Maya Angelou is well known for her 1969 memoir, I know why the caged bird sings which made literary history as the first nonfiction best-seller by an African-American woman. She was no stranger to difficulties in her own life, but her extraordinary courage and wisdom always prevailed. She says she always honoured those that were kind to her.
The late Dr. Angelou, author, poet and civil rights activist, urges us to be a blessing to somebody else.
Watch the video, then Pause. Breathe. Reflect.
Originally posted June 2020 on the Coast
Giving money to Black organizations in the wake of protests across North America is one of the most effective and tangible ways to actually bring about change. Giving money once is OK. Giving money every month is better, and most places make it really easy to set up recurring donations.
Black Lives Matter Solidarity Fund NS is an emergency fund for Black people living throughout Nova Scotia to offset the unprecedented effect COVID-19 is having on the Black community in NS.
Canadian Civil Liberties Association is a human rights organization that defends the rights, dignity, safety and freedoms of all people in Canada, working with pro-bono lawyers for all levels of court across Canada to fight injustice and broad-reaching education programming.
The Africville Heritage Trust operates the Africville museum which tells the story of a community that met the indignities of racism with grace and faith. Its donation page is down, but anyone who wants to donate can do so via credit card and still get a tax receipt. Just email Juanita Peters (gmafricvillemuseum@gmail.com) to get started.
The Association of Black Social Workers has set up a toll-free phone number to help Black Nova Scotians during COVID-19, and works year-round to provide educational resources, support for African Candian workers and services that range from clinical counselling to professional development. Scroll to the bottom of the homepage and click on the Donate button to get a unique donation link.
The Black Cultural Society / Centre for Nova Scotia works to protect, preserve and promote Black culture and heritage in Nova Scotia through the African Nova Scotian Museum and other initiatives and programming.
For the past five years LaMeia Reddick has been turning her mom’s home into BLXCK HOUSE Life Studio—which curates and inspires holistic health experiences for the neighbourhood of North Preston. She’s raising funds to build an outdoor programming space to help expand BLXCK HOUSE’s offerings.
The Delmore Buddy Daye Institute works for educational change and opportunities for learners and communities of African ancestry to reach their full potential. Its programs are rooted in educational research that reaches policymakers, educators, parents and the general public.
Justice for Regis GoFundMe is a fund that will go directly to the family of Regis Korchinski-Paquette, who are still searching for answers about her death.
Black Lives Matter Toronto works to “forge critical connections and to work in solidarity with Black communities, Black-centric networks, solidarity movements and allies in order to dismantle all forms of state-sanctioned oppression, violence, and brutality committed against African, Caribbean, and Black cis, queer, trans, and disabled populations in Toronto.” Its advocacy has an impact across Canada.
Canadian Race Relations Foundation funds research projects that work toward the elimination of racism in Canada. It’s more research-based than action-based, but if the Street Check report tells us anything, policymakers say they need hard data before they’ll bring about change.
The Black mental health supports fund is a fund working to pay three professionals to provide free mental health support to Black people who need it in Ontario.
The Black Power Hour radio show airs Wednesdays from 9-10:30pm on CKDU 88.1FM. It’s a communication lifeline for incarcerated folks and provides direct financial aid while blending conscious hip hop with discussions of political, cultural and social issues relevant to Black people. You can e-transfer funds to TheBlackPowerHour@gmail.com.
LOVE Nova Scotia provides programming for youth working to build healthy relationship and emotional intelligence.
Hope Blooms engages youth in North End Halifax to become change agents, working on food security, education, social inclusion and disrupting the cycle of poverty.
The Birchtown Black Loyalist Society is committed to discovering, interpreting, safeguarding, and promoting the history and heritage of the Black Loyalists— Birchtown was once home to the largest free Black settlement outside of Africa in the 1780s and many residents went on to settle Sierra Leone—and the society runs the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Shelburne. Donations can be made by
mail.
The Nova Scotia COVID-19 Health Research Coalition is supporting three research projects that focus on social and health inequities related to African Nova Scotians and COVID-19. The funding goes through the Dartmouth General Hospital Charitable Foundation but the three studies are led by Black women and all funds raised through our campaign go directly to those studies.
902 ManUp is dedicated to the advancement of all Black communities within Nova Scotia with a focus on the empowerment of young Black males. You can support the volunteer organization by buying some of their merch.
The One North End has two initiatives that you could donate to: the NEST (North End Start-Up & Training) program and the ONE Community Fund which provides small, non-repayable contributions tocommunity members in Halifax’s North End who are in need during the challenging time of COVID-19. Donations can be sent by e-transfer to info@onenorthend.ca with a note for which fund you’d like to support.
The Black Youth helpline is a Canada-wide service that serves all youth and specifically responds to the need for a Black youth specific service, positioned and resourced to promote access to professional, culturally appropriate support for youth, families and schools. The number to call is 1-833-294-8650. Donations can be made here.
CTV News shared the following charts to illustrate some of the ways Black Canadians experience systemic racism.
See full post HERE
Reposted with permission.
A: I see the same narrative that I always see when this happens, which is an unwillingness by media and government to look at the underlying issues. They look at the rioting without understanding why people are angry.
Unlike a lot of people, I believe white people know exactly why we’re angry. I think people are pretending not to understand. They have done that for decades.
I’m cognizant that Black people are hated in this world. Our very existence is considered problematic. As a Black person I know what hate feels like.
Everybody seems convinced this is a turning point.
I remain skeptical. Protests are great. It doesn’t mean much unless it leads to systemic changes.
A: Black and Indigenous people are not on the minds of white people. The harms that come to us are not on the minds of white people.
When [Nova Scotia Premier] Stephen McNeil announced the closure of Boat Harbour last year, I thought, wow, the Indigenous community has been calling on the government to close Boat Harbour since the ’80s. [The Northern Pulp mill in Pictou, Nova Scotia, discharged waste into Boat Harbour in the territory of the Pictou Landing First Nation for more than half a century until the plant closed in January 2020].
Why would it take so long after all the activism the communities have been engaged in for this decision to be made?
When it comes to addressing environmental racism, if it has a positive impact on the white community, you keep it going. Closing the mill and addressing environmental racism is often a risk for white people in power who are profiting from these industries. It’s great that the mill was closed at the end of the year, but for the past several decades there was enough evidence to indicate this was harmful to the Mi’kmaq community and it continued anyways.
With police violence, it’s similar. It’s different, but it’s similar in that the physical and emotional impacts on Black bodies are not the kinds of things white people care about.
When I look at George Floyd, I see a white policeman trying to terrorize the Black onlookers. That kind of terror is about the policeman saying, ‘This is what can happen to you. I can put my knee on his neck. This is what I want you to see.’
He was not just harming George Floyd, he was harming those who were watching.
The way he positioned his body — positioned directly in front of the people screaming at him to stop — there’s an arrogance there. He had a knee on the neck and a hand in his pocket. It was a performance.
Read the full interview HERE
As many Nova Scotians cope in the aftermath of this weekend’s tragic shootings, please know that your Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) is here to support us with resources. They can help try to understand the impact of the situation and process this event.
A crisis or traumatic event can trigger overwhelming emotional responses. Remember that the immediate and confidential EFAP services are accessible 24/7/365 by calling 1.800.387.4765 or visiting workhealthlife.com. The website features additional information and tips on coping with trauma.
Crisis Support Line now open
While the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) help line is open for eligible employees, Morneau Shepell has also opened up a Crisis Support Line for anyone in the community in need of emotional support in relation to these events. The Crisis Support Line is open 24/7 and can be reached at 1-844-751-2133. By calling, individuals will receive professional emotional support and/or referral to community resources. This resource is available to anyone and everyone. Please share the number with friends, family and neighbours.
A Trauma Support Group meeting has been scheduled as follows. Please register to receive the link to the meeting, as there is a limit to the number of participants.
Thursday, April 23, 2020
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
https://events-tm.dal.ca/workshop.php?id=3308
Additional support group meetings can be scheduled as needed. Contact healthy@dal.ca.
Here are additional resource pages on MyDal that you may find helpful:
How a trauma event may affect you
Taking care after a traumatic event
Tips for helping your children through a traumatic event
Inquiries: healthy@dal.ca