Youth Are Awesome, commonly referred to as YAA, is a blog written by youth for youth.
YAA provides the youth of Calgary a place to amplify their voices and perspectives on what is happening around them.
Youth Are Awesome is a program of Youth Central.
Any views or opinions expressed on this blog belong solely to the author and do not represent those of people or organizations that the blog may be associated with, unless explicitly stated. All content is for informational purposes only.
“How to stop being a Perfectionist” By a Perfectionist
Perfection, something we all strive for in our daily life especially in academics, is defined as the process of improving something until it is free from all flaws and is “perfect”. Although we commonly associate supreme excellency with perfection, there is a clear line that needs to be drawn between being a perfectionist and being excellent. Being excellent is simply about giving the best you possibly can while being a perfectionist is about neglecting the positives and focusing on improving the negatives of the work.
Firstly in order to identify yourself as a perfectionist, you must be the following:
Afraid of Failure: Many perfectionists including myself are afraid of failure. Failure, however, is relative to all of us. Some might define failure as simply failing a test, getting a bad grade in a course or just getting slightly lower than what you expected on a quiz. Others define failure as not being able to reach the expectations they set for themselves.
Have Trust Issues: Are you afraid to trust your partner to do the same quality of work as you on a lab assessment? Or do you find yourself in a constant need for control? If yes, then you might just be a perfectionist. Perfectionists often find it hard to adjust to others’ frequency and intensity, firstly because they are inflexible with their own standards, and secondly, because they always expect the best from themselves. Thus, it is natural for them to cooperate with others especially when their work ethic is incompatible.
Constantly finding flaws: This can be perceived in many ways. Firstly, the most common way to tell whether you are constantly finding flaws is through self-examination. Most perfectionists are more overcritical of themselves than of others around them. Secondly, many perfectionists tend to point out spelling mistakes or minute grammatical errors in others’ speech or writing. To perfectionists, it is extremely important to correct flaws not to impress others with their knowledge but to simply create a surrounding that is free from flaws.
Everyone is a perfectionist, some to a higher extent than others but here are 5 ways on how to stop being a perfectionist and being excellent instead:
Firstly, Identify if your standards or goals are realistic and attainable. Often times perfectionists are known to set extremely high standards for themselves which can lead to stress at school, workplace, etc. and overall disrupt mental peace. Setting realistic goals will help you maximize your potential along with reduced stress levels. Extremely high and unrealistic standards are only going to cause unnecessary anxiety and can lead to isolation.
Secondly, realize failure is a part of success. Allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them rather mourning over them. Mistakes are simply opportunities to do better than you did before and only result in stronger results. Often times, perfectionists are so afraid of failure that they continue to criticize themselves over minor failures.
Third, surround yourself with positivity. Research has shown that there is a direct correlation between contentment with work and positivity. When appreciating the positives in nature, others’ work without any criticism, we open ourselves to appreciate other opinions right or wrong, which is crucial to our overall growth as human beings.
Fourth think of the bigger picture. In the long run, the imperfections we hold inside make us vulnerable and
“vulnerability is the birthplace for innovation and change” – Brené Brown
Perfectionists are extremely focussed on removing all flaws from their lives as well as their work that they forget their imperfections are what make them unique. Realizing that a few imperfections don’t make someone an unworthy person, rather contributes to them being human.
Lastly, Be yourself. Most people try to achieve perfection through incredibly high standards set by themselves, family, society, etc and they feel constantly forced to so. Sometimes, it’s okay to let go of perfection and dance in the rain like an average person. When we expose our true selves to the world, we let go of the image that is expected of us, which not only provides us with inner peace and happiness but also relieves stress.
Hopefully, you follow this guide and find yourself much more relaxed than before.
Looking past personal prejudices, similar to sexism and homophobia, racism is systematic. It exists within societal institutions like the government, the education system, the health care system, the criminal justice system, and the work force. This results in underrepresentation of people of colour in positions of power and mistreatment of people of colour across institutions that are supposed to protect them, care for them, or teach them. Throughout Canada, Europe, and America, there are a plethora of current and past legislation that enforces discrimination within society. However, there is one standouts example of legislation that upholds a discriminatory status quo, which entirely exemplifies the implication and existence of systemic racism.
American society is notorious for its past and current mistreatment of the black community. It wasn’t until the 13th Amendment that slavery was abolished. The first slaves arrived in Virginia in 1619 and the 13th Amendment was effective in December 1865. Regardless of that abolishment, the treatment of the freed slaves only minutely changed. At the time of the 13th Amendment, the right to citizenship and the right to vote was also granted to the newly freed slaves through the 14th and 15th Amendment. Yet, the black community was still treated as second-class citizens, where they were separated from white counterparts in transportation, recreational facilities, prisons, armed forces, and schools through a series of laws passed by the Supreme Court between 1873 and 1883. The origin of the name of these laws called the Jim Crow Laws, is associated with the first performer to blacken his face and perform as a plantation slave named Jim Crow. The Jim Crow Laws were finally abolished on July 2, 1964 when President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Protesters in support of the Jim Crow Laws
The fact that segregation was abolished in America over 50 years ago is overshadowed by the persistent prejudice that continues to disadvantage the black community. Even after segregation was abolished, a practice of systematically denying residents of certain areas services and loans arbitrarily based off of their ethnicity became commonplace. Known as redlining, policies developed by the Home Owners Loan Corporation led to disinvestment in a discriminatory pattern. HOLC was established in 1933 by the Rosevelt Administration to reduce home foreclosures. Eventually, HOLC was institutionalized in 1937 by the U.S. Housing Act, creating the Federal Housing Association. The HOLC and FHA decide which areas are fit for investment by banks, insurance companies, savings and loan associations, and other financial service companies. The zones, which had predominately black populations, were physically shaded red on maps. This caused the black communities to become severely underdeveloped, while predominately white areas that received loans were able to expand infrastructure, start small businesses, and improve their quality of life.
A redlining map of Charlotte, North Carolina in 1935
The disinvestment of these mainly African-American communities led to severe disrepair. Those who lived in these neighbourhoods had limited access to banks, healthcare, and groceries. However, a very important exception to this was liquor stores, which seemingly overcame the financial risk throughout these communities. Lack of businesses led to severe rates of unemployment for those who were both too poor and legally not allowed to leave the red zones. Crime quickly followed into these neighbourhoods, continuing a cycle of disinvestment even after redlining was banned. This has created a vicious poverty cycle that still defines these communities today, leading to higher rates of crime, addiction, and a lack of basic opportunity and services.
The racial discrimination expressed through mortgage lending has actively shaped the current wealth patterns of America. 3 out of the 4 communities that were redlined in the 1930’s are still struggling economically. Even after 80 years, these communities, are still mostly comprised of a minority population.
It’s as if some of these places have been trapped in the past, locking neighbourhoods into concentrated poverty,
described Jason Richardson, the director of research for the consumer advocacy group, NCRC.
Bruce Mitchell, a senior researcher for NCRC, explains that these “hazardous” red zones were made up of
Anyone who was not northern-European white
and those who weren’t white,
[were] considered to be a detraction from the value of the area.
This persistent racism set the stage for America’s severe racial wage gap. Today, white families have 10 times the net worth of black families according to the Federal Reserve. Considering that homeownership is the number one method of accumulating wealth, the effect of past policy has created a permanent underclass, largely and disproportionately represented in minority populations. Until the Fair Housing Act banned redlining in 1968, the government actively contributed to the segregation of politically black (non-white) people from white neighbourhoods by institutionalizing race-based poverty.
After 50 years of the Fair Housing Act, the effects of redlining lingers. Flint Michigan is one of many communities that still experiences extreme poverty, linked to the lack of investment over 80 years ago. Across America, 2 of the 3 neighbourhoods labelled as “hazardous,” are inhabited by mostly minorities. Cities with more “hazardous” neighbourhoods continue to face severe economic inequality, while 91% of those neighbourhoods labelled as “best” in blue, have remained middle to upper-class communities. 85% of these “best” communities are still overwhelmingly white.
Extreme poverty in Flint has led to a severe water crisis
Baltimore was one of the earliest cities to adopt official restrictive housing for African Americans and Jewish Americans. Nearly every area labelled “hazardous” in the 1930’s is a low or moderate income community. The exception is an area around Baltimore’s harbour, which has been completely remodelled to attract tourism. As well, close to 70% of redlined communities in Baltimore are still primarily inhabited by minorities. Even neighbourhoods that were labelled as “desirable” have become populated by low-income minorities, while the middle-class white population fled to the suburbs.
Although the practice of redlining is now illegal, minorities still experience similar problems. A 2015 study found that race played a larger role than income in mortgage lending in Baltimore. Loans are commonplace in predominantly white neighbourhoods, where banks also gave twice the amount of loans to white people than black people. A report from the Centre for Investigative Reporting found that redlining persists in 61 metro areas. Even when controlling the applicant’s income, loan amount, and neighbourhood, areas from Detroit to Tacoma discriminate against minorities according to the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act’s records. Banks blame these discrepancies on the borrower’s credit score, but that claim can’t be confirmed as that information isn’t officially disclosed.
The same researchers analyzed 30 cities for gentrification, where once “hazardous” areas spiked in value between 2000 and 2010. They found that many gentrified cities that were once redlined became middle and upper class. There was also a greater influx of economic activity. While these areas were far less segregated than their counterparts, there was also far more economic disparity between the original, mostly minority population, and the newcomers. Both past and current lending discrimination reinforces economic inequality as higher income gentrifiers are able to access loans and renovate the area, while longstanding residents don’t have the capital to improve their area, often making their home unaffordable. As rent and property tax rise in the area, longtime residents are forced to relocate. While some believe gentrification is a force of desegregation, Mitchell asks,
Is it just a movement towards increased segregation in the next census period?
While many forms of discriminatory legislation in America have long since been ended, the implications are still extremely relevant. This is because the effects of slavery, segregation, and redlining transcends into physical wellness, economic opportunity, and political power. Further, discriminatory legislation has changed the social positions of minorities in American society. Through historical acts of discrimination, a status quo was created, and it is continually upheld by everyday society and institutions. Common knowledge for many people is after slavery’s and segregation’s legal status was revoked, the government no longer had a major role in the integration and development of minorities into American society. Therefore, it is viewed that issues in those communities resulted on their own. However, through redlining, the government continued to contribute to segregation within America. At many points, America became even more segregated then when segregation was legal. African Americans and other minorities were forced to remain in low income neighbourhoods because of discriminatory lending practices. The physical separation of white people from “the others,” has led to a tremendous racial division socially in modern America, while this physical separation more or less remains the same.
Poorer communities are faced with a plethora of problems in America. One example being high rates of criminal activity. Yet, the root of this problem and other problems like high rates of substance abuse, is the history of segregation and disinvestment. The lack of opportunity caused these communities to have less access to many basic needs like groceries, healthcare, and banking, yet liquor stores were able to thrive. This meant alcohol was extremely accessible. Further, in America, a portion of property taxes for each neighbourhood goes toward schooling in the area. This has caused an extreme lack of funding for schools in areas that were labelled as “hazardous.” Lack of quality education fuels the fire that is rampant poverty, as there is less opportunity for growth, leading to high dropout rates. This not only further contributes to poverty in the area, but it puts many students in at risk situations, causing some to turn to criminal activity and substance abuse. The system of using income tax of local neighbourhoods to fund schools is completely flawed, as it often causes underfunding to predominantly minority schools, further adding to oppression faced by youth in the area.
Yet, even with the discriminatory act of redlining made illegal, many cities not only continue to experience the effects of past policies, but also continue the practice in a different way. Instead of obviously separating communities into red and blue zones, cities and banks continue to disinvest for different reasons. Far too often, the disinvestment of black populations by the government is because of the high crime rates, lack of education, and other reasons associated with poverty. In a disgusting way, through legislation, segregation, and disinvestment in certain communities, poverty has become synonymous with black. This has caused a number of politicians and others in positions of power to continue the cycle of discrimination because they believe that African Americans and other minorities are more inclined to be criminals based off of superficial statistics associated with their race. These ideologies have been extremely prevalent recently considering the alarming number of innocent, unarmed black citizens being shot by police. Police brutality stems from the fact that police and average Americans make assumptions that because of their race, African Americans are more inclined to be criminals. Instead, some have been historically directed to a path of poverty that can put them more at risk; the rest is a harmful assumption made by police and citizens. Through redlining, minority populations have been separated and stereotyped. The issues in these predominantly minority populations don’t exist because the population is mostly minority. To end these severe and persistent cycles of poverty, we must dissociate poor, criminal, uneducated, and other stereotypes from minority. The truth is, minorities obviously aren’t more genetically likely to face these problems like many people seem to assume, rather, a brutal history of discrimination has caused poverty to concentrate in communities occupied by marginalized people, leading to the harmful association of poor with black.
I have fallen guilty to forming opinions without looking at the big picture. It is extremely easy to look at the statistics regarding these marginalized communities and cause further alienation and disenfranchisement. What is more challenging, is confronting the prejudices within our governments and dismantling this racist status quo that has stood strong for generations in North America. This example of redlining against primarily African minorities in America is strikingly similar to the experiences of indigenous Canadians. Although I don’t share these opinions, many classmates, family members, and people I interact with in my day to day life tend to blame First Nations for problems within their communities. Whether they blame inherent laziness, a desire to live off government welfare, or addiction, a plethora of Canadians seem to blame some genetic phenomenon for statistics associated with the education, health, and productivity of aboriginal peoples. Hearing those frankly offensive opinions really bothers me because instead of blaming the systematic issues on reserves caused by mistreatment and disinvestment, an obscure and easy genetic scapegoat is found. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and the extent to which the government should interfere with the First Nations of Canada is rightfully up for debate. However, blaming genetics, heritage, or ethnicity for problems in these communities is far from the truth. Rather, a brutal history of intergenerational trauma caused by oppressive legislation like the Indian Act of 1876, which existed for the sole purpose of removing the “Indian problem,” is at fault. Generations of aboriginals experienced assimilation and abuse inside these schools, which has caused addiction rates to sky rocket, while abuse has become unfortunately normalized for some aboriginal families. I believe it is unfair and unjust to not only blame these problems on aboriginals, but also force them to solve them with little to no support or resources. Unfortunately, many Canadians are willing and happy to look past this traumatic history when focusing on the problems of today. Across North America, this blissful ignorance causes harmful stereotypes to prosper. The pinnacle of this phenomenon being minorities, especially African Americans and aboriginals in Canada and the United States, being convicted more often then their white counterparts, convicted more intensely, and unjustly shot at the hands of the police who too often put racial profiling ahead a situational awareness. When forming opinions on any subject and also, while looking for solutions to problems in our society, we must always remember the many different paths we took to get to where we are today. It is vital to remember the past, but also apply it to our own decision making. When this doesn’t occur, history just repeats itself and misinterpretation runs rampant. Unfortunately, this exact misinterpretation has painted minorities as poor, lazy, and reckless across North America. It is time to not only remember this past, but recognize the current implications, so we can finally free minorities from the socioeconomic prison that is stereotyping and ignorance.
It is vital to have a good start to the day with a nutritional breakfast that gives you enough energy for the day. It’s so easy to quickly run out the door without eating anything but this leads to an unfocused day of school with a rumbling stomach. Here are some quick and easy breakfast ideas when you’re running late:
Some music can lull people to sleep, some can make you want to sing, and some will make you weep. But there are some pieces that make you want to jump around and conquer the world. Here are just a few of these pieces. (Note: I’m using the term “classical” loosely)
Dance of the Knights, Sergei Prokofiev
From the ballet Romeo and Juliet, “Dance of the Knights” has both aggressive and light parts. (It also goes well with “The Imperial March”)
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# minor Op. 27, No. 2, III. Presto Agitato (Moonlight Sonata), Ludwig van Beethoven
While you may be familiar with the serene first movement of this sonata, the third movement is fast and agitated.
In February 2014, London-based, award winning journalist, Reni Eddo-Lodge published a blog titled, “Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race.” It explained the vastly recognized frustration that people of colour experience describing struggle to those who can’t wholly relate and refuse to listen. In the blog she explains,
I cannot continue to emotionally exhaust myself trying to get this message across, while also toeing a very precarious line that tries not to implicate any one white person in their role of perpetuating structural racism, lest they character assassinate me.
In 2017, Lodge published the extension of that insight in her book under the same name. It explored the history of colonization and racism in Britain, a history that is almost a mirror image of the struggles faced by people of colour in Canada and the United States. She thoughtfully describes the iceberg that is racism, where self-admitted, obvious acts of violence are held up by the structural racism that exists in all institutions. Lodge further articulates the existence of white privilege, the fear against immigrants and minorities, the ignorance of intersectionality in feminism, the relationship between race and class, and ending the carefully written book with a chapter called “There’s No Justice, There’s Just Us.”
Reni Eddo-Lodge photographed for Stylist talking on why it really does matter if you’re black or white
Lodge’s examples and arguments are utterly transparent, backed by references to public documents, articles, and studies. Her developed explanation of racism’s existence in all areas of life is matched only by her beautiful writing style and profound, straightforward thinking.
The book begins with the preface of Lodge’s blog post. She shares the blog in its entirety explaining that paradoxically, this book serves “to continue the conversation.” She further explains,
Since I set my boundary, I’ve done almost nothing but speak about race… and the demand of this conversation shows no signs of subsiding.
She reports the book as a product of built-up frustration, not only describing the obvious side of racism, but also the hard to define pieces of racism. From the preface, Lodge immediately and appropriately dives into the history of minority presence in Britain. If you choose to take nothing from this book, at least read this chapter. It eloquently shares a more accurate and truthful side of Britain, which essentially is the fact that Britain was built off the suffering of minorities. Slavery in Britain has existed longer than it has been abolished, being an institution in Britain for over 270 years. Lodge explains that after university, where she was first introduced to the experiences of the “black cattle,” she actively searched, hungry for more. One can’t even begin to summarize the experience of minorities in Britain. From the existence of eugenic studies blocking mixed-race relationships on the fictitious basis that black citizens were more prone to disease, rampant housing discrimination leading to poverty concentration, and a prevalent history of police brutality and discrimination, the experience of the black minority British has and continues to be unhealthy. The purpose of this brilliant and meticulous analysis of Britain’s history with racism, simply allows us to know it. In betraying the ignorance we naturally experience in school systems, it become extremely obvious that,
…racism does not erupt from nothing, rather it is embedded in British society. It’s in the very core of how the state is set up. It’s not external. It’s in the system.
Although Lodge explores the history of Britain and backs up her explanations of “the system” with primarily British examples, it isn’t hard to see the parallels that exist within other developed nations. Considering extremely successful countries mostly share a colonialist past, it’s easy to see where these histories connect. Reading through the histories and stories Lodge shared in the first chapter, it was easy to see Canada’s similar past reflected in the pages, especially considering the experience of First Nations in Canada.
The first 50 pages set up an obvious, but unfortunately rare explanation and argument of anti-racism. The history sets the scene, allowing Lodge to assess and articulate the iceberg of racism that exists under water. It’s the largest part of the iceberg, yet almost entirely unnoticed by those who don’t experience it firsthand. It’s easy for those who benefit from its existence to deny racism. Lodge provides the framework and assessment necessary to make it impossible to deny.
Without the large bottom that Lodge describes as “the hard to define bits,” the top, which is explicit racism, cannot succeed and stay afloat
After defining the history that allows for racism in Britain, Lodge immediately describes the system that racism exists in. Lodge explains,
If all racism was as easy to spot, grasp and denounce as white extremism is, the task of the anti-racist would be simple.
However, racism isn’t easy. Racism transcends all areas of society. It’s as small as looks on the street. It’s as ignored as a mostly white workplace. Yet, it is all these small acts of prejudice that uphold a status quo which accepts and celebrates racism. Having a government or workplace that lacks diversity means less minorities are in higher paid positions with more power. This results in a deafening silence advocating for the integration and success of minorities. The majority of white people don’t explicitly advocate for this diversity because to them, it means their place is being taken. This results in an unspoken diminishment of life chance for minorities. It also leads to economic disadvantage as poverty begins to concentrate in black communities.
Racism exists as a system, and that system is upheld by white people because each small or big act of racism inadvertently benefits them. This then brilliantly leads into Lodge’s explanation of white privilege, a concept most white people, including myself, struggle to understand and recognize. It’s hard to look at a homeless white man and a successful, black business woman and say that the white person is privileged. Obviously, they’re not. However, when comparing two people of different races with equal social standings, one can recognize that no white person has been discriminated against because if their race in a way that actually diminished their quality of life. Lodge has articulated the existence of white privilege more truthfully, personally, and eloquently than anything I’ve ever seen. This chapter achieved something beautiful for me. It allowed me to understand. No, I can’t and won’t ever be able to relate to the fine turmoil that is being visibly different. However, Lodge has provided me with the evidence and tools to recognize my existence in and benefit from the system. The explanation that truly clicked for me was on page 87, where Lodge explains,
When I talk about white privilege, I don’t mean that white people have it easy, that they’ve never struggled, or that they’ve never lived in poverty. But white privilege is the fact that if you’re white, your race will almost certainly positively impact your life’s trajectory in some way. And you probably won’t even notice.
The last line, “And you probably won’t even notice,” rings true to my experience. I struggled to recognize white privilege because I was looking at life chance wholly, instead of recognizing that white privilege is having the absence of meaningful racial discrimination. One may argue that white people can experience prejudice, but Lodge effectively dismantled the implication of “reverse racism” by explaining that racism is prejudice plus power. The sheer over-representation of white people in positions of power allows effective racism against black minority ethnic’s to thrive, whereas prejudice against white people is inherently shallow. It’s hard to accept that white privilege is instrumental to structural racism, but it is a vital step in genuinely being anti-racist and dismantling that status quo.
Lodge is extremely successful at articulating the hard to define parts of racism. She explains the existence of racism with such grace that you are filled with realization on each page. The experience of minorities is hard to unify and explain, but Lodge makes it look easy. She explores the existence of white nationalism in Britain and what she calls “a fear of a black planet.” Inside this chapter, Lodge gives her opponents a time to shine. Throughout the book Lodge successfully brings up and disproves counter arguments; in this chapter, she did this by sharing a 2012 interview she had with Nick Griffin, a man known for not believing minorities are truly British. The interview gives an honest insight into the mindset of the British National Party. Its careful placement only strengthens Lodge’s assessment of the existence of racism and fear of diversity.
This fear of diversity is further explained in Lodge’s relationship to feminism. She explains the hesitancy to include the unique experience of black women in feminist circles and conversations. There is an intersectionality between race and gender that black women fall into. They experience similar struggles and lack of representation both as women and as minorities, but there is also a unique struggle felt because of their gender and ethnicity at the same time. This intersectionality is seen in feminist circles’ unwillingness to bring race into the conversation or fight for racial representation. The word intersectionality was coined by Dr. Crenshaw, but Lodge explains that black feminists and scholars have been writing about this crossroad of struggle for years. She backs this claim through quoting a speech from 1851 by Sojourner Truth, a black abolitionist and women’s rights activist.
That man over there say that women needs to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have de best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman!?
This difference between white and black women exists because of race. However, the description of anti-racist feminism or intersectionality was rejected by many, either completely denying its existence or saying the theory of intersectionality is only for highly educated individuals attempting to close the circle of conversation. This rejection further upholds the existence of racism and intersectionality of race and gender. It was Audre Lorde who said,
Your silence will not protect you.
Audre Lorde, the self-described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet”
Lodge quotes Lorde and asks,
Who wins when we don’t speak?
Concisely answering,
Not us.
The next chapter develops the inherent relationship between race and class. Lodge describes that there is an implication that only race or class can be fought in Britain. Lodge rejects the separation, using census data and statistics to highlight how poverty concentrates in city centres and in areas where minority population is higher. She explains how during London’s housing crisis, the solution resulted in gentrification. As prices became too high for original residents, the mainly minority population was forced out of once affordable neighbourhoods. Lodge describes that these solutions negatively effect the poor, and therefore, disproportionally effect black citizens. She utilizes racial pay gap to back up the prevalent existence of minorities in poverty. Lodge recognizes she is complicating the idea of race and class by effectively intertwining them, but it is necessary to expose the story of the white working class being blocked by selfish immigrants for what it is… racist. This narrative is not only prevalent in Britain, but also within Canada and especially Trump’s America.
Reni Eddo-Lodge is a powerful voice in the conversation of race, and “Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race,” solidifies her position as an articulate expert, regardless of the fact that this is her first book. Lodge provides brilliant insight into the existence and effect of racism, honestly backing up her points with meticulous history, quotes, and references. There is no denying the truth and brilliance behind every analysis she makes. In her last chapter, “There’s No Justice, There’s Just Us,” Lodge visually describes racism as a noxious gas, explaining,
We need to see racism as structural in order to see its insidiousness. We need to see how it seeps, like a noxious gas, into everything.
“Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race” book cover
This book provides information and insight that any person can use to articulate their thoughts or question their line of thinking. Lodge simply wraps up the book, and I’d like to share her call on all of us with you.
If you are disgusted by what you see, and if you feel the fire coursing through your veins, then it’s up to you. You don’t have to be the leader of a global movement or a household name. It can be as small scale as chipping away at the warped power relations in your workplace. It can be passing on knowledge and skills to those who wouldn’t access them otherwise. It can be creative. It can be informal. It can be your job. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as you’re doing something.
Sources-
All information and quotes from “Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race” by Reni Eddo-Lodge
Whether you generally agree or generally disagree with the opinions of Reni Eddo-Lodge, there’s no denying the quality of Lodge’s analysis. I hope you can use this book to strengthen your opinions because I know this book bettered my understanding of anti-racist groupthink. One thing I can’t emphasize enough is Lodge’s brilliance at articulating what many people see and experience. As she said, many parts of structural racism are hard to define, but Lodge defined them. If you are stuck in your ways, I truly believe Lodge has the diction to make you question. The way we digest news creates echo-chambers. It is human nature to find solace in like-minded opinions. For many, this book provides that confirmation. However, if you don’t agree with these opinions on immigration and race, I still suggest this book with the same vigor I would anyone else. I’m not necessarily suggesting shaping your viewpoints to match that of Lodge or anyone else for that matter. However, I’m asking that you allow your perspective to be challenged. Although this book may not challenge any opinions you hold, it’s still important to search for other viewpoints. These alternate points of view may do nothing but confirm your own opinions. However, that does no harm and only strengthens your thoughts. You may not agree with this book, but at the end of the day, it is brilliant and beautiful. It allows you to either articulate your thoughts or question the opinions you had before reading. This book provides a viewpoint that can only be found if you search for it. The experience of minorities is shallowly represented in media and curriculum. I beg that you keep an open mind and allow the words to manifest in you. Please question yourself!
77,760. That’s the number of minutes I had been playing the popular online game League of Legends. 77,760 minutes doesn’t look so long, does it? Guess what? 77,760 minutes is equivalent to 54 DAYS. I have spent 54 days of my life playing the same game and I’ll be honest, I didn’t even realize it. In fact, the moment I found out, I went through a mini version of the five stages of grief. The number wasn’t easy to hear, but I am glad I did because that is what ultimately helped me quit the game.
Since quitting, I have made more time to do things that I am actually passionate about. I also now find myself constantly wondering about other things in my life that are like the game (i.e. the non-essential things I have spent countless hours on). The game showed me how many hours I’d played, but what about real life? There is no timer in real life telling me just how much time I’d spent doing things like trying to please others, or time spent in bad relationships. The game has a timer; real life does not.
So what now? Well, if you think that you are wasting time doing things you shouldn’t be, I encourage you to quit. It may not be easy to resist the temptation at first, and sometimes it may not even be easy to acknowledge it is a waste of time. We all make excuses from time to time and soon enough we will accept them as truths. These are the reasons why quitting is hard. Quitting is not simply putting something down and never doing it again. Quitting is first being honest with yourself, and then resisting the urge. It may be hard to quit a bad habit, but it’s never wrong to do so.
Since we’ve been shoved into a very sudden and early winter, I thought it’d be a good idea to remind people to take a breather. Yes, it’s suddenly very icky, snowy and slushy, and for lots of people, that means that getting to school and work might be a lot harder, with a much larger chance of being late.
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But that’s okay. When the snow first hit, I didn’t think much of it: I live in Canada so it always snows. So when I walked outside in my Doc Martins thinking ‘oh this will be fine’, I was in for a large shock. I knew right away that I’d be late for school but hey, there was snow everywhere, so I wouldn’t be the only one. I ended up waiting for a bus for about an hour, and traffic was so slow that by the time I got on a bus, it could barely move. I spent maybe an hour in an overly crowded bus and was nowhere near where I needed to be. My mum called me and told me to just go home because if I stayed on that bus, I wouldn’t have gotten to school until at least 12 and that was pointless because I knew that going back home would be the same. So I got off the bus and walked for 45 minutes until I got back home. When I got home I was incredibly frustrated because I knew that I’d be missing stuff in class and I really didn’t want to spend the day inside. I’m the kind of person who’s uncomfortable with being late and who gets a little anxious when I miss things, especially school.
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BUT
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I told myself to take a breath, I had no way of getting to school and there was nothing I could do. So I spent a Tuesday at home and on Wednesday I got up and tried again. Thankfully the roads were better and I got to school perfectly on time. This is just a reminder, it’s okay if you can’t always make it somewhere, especially when the reason is that of something unpredictable like the weather. I’m not saying that you should take missing classes lightly, but if you literally can’t make it down the street because the snow is going up to your knees, that’s okay, it’s not the end of the world if you have to miss one day. I do not doubt that all this snow will melt, nor do I think it that it won’t snow like this again, I know for a fact that I’m probably gonna have to deal with the horrid weather again and so will you. The weather is always unpredictable in Canada and sometimes things aren’t gonna go your way, and that’s okay.
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Let yourself breath, everything is going to be just fine.
Listening to music has shown to positively affect your mood, blood pressure and heart rate. In all, this helps to increase your motivation which also leads to the rise of productivity levels. Research has shown that the same music you would listen to while studying something low mental efforts affects you differently than studying something that requires high mental effort. Here is a guide to help you listen to the right music while studying.
Types of studying:
1. Low Mental Efforts
This means studying something that you are already familiar with and have a tangible understanding of. In this case, I would listen to high energy music that would boost my energy and help me get into the flow of my work.
2. High Mental Efforts
This is where you are trying to learn something new and unfamiliar. This would pertain to tasks that are more conceptual and require more efforts to fathom. The best music to listen to during these times would be calming and peaceful music.
3. Cramming for an Exam
If you have limited time to study for exam, the best choice to go with would be classical music. Something that has a steady and repetitive pace can help with concentration. Something that is inconsistent and varies in tempo can maximize your stress.
4. Deep focus
This would mean studying something that is very text heavy and requires a lot of reading or writing. In this situation, I would avoid anything with lyrics and tempo changes, as it may be distracting.
When we consider contemporary art, most of us imagine to the likes of Pollock or Warhol, anything that invokes a sense of “oh, that’s modern art.” But what is our perception of modern art? Basically, anything that we can’t describe. Campbell soup can certainly draw contrasts with Van Gogh’s pieces, but if anything, there is one genre of art we are all familiar with, Renaissance art.
Top Seven Pieces of Renaissance Art –
7. Primavera by Botticelli
Primavera by Botticelli deserves to be in this spot simply because of its integral nature to the Renaissance at large. The painting is unique it the way that it portrays classical Greco-Roman characters rather than the norm which was usually biblical, or historical characters.
6. Arnolfini Portrait by Jan Van Eyck
The Northern Renaissance is an oft-forgotten section of the Renaissance at large and hence deserves recognition as it emboldened the Flemish-style movement which would later translate into major Northern European Art styles. This piece, like many Flemish pieces, has a high focus on the background detail and even has an easter egg in the form of the mirror in the background, where Jan Van Eyck took the time to paint the backs of the two Nobles and even the painter himself in front of the two figures.
5. The Last Judgement by Michelangelo
One of the pieces commissioned by the pope for the Sistine Chapel, the last judgment is often overshadowed by the grandeur of the Creation of Adam as well as the rest of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling Fresco. One of this pieces claims to fame is that Michelangelo painted this wall after partially losing his vision due to the effects of fresco and plaster on his eyes. The artwork was then censored by painters hired by the Vatican’s brass who painted leaves and clothes over many of the genitals of the characters.
4. The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci
The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci deserves to be on this list simply because of its iconic nature. The painting incorporates the use of sfumato, which is a signature technique used by Leonardo Da Vinci. Sfumato is the softening of lines and features.
3. The School Of Athens by Raphael
The School Of Athens deserves its spot in this list because of its innovative use of perspective and realism. Raphael was commissioned to paint this painting for Pope Julius II, and it depicts all the classical authors and philosophers, such as Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle, and Zoroaster of Persia. One thing that Raphael does that is very interesting and unique is that rather than painting Plato the way we today think Plato looks, he painted him as Leonardo da Vinci. Raphael did the same thing with the rest of the classical greats, where he painted them as greats of his time. The painting has references to Michelangelo, who is painted as one of the greats, which is ironic despite Michelangelo’s hatred for Raphael (who was painting at the Vatican at the same time as him), Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and a self-portrait of Raphael who is looking directly at the viewer.
2. Sistine Chapel Ceiling by Michelangelo
The reason that the Sistine Chapel made it onto this list is that of the sheer artistic innovation and scale of it. The ceiling’s most iconic piece, the creation of Adam, is revolutionary in that it depicts an action that has boggled most artists for decades. The was one simple question, how would one depict the instance that life became an object on Earth? Michelangelo solved this problem by having Adam see as an unanimated, lazy corpse-like figure whilst god was animated and forceful. The full ceiling tells the entire story of Genesis.
1. The David by Michelangelo
The only sculpture to make this list deserves this place because of its iconic nature and its sublime attention to detail. In person, upon close inspection, you can see that Michelangelo even took the time to create accurate veins flowing from David’s hand to his tricep. The sculpture depicting the titular character in David And The Goliath was commissioned during Michelangelo’s time in Florence by the Florentine banking family known as the Medicis. It to this day remains as a symbol of Florence’s grandeur and the brilliance of the Italian Renaissance.
As the school year is back into full swing, life may sometimes feel overwhelming. Physical activity regardless of what type can be a great way to help you refocus and revitalize your day. Here are some tips on how to have a healthier year!
Set goals
Sometimes the hardest part of getting some physical activity is actually starting! Try setting a “move goal” for each day or each week, that way you have something which you can work towards when you get home from a busy day of work or school. For example, try aiming for 30 minutes of activity per day; this could range from anything like a walk around your neighborhood, playing some soccer in your backyard, or going to the park.
2.) Enjoy what you are doing!
It is important to do activities which you will enjoy doing! Playing games or doing activities which you enjoy will increase motivation and commitment to the activity which you are doing. Doing activities which you enjoy turns “staying fit and healthy” into loads of fun rather than a chore. Moreover, playing games or sports with friends and family can be a great way to bond and have a great time!
3.) Try something new!
The best part of getting physical activity is that you can discover a new sport or game. Make it a goal to try a new activity once a month, this can range from a new sport, a new game, or even a new workout. By trying something new, you are bound to have fun, all while discovering new activities that you may have never otherwise tried!
Staying organized in school is crucial for your academic success. By being organized, you can balance sports, school, and free time. Also, you will probably do better in exams and you won’t get as stressed. Here are some tips to help you stay organized:
Tip #1: Have a planner to write down when tests are, what homework you have, or when sports tryouts are. You can have a separate planner for your extracurriculars (ex. Application due on Friday, volleyball practice on Wednesday), or you can simply have everything in one big planner.
Tip #2: Study for tests and do all your homework as early as possible. If you are a student, you probably hear this a lot. However, it will make your life a lot easier if you don’t cram the day before the test. If you have a big project due in two weeks, the earlier you do it, the better. Also, a lot of teachers say, “Whatever you don’t finish in class, finish for homework.” In that case, just finish it in class, then you don’t have to worry about it!
Tip #3: Develop a binder system that works for you. In junior high, one of the easiest methods is to just have one big binder for all subjects. Every time you start a new chapter in any subject, you empty the old material into a file box. You will have one file for each subject. For midterms or finals, just look back into the file of that subject. With this system, you’ll never say, “Oh no, I forgot my math binder at school.” In senior high, you might want to switch to one binder per subject, because you have so many more papers. Use whichever system suits you best.
Tip #4: Organize your workspace. Work somewhere quiet and distraction-free so that you can focus. Put your phone downstairs while working. This may be shocking, but you can survive an hour without checking your phone! If there are no distractions, you will get work done faster.
Tip #5: Have an idea on when to study for each subject during finals. You will have multiple tests, and you should know on which day and at what time you’re studying for each subject. You may need more time to study for a particular subject, so you should account for that. This will ensure you don’t forget to study for a subject. Also, remember to take breaks after working for more than an hour. Get up for fifteen minutes, stretch, do some jumping jacks, and get some water. This is scientifically proven to improve concentration.
Bonus tip: If you need to memorize some things quickly, one of my favourite methods is to use flashcards. Firstly, write your flashcards by hand. By writing the word and its definition, you have already subconsciously started memorizing the word! Secondly, read through all the flashcards and divide them into three piles. One pile is “I have no idea,” another is “I kind of think it’s this,” and another is “I know that one.” After you have divided your flashcards into piles, Put a red paperclip on the “I have no idea” pile, put a yellow on the “I kind of think it’s this” pile, and finally put a green one on the “I know that one” pile. Now, review the red pile first, then the yellow pile, then you’re done! Of course, you can change the colours to whatever you want.
If you follow at least some of these tips, I’m certain you will have a very successful year!
Over 400,000 Canadians deliberately hurt themselves every year. And only about 50% of all Canadians enduring mental illness actually admit that they suffer. In all likeliness, you are surrounded by people suffering from mental illness in your everyday lives, at home, at school, at work, and you probably don’t even know it.
This Sunday, September 30th – October 6th, is Mental Health Awareness week in Canada. This week’s aim is to open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness. But as stated by the Canadian Mental Health Association, “It’s more than being happy all the time. It’s about feeling good about who you are, having balance in your life, and managing life’s highs and lows. Everyone deserves to feel well, whatever their mental health experience. And we all need a support system to lean on.”
In honour of all the Canadian youth and adults who suffer silently, sometimes heroically, but often with the hard crushing stigma and shame of mental illness in our society, I have compiled a list of some of the greatest works I have come across that bring light to this important issue.
Slam Poem: I Will Not Write Your Obituary by Nora Cooper- written and presented at the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational in 2015
It reflects the struggles of people who experience this illness every day as well as the struggles of their loved ones, who suffer along with them, although in different ways.
2. Facebook Post: Re: The Death of Kate Spade by Claudia Herera
After the tragic news, that 55-year-old designer, Kate Spade was found dead after reported suicide last June, the Internet and social media broke out with people offering their mourning. One of these messages was a Facebook post that went viral written by Claudia Herrera who posted a photo of her Kate Spade bag along with a profound message about mental health. Click here to see what she wrote.
3. This Video created by Newfoundland and Labrador Musician, Amelia Curran along with filmmaker Roger Maunder and recording engineer Don Ellis
In this video, Curran asks a very crucial question – in a time when mental health is one of the biggest challenges facing our society, why aren’t we doing more about it? Starring many celebrities, Curran says when she first started, this video was meant to tell her own story, but that things just kept getting bigger.
4. The Huffington Post: Why We Don’t Have Walk-in Clinics for People with Mental Illness by Arthur Gallant
This thought-provoking article addresses the topic of how essential it is to have immediate free access to psychiatric care. As Gallant puts it, “The health care system keeps telling us to keep our physical health in check… Isn’t it about time, we do the same for mental health?” Click here to read the full article.
5. Youth Central: Speak Your Mind Project
Finally, take a few moments to check our Youth Central’s Speak Your Mind Photography Project with young volunteers in your community trying to normalize and get the conversation around mental health started.
It’s that time of year again! As the temperature begins to drop, and the leaves adopt a yellowish hue, that can only mean one thing- Apple Keynote time! This year Apple announced some new and exciting products, however, none stood out as much as the newly updated Apple watch Series 4. This year’s Apple Watch brings in some distinct and positive changes to the fifth version of Apple’s watch.
Probably the most visible and notable upgrade on the new Apple watch is its display. The newest Apple watch screen has been updated to stretch from one end of the watch to the other, thus keeping bezels extremely small and allowing the watch to display more information with more detail. As a result of this, applications look more expansive and understandable and what you can view on the Watch is significantly more informative, as a result of the added screen real estate. Because of this added screen space, Apple has added two new watch faces which are exclusive to the Apple watch series 4, those being the Infograph and Infograph modular, these are both watch faces which allow a large array of complications on the screen, with the Infograph watch face allowing for up to 8 complications.
Aside from the beautiful new screen, the new Apple watch has also improved in speed. Its new processor allows for the smooth opening of applications and the seamless transitions between tasks. Improvements to the hardware also allow the Apple watch to have excellent battery life giving users enough power to easily get through the day.
The final notable feature which was announced on the new Apple watch was a redesigned heart sensor. The new sensor now allows for a more accurate and thorough heart rate reading with the future ability to give ECG’s in the next Watch OS update in the United States.
Overall the Apple watch is a product which is currently living up to its expectations. It’s newly redesigned screen and a plethora of hardware updates makes it a solid option in the smartwatch market amongst its other competitors.
