As BLM protests rage across the United States, many Canadians have a thought on their minds: Thank god police aren’t racist or violent in Canada. However, it may be true this thought only stems from a place of collective ignorance. When treating members of the First Nation community, Canadian police have historically been as brutal…
George Floyd’s violent death was a breaking point — an all too familiar reminder that, for Black people, law enforcement doesn’t protect or save our lives. They often threaten and take them. This quote is taken directly from the Black Lives Matter website, specifically under the call to defund the police. The attempt to redistribute wealth…
6,926 positive COVID-19 cases in Alberta. 141 families grieving for the loss of their loved ones from this deadly virus in our province. 77 days since I last opened my locker and sat in a classroom. 12 weeks since I last hugged my grandma. The list goes on…
In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a series of guidelines on disease naming. They included useful practices to summarize symptoms and reduce fear. They also explicitly mentioned that diseases must not be named after locations, people, animals, or cultures. This was all done in an effort to reduce the stigma and insult related…
The pink shirt anti-bullying movement started in 2007 after a grade nine student from a small town in Nova Scotia was bullied for wearing a pink t-shirt to school. As a show of support and acceptance, two of his classmates purchased 50 pink tank tops and handed them out to male classmates the next day.…
So, yes, I know it’s a little late (procrastination at its finest!), but to all those reading this blog post – Happy New Year! Last Saturday, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to be part of the organization of the Youth Caucus for the Calgary Womxn Taking Strides Event. I’ve been involved in…
Something to consider 🙂
In 1980’s Harlem, the entirety of the queer community was hidden. In New York, the queer community survived in artful safe spaces of dance, creation, and expression. The drag ball scene is illuminated issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation faced by the marginalized communities of New York, and by extension, society as a whole.…
Compared to white women, black mothers die at three times the rate during childbirth. Racism in healthcare has consistently failed women of colour. History of inhumane experiments on slaves has institutionalized stereotypes regarding how black people should be cared for. Many doctors still hold the belief that African Americans can handle more pain, leading to…
On March 14, 1979, Judy Chicago’s art instillation, “The Dinner Party,” was opened at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. That instillation pushed feminist art to the limelight, changing the lives of women, and forever defining Chicago as a legend. Now, “The Dinner Party” is permanently installed in the Brooklyn Museum, but the life…
The black deaf community is wholly shaped by two marginalized communities: deaf and African-American. For women, the prejudice may reach an intersectionality of three, experiencing sexism, racism, and communication barriers. The history of prejudice and segregation against black folk invented a dialect of American Sign Language (ASL), known simply as Black ASL. The discriminatory practices…
10 days from today; January 19th, 2019 will mark Calgary’s 3rd Annual Women’s March.
The holidays are a fantastic time to practice giving. This year, I want to focus on giving the gift of empathy and understanding this holiday season, and I think you should too! Below is a list of holiday phrases in different languages, and I encourage you to use these with people you know who’s first…
Frida Kahlo is recognized as Mexico’s, if not the world’s, greatest painter. She is a Marxist, reconstructionist, disabled, bisexual painter and activist. Kahlo completely revolutionized the way we view art, gender, and society. Her art, particularly her self-portraits share a personal story of pain and suffering, but also a profound resilience. Kahlo explained, I paint…
Officially as of November 19, 2018, the Bank of Canada issued a new vertical $10 banknote. It might take a while to see them due to circulation, but they look like this: The new bill, alongside being the first vertical banknote in Canada, is equipped with enhanced features that make it harder to counterfeit. There…