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.
In light of what we have recently seen happen around the world, in my opinion, the best thing about Canada is its diversity, embrace of pluralism, and acceptance of others. The following story I wrote a few months ago is a reflection of these collective Canadian values and those which I hope to see continue for many generations to come.
Tiny blue droplets of tears slowly rolled down my cheek as my left foot moved forward onto the platform of the old, rusted train. I pressed my face against the foggy window, taking a good look at my surroundings. This may be the last time I would be seeing the town of Homs, Syria. The place I was born and the place I took my first steps. Memories of the past twelve years of my childhood were all flooding my mind like a thunderstorm. For a moment, I wished the entire world would freeze, I just wanted to stand here staring at my home city forever. Then again, what was the use? Every building had been burnt to rubbles and some of my best friends had been blown to pieces.
I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder, “Keep moving, Layla,” mother coaxed. And, before I knew it, there was a quick plunge and the train started to move. Soon enough, my hometown became a tiny speck in the distance.
All around me, everyone was caught up in the joy and delight of their so-called new countries – some going to America, others to Australia. And many of them were like us, taking a train to Lebanon and then a plane to a strange place called Canada. Even mother, father and my younger sister, Mreym, were absorbed in this wave of glee.
I was alone. I wanted to stay in Homs. I wanted to wait until the war was over and then continue life as it was before, but father said that would be impossible. I wanted to go to school, do well and become a doctor. I wanted to help people in my home country, save lives and even become a female hero. In Canada, I would never be able to do that. It would be hard enough to learn a new language, make new friends and live in a new neighbourhood, yet alone become a female hero.
Over the next day, mother and father were much too busy to notice Mreym or I. Everywhere we went, they had to fill out forms and talk to officers dressed in very professional outfits. I, on the other hand, spent the entire time in my own self-assuming presence and misery. My gloomy, murky mood caused me to stay in a cloud of darkness, not talking to anyone and not observing all the occurrences around me.
The only one thing that really resonated with me was the sympathy and kindness everywhere. Kind people escorted us everywhere we went. I wondered, was this what it was like in Canada?
It reminded me of home before the war started, how everyone had shared everything and we all got along. Those memories were savoured in my mouth like a red cherry sucker. For the last couple of years during the war, no one had been like that. Everyone just cared about themselves and it seemed everyone had become enemies.
“Layla, wake up, we have arrived,” a silky voice tamely muttered. “It’s time to get up now, we have much to do!” the voice continued, now in a much stronger tone.
“Mother, please give me a few more minutes. You complete the chores yourself and then I will wake up and walk to school,” I groggily moaned. But then, as I calmly opened my eyes, I realized that there were no chores to be done and no school for me to go to. I wasn’t in Homs anymore. I was on an airplane. Now, mother was waking me because we had finally arrived in Canada.
A rush of emotions quickly coursed through my body. We were at our ultimate destination – Calgary. The place everyone had been talking about for so long. I had never wanted to come here in the first place, but deep down inside, I had surprised myself with an eagerness for this new place. There was a slight twinge of excitement inside me because I wanted to see – with my own eyes – this apparent paradise.
The four of us strutted in complete silence down the tunnel from the plane to the airport, none of us quite knowing what we were going to see on the other side. Then suddenly just as we were entering the terminal, a glaring bright light started blazing in my direction. Golden rays of sunshine flooded my face with brightness. For the first time in days, I was seeing light instead of darkness.
But then as I raised my eyelids, I saw a mob. There were people surrounding the airport terminal on every side of us like they were cornering us. They were all carrying large red and white flags with a design that looked like a leaf. I immediately started to panic. I started shivering, my body started trembling, and my teeth started clattering. Back home in Syria, the way we got the signal an attack was going to begin was by people holding their flags high and proud in the air, just like the mob of people in front of me were doing right now. I thought we had fled Syria from war to peace, not come to another war. Were these people going to capture us, were they going to kidnap us, were they going to kill us?
In my moment of terror the only thing I could think of doing was to run. It was just my natural instinct. Anytime I had seen a horrid sight in Syria, I would dash as fast as lighting away from the danger and back to our home. So, that is exactly what I did, I sprinted as fast as I could across the airport terminal.
All around me, I could feel air blowing in my direction. I thought I could even hear the thumping tread of people whisking to follow me. “Layla, Layla, come back,” I heard mother scream. But, I didn’t stop. I was focused on getting as far away as possible from these people. How I wished my family would also follow me so we could be safe together.
So caught up in my own thoughts, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was running. Thump. I had just bumped into something, and it was blocking my path to get any further.
Alarmed, I stopped in my footsteps. It was a young girl about the same age as me, standing right there in front of me. She was wearing a pink frilly dress with black flats and looked so cheerful. Her soft, wavy hair bounced along her sweet face which had a small, genuine smile. But what I didn’t notice for a few seconds was that she too was holding one of those red and white leaf-flags.
Oh, no, I hadn’t escaped from those people, I had just found more of them. There’s no use now, I thought. Even with my fast-as-a-cheetah running skills, this girl was standing in my only path. There was no way I would be able to get away from her. I may as well just let her do what she wants. She would call her people and they would take me away and kill me. But, before I could get any further into my thoughts of what was going to happen to me, a luscious, fluffy voice rang out loud.
“Welcome to Canada,” that voice rang.
For a second, I had trouble believing that musical voice that uttered such gentle words was actually coming from the girl standing before me, holding a flag. But there was no doubt about it, she was the only one around and the expression on her face just showed unconditional love and friendship.
It was those three words that had changed my entire perspective on this new country. It was those three words that had made me realize – these people didn’t want to fight us, instead they wanted to welcome us. It was those three words that brought back my feeling of hope. That told me everything was going to be ok. It was those three words that said Canada is an incredible country that was going to wholeheartedly accept us, help us build an amazing future and achieve our dreams. Those three words promised that my dream of becoming a doctor would be fulfilled, right here in Canada.
Halloween is approaching quicker than you think! Why would you want to be that one (lame) person that doesn’t dress up for the Halloween party or at school- Here are a few ideas for Halloween costumes !
Winnie The Pooh: This first one is cute to do with friends! Or even rocking one of them solo.
Crazy Cat Lady
3. Characters from Holes
4. Dressing from a different decade! : 70’s? 80’s? There’s so much to choose from!
5. Running Forest Gump : Honestly, this could be my favourite one.
October? Hmmm, more like Spooktober! If you enjoy Halloween as much as I do, you better check out these events to satisfy or spark your Halloween spirit.
Cost: $16.95+gst admission, pumpkins range from $1 – $13 or more
Sure, it is easy to go to a grocery store and buy one of their pumpkins to crave; but, have you ever visited a farm for pumpkin picking? If not, you are totally missing out on this experience. The Calgary Corn Maze offers a family friendly event that allows individuals to visit and buy a pumpkin of their choosing. Pumpkins are reasonably priced and range in size, colour, and purpose. Admission is required to purchase a pumpkin however, it also gives you access to festival activities and the maze’s regular attractions.
Cost: $15.95+gst for adults, $14.95+gst for children and seniors
Grab your friends, family, significant other, or any other individual(s) that you would not mind dragging into a corn maze and getting lost with. Your goal is to attempt to navigate through the maze at night with only the light of your flashlight and sense of direction guiding you.
Cost: $20 for adults and walk-ins, $15 for children (ages 6 – 12)
Do you know about the ghost stories that take place in Calgary? If not, Calgary Ghost Tours allows you to learn about local history and folklore surrounding the mischief, mayhem, and even murders that take place here in our beloved city. It is recommended that children who are prone to nightmares should not attend this event.
For those who crave and love the thrill of being scared the Train of Terror is perfect for you! The Train of Terror is NOT a relaxing railway tour. This train ride is designed to provide you with horrors that will chill you to the bone and keep you up for days. It is important to note that October 20 & 27 are the only dates that allow teens to board the train. Additionally, minors are required to have waivers signed by adult guardians in order to participate in the event. The Train of Terror is EXTREMELY not recommended for individuals faint of heart, claustrophobic, or uncomfortable with props or actors coming into contact with them.
Obviously, you knew that Screamfest would make it onto this list; however, are you aware that this is the 13th and FINAL year of Screamfest. Let me repeat that again, it is the FINAL year of Screamfest! If you have yet to experience this event this is your last chance to do so. Screamfest is filled with frights that are sure to make you scream (hence the name). This event is rated PG- 13, so sorry to you youngsters out there. Individuals who are faint of heart are also recommended to not attend Screamfest.
Many people get bored at some point in their lives. Instead of sitting around and feeling the time slip away from you, here’s a short list of things you can do or choose to ignore.
Remember your public library that you haven’t visited since your bookworm phase in elementary school? Go see what’s there.
Have a pile of paper hiding under your bed? Sort through it.
Still don’t know what the other side of your community looks like? Take a walk.
Have a recipe bookmarked that you still haven’t gotten to? Make it.
Don’t know what some of the buttons on a calculator do? Find out.
Ever thought about writing a book sometime in the future? Make a plan for it.
Still aren’t sure of what waste goes where? Learn about what’s garbage, recycling, and compost.
Don’t know the difference between stalactites and stalagmites? Go down a Wikipedia rabbit hole.
If you’re struggling to fall asleep on a regular basis, you’re not alone.
I’ve recently talked to a psychiatrist about something that has been plaguing my life since I was a little kid: sleep (or really, a lack of it). I’ve dealt with insomnia for years, and it seems like, at this point, I’ve tried everything: a warm bath, eye mask, drinking chamomile tea, meditation, bedtime podcasts, sleep aid meds (ie melatonin)… the list goes on. And yes, many have worked in the short term, but most lose their effectiveness as time goes on (ie sleep aid meds), or, is simply not feasible on a regular basis (do ANY of us have the time to take a bubble bath every day?). Some just never worked for me at all (ie. those bedtime podcasts…). Some feel just way too weird (ie putting your phone away, meditations). At this point, I’ve almost given up. I cannot sleep until 12 am, no matter what time I go to bed! But I gotta get up at 7 the next morning… and so the vicious cycle of fatigue ensues.
Here is how the psychiatrist describes it:
Cutting your sleep short leads to a multitude of problems, ie. moodiness, trouble concentrating, weakened immunity
Teens need an average of 9 hours of sleep per day.
This number will fluctuate from person to person, but MOST teens do require that amount of rest for optimal growth and functioning
This means if you have to wake up at 7 for school in the morning, you would need to fall asleep at 10 pm the night before.
This seems unrealistic for most of us because we don’t even feel sleepy at 10 pm.
This is because in many cases (especially in teens) our biological clocks (and thus our sleep cycles) run later naturally. Meaning, our brains are wired to not want to fall asleep until midnight. If we let our brains get the rest they wanted every night, we would naturally wake up later in the day. This can happen on the weekends, however…
However, for school or work, you need to wake up earlier. This is when a late sleep cycle becomes problematic: You are consistently cutting your sleep short on the weekdays, but then reinforcing the late sleep cycle on the weekends.
So… you NEED SLEEP! But how can you force yourself when you really don’t want to (or can’t)? What if my sleep cycle is just later?
Answer: You need to develop good sleep hygiene, and move your biological clock forward.
Developing good sleep cycle and hygiene is a bit like training for a marathon. You have to want it bad enough, and be willing to put in the time (time for yourself to rest!), dedication, and consistency. You must develop good habits, and work toward your goal in increments.
Here is the psychiatrist’s advice for me, and after years of hearing sleep advice, this is the most tangible advice I’ve ever heard:
You need a strong association between sleep + bed, and you need to train your brain to do this. If your brain associates bed with something other than sleep, going to bed is not going to make you fall asleep
Don’t stay in bed if you can’t fall asleep
Many of us try to tough it out and lie in bed awake and frustrated when we can’t sleep. This is EXTREMELY counterproductive. When this happens, your brain is learning that bed is a place to stay awake, which is the opposite of what you want! So, if you find yourself unable to fall asleep after 30 minutes, don’t just stay there and hope for the best. Get up, go downstairs, read at your desk, or walk around for a while until you feel tired again, and try again. This might seem like it’s making things worse at the moment, but sticking with it will pay off.
Don’t do anything else in bed except sleep
Many of us have a tendency to read our phones, watch Netflix, work, or study in bed. Of course, it’s comfy, but it’s detrimental to your ability to fall asleep in bed because it’s making an association between working + bed, or active + bed. So, when you climb into your bed ready to sleep, your brain is thinking “It’s time to work/read/study!” and you are not going to want to sleep. Instead, if you have the urge to read, or watch TV when it’s bedtime, do it in the living room, or at your desk, and save the bed for sleeping only.
Don’t push yourself to fall asleep at a certain bedtime if you are not sleepy. At least, not for now.
Start by going to bed about 30 minutes before you would normally fall asleep, even if that time is later than what you would like right now.
Let’s say your goal is to be asleep by 10:30 pm each night. If you are used to falling asleep after midnight, your brain’s is not going to adjust to an earlier sleep time right away. If you suddenly try going to bed at 10:00 pm, you’ll likely end up lying awake for hours, frustrated that you can’t sleep. This is why many people who try to go to bed at an earlier time do not succeed in changing their sleep patterns. To re-adjust your sleep cycle to an earlier time, start small: if you usually fall asleep (note: fall asleep, not go to bed!) at around 12:00 am (even if you are usually in bed by 10:30 pm), try reading (or doing something relaxing) somewhere else until 11:30pm, and actually going to bed then. Although this will seem like a late bedtime, you will likely find that you are falling asleep more quickly than you normally would, spending less time awake in bed. This is the association that you want your brain to develop between bedtime and sleeping.
Once you’ve established a bedtime at which you can reliably fall asleep in a reasonable time (about 30 minutes), try pushing the bedtime forward by 30 minutes. For example, if you’ve established that you are able to fall asleep by 12:00 am consistently with a bedtime of 11:30 pm, try now to change your bedtime to 11:00 pm (to fall asleep at 11:30 pm). Keep up the new bedtime for a week, and once it’s comfortable move it forward again, to 10:30 pm. Keep at it until you are falling asleep at the time that you would like.
This will require LOTS of dedication, and slip-ups will happen. Don’t let a slip turn into a slide.
On weekends, your schedule may change. You’ll likely wake up later, and go to bed later also. However, do your best to keep it consistent. Two out of seven days is not going to hurt you in the long run, but during the adjustment-to-new-clock phase, it will be easy to let one late night ripple into the rest of the week. Do your best to keep on track!
No caffeine after 3 pm!
Relaxing activities (ie. baths) are good for calming yourself down before bedtime
No screens 15 minutes before bedtime (I find this one hardest to follow)
I’m hoping, with this advice, to finally get enough sleep on weeknights. It’s been working so far for me, hope it can work for others too!
Is the difference between what is morally “right” and “wrong” distinguishable? Different views of philosophers yield different answers; however, one common denominator that all answers are based on is the sheer complexity of life, and that there are too many factors involved in the question to answer it. A nihilistic view would be that since nothing matters in life, “right” and “wrong” actions have no consequences, therefore there is no difference. An existentialist view would leave it up to the individual, what the person thinks as their purpose in life and how they view their actions is how the systems should be. To conceptualize this, think of the example (not one based on morals, just to visualize): I think pineapple on pizza is correct and milk before cereal is wrong, and that would be it. However, does this still not equate to there being no difference between morality, since everyone has a different conception of it? To complicate things further, here are three examples that represent the same moral dilemma but from a different view. These examples ultimately show the fault in our moral intuitions.
The typical train problem that comes up often when moral dilemmas are mentioned is the classic thought experiment first developed in 1967 by the philosopher Philippa Foot. Imagine you are standing by a set of train tracks. You spot a train approaching from the distance down the track where five people, who cannot hear or see the train, are standing. There is no way for them to move out of the way in time. Suddenly, you see a lever, which you realize if you pulled, the train will be diverted to another set of tracks away from the five people. There’s a catch, however, because this train track has one oblivious person on it. What will you do? Is the death of one over five more morally correct to you? Did the thought of not being responsible for the death of five, since you had nothing to do with it, more morally correct than purposefully pulling the lever, where you will kill one person? Is being a bystander as morally evil as letting someone die? This moral dilemma allows us to think through the consequences of our actions, and determine moral values from the outcome.
Now, consider this variation of the train problem. Imagine the same scenario as above, except that you are on a bridge above one train track with five people on it, again oblivious to the approaching train. This time, there is a large person standing next to you on the bridge, and you realize that pushing them down from the bridge on the train tracks would successfully stop the train. So, would you sacrifice one person for five others? Is the outcome here not identical to the problem above, where it’s either one or five deaths? An interesting fact I have noticed when I ask people these questions is that, while an outstanding majority would pull the lever, almost none would push the person off the bridge. A possible conclusion as to why this is so would be that pushing the man off the bridge seems more direct than pulling a lever. This speaks volumes about psychology, where many like to stay in the sidelines and not want to be put under direct attention or blame.
What’s your judgement?
If you heard these two incidents on the news, where one person pulled the lever and the other pushed the person, which one would you consider as morally correct? Often, this is more easier to determine than evaluating what one would do in the situation, because again, observing from the sidelines is rather than putting yourself in a situation seems as a more comfortable choice, where you aren’t in risk of being judged.
This variation to the original train problem is the most visual. If it is thought about, the first two problems do not create a gruesome image in our minds, since we are focussing on morality in our minds, where we are lost in our thoughts and not in the present for a moment. However, this variation makes that impossible. Imagine you are a doctor with five patients all in need of transplants in order to survive. Two need a lung, two require kidneys, and one a heart, all of which one person has. In the next room, you have one patient that is successfully recovering from a broken arm. They are perfectly healthy. Is killing this patient and harvesting their organs for the five others the way to go? This situation has the same factors and consequences as the other two, yet killing a healthy patient seems absurd to the same people who would pull the lever or push the person, which is essentially the exact same thing as the first two problems.
If all these moral dilemmas deem the same results, yet the majority of people are willing to only pull the lever but not push the person or kill the healthy patient, are our moral intuitions inconsistent and unreliable? Are they even logical? I mentioned this is the first problem, where killing someone or letting them die are perceived as two different things to the human mind. The former is active and intentional, while the latter is passive and “I did not do it, so I am a good person!” The intentional act of killing is worse than being a bystander to the act. This is seen everywhere and is known as the principle of double effect. Indirectly causing harm for the greater good is permissible, but directly causing harm in pursuit for the greater good is not.
Research done by neuroscientists have shown that pulling the lever activates the logical and rational area of our brain, indicating that the person thought it was logical to save five people over one.
However, pushing the person off the bridge activates the emotional reasoning area of the brain as well, indicating that emotions are involved, and the action of killing one to save five is felt differently.
Should emotions be considered when the line is drawn between what is morally correct and what is not?
In the real world, larger factors are to be considered. Moral dilemmas include war, politics, and even economics, and have appeared in popular culture such as the film Eye In The Sky.
“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.
