally recognizing that they, too, have a history of racism.
Happiness Is What We Believe In
SASOD Guyana and the Fight for Civil Rights
June is Pride Month! As the world takes to the streets to stand up for Black Lives, we cannot forget about the people within our communities who face additional struggles. I spoke with Joel Simpson, Founder and Managing Director of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), about the progress his organization has made over the last 17 years in Guyana and how quarantine may be helping the gay and trans community.