REFLECTION & REASON

In the spirit of preserving, enhancing, and operationalizing the culturally significant event that is Caribbean Carnival, we have created a template that can be used in any city, for carnival enthusiasts who are looking to select a band to play mas with. MAS BAND EXPERIENCE: There are many factors that contribute to the overall experience participants will have with the mas band they select, from the band launch to crossing the stage and the road march. We've listed 20 items to consider including the band leader, DJs, road performers, trucks, refreshments, the band launch, costume registration, pickup, and quality, the mas camp vibe, website and social media performance, customer service, special events, band reputation, and participants diversity. By giving each area a score from 1-5, the template will automatically tabulate the overall grade for the band, which you can compare across 5 bands using our worksheet. Additional factors to consider, for reference: mas band size, the ma...

Just so we're clear: this isn't about Drake. This isn't about Kendrick. This is about the headlines, the vloggers, the experts, and the discussion that continues to circulate within Elon's galaxy, in Mark's metaverse, on Beyonce's internet. This #TheyNotLikeUs conversation, as I understand it to be, is fundamentally about hip hop music. Preserving hip hop culture. Respecting hip hop culture. Protecting hip hop culture. Gatekeeping, and raising standards. Policing authenticity. Identifying and eliminating wastemen. Elevating leaders. Keeping it Black, and keeping it real. This isn't about these two individuals--although they have ignited and amplified the conversation--it's about the longevity of hip hop. The blessing about hip hop is, is that many of us can actually remember the early days. It's a relatively young phenomenon, with living legends to verify and authenticate the origin stories and details. The history is still quite tangible. We were th...

When Toronto Raptors' DJ 4Korners released his refix/flip of Drake's "Worst Behavior" last week, on the "They Not Like Us" riddim I thought to myself: that's exactly it. Maybe Drake has been aware all along, because 10 years ago he said it was a fight to the finish.  He remembered the days when no one cared, was catapulted into hip hop royalty, and most likely was preeing the entire situation carefully from start until...the other day. The perceived finish. The end of the historic hip hop battle to the top. The night Drake was allegedly buried, when west coast hip hop stars, gangsters, athletes, community members, and supporters came out in allegiance to cheer and chant "They Not Like Us" on repeat. I couldn't enjoy the performance, although I can acknowledge Kendrick's appeal and intellect. The chants felt eerie, viewing as a Canadian. I still can't watch it all the way through. What's odd is...they used to never want to hear ...

What's not to love about the automotive industry? Beautiful designs, luxury, and of course...an everyday need: transportation. I love to attend the auto show to check out the latest innovations, the artistry, and the creative concepts. Since the late 90's, I've walked the Metro Toronto Convention Centre floors annually to take a look at "what's new" and "what's hot" on the car scene. I've even purchased a specific car model that I first lay eyes on at the show, and always appreciate the opportunity to get the up-close look at the interior and variations as well. I enjoy attending the event, even moreso now that I can participate in the Media Day, and share perspectives such as these. Beyond my lens as an amateur car enthusiast, I still walk away from each event wondering: where are all the Black folks in this industry? There was definitely diversity evident yesterday: I noticed a good amount of Asian, South Asian, and Caucasian folks present....

It's the time of year when we get an extra dose of reminders of all of the horrible atrocities committed openly against Black people here in Canada, and around the world. Reminders of the disrespect, the discrimination...and an annual reminder of how much more work needs to be done to attempt to repair the damages deliberately invoked on peoples of African descent. It would have been so wonderful to learn these stories in school from a young age, in addition to at-home lessons. To have everyone learn about the collective histories of settlers, and of the Indigenous, as we coloured maps of Canada and memorized capital cities in each province. Now designated as a National Historic Site, the spirit of the town of Africville holds so much more power and inspiration that geography class could have been enhanced with. Decades ago, had the truth been communicated openly. James Lorimer & Co. Ltd., Publishing, 2021 In the  Righting Canada's Wrongs  collection of anti-racism resour...

Inspired and informed by the experiences and journey of Canadian author Jawara Pedican , the YA novel The Hoop and the Harm features the life and internal struggles of a university student who has dedicated his life to the game of basketball.  Pedican, a former varsity athlete at McGill University and the University of Toronto, uses his wisdom to share the fictional story of  Udoka (aka "Yoosie") Clendon, who is working to overcome challenges with his confidence, family influences, and his vision for the future...in addition to navigating everyday circumstances growing up in Toronto as a young Black man. There are many energetic in-game descriptions that make this an exciting sports novel, but there is also a rare intimate look offered in this text, highlighting the thoughts and emotions of a star athlete with infinite potential for success. Through discussions with his therapist, and special chapter segments focusing in on "Feldbrook's Lesson," there is amazin...

February is the time of year when I reflect on the essence of reggae music, how it has shaped and informed my life's activities, and how I can contribute to the conversation, development, and preservation of the genre. On a good year, that appears as a pre-February trip to Jamaica to attend the Rebel Salute reggae festival and immerse myself in the sounds, the atmosphere, and the legacy of the artists and environment. Most years, I reflect from the cold of Toronto, Canada, and give thanks for the music that gets me through the winter, the remaining months, and all of the occurrences that come with the changing seasons. In life. What I love most about reggae music is the intentional and transformational messaging that the genre is rooted in. In every iteration of reggae since its inception in 1960s Jamaica, the music continues to be a force of cultural communication, identity formation, and solidifying Jamaica's place in world history as a nation of trendsetters and creative in...