All posts on February 8th, 2024

A desire to teach was initially Duke Eatmon’s passion. He had plans of going back to school so that he could become a teacher. At the time Eatmon was a recent revert to Islam, and learned about the transformative power of education in the life Malcom X. The way he saw it, as a teacher he could shape the lives of many and Brother Malcom discovered Islam while incarcerated. He took it to mean there could be meaningful change could be found behind bars. “This man (Malcom) went on to change the lives of Black Americans,” Eatmon explains to the …

Nompumelelo Moyo (LJI) The annual Monnaie Money Talent Show, a much-anticipated event in Montreal’s cultural calendar, returns this Saturday, February 24, at the Oscar Peterson Concert Hall, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West. Montrealers are all invited to attend, with doors opening at 6pm for an evening of performances and community celebration. Brian Smith, the event’s project coordinator, promises fresh acts, with dynamic performances that will keep audiences engaged and entertained. This event which has been running for 14 years is hosted by the Carrefour Jeunesse-emploi de CDN-NDG and the aim is to promote Black history month, financial education for youth in …

In a world rapidly acquainted with the concept of essential work, the new play by Black Theatre Workshop “Diggers” is an exploration of what it means to undertake the mundane tasks that most take for granted. Premiering February 1st and running until the 17th at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts’ Studio Theatre, this production is a collaborative effort between the Black Theatre Workshop and Prairie Theatre Exchange, promising a rich, introspective look into the lives of those who toil behind the scenes. The inception of “Diggers” was anything but ordinary. It was a photograph entered into a competition that …

Dr. Alwin Spence I have just finished my breakfast and I am still at the table, just thinking. About what? How Canada got itself into this MESS. What mess? Underpopulation, labour shortage, housing shortage, reduced immigration, a language problem and a race problem. For many, many years, the Canadian government has been told that Canada, because of its size and resources, is grossly underpopulated. Well fix it, bring in more people. No action, because it is easier said than done. Let’s face it — the pool of anxious migrants are from developing countries, unskilled and are of a different skin …

I have made the decision to boycott all activities organized during the 2024 Black History Month by any organization, company, or institution that has faced credible complaints of anti-black racism in 2023, regardless of whether they are public or private. This includes any activity by the current provincial government that fails to acknowledge systemic racism or any other form of racism beyond considering it, as Quebec minister for the fight against racism describes, a “minor inconvenience” in the lives of Black people in this province. My decision stems from a recent incident that shook me to my core. On November …

You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice. Mental strength and spiritual strength are just as important as physical strength. Things may seem hard right now, and the struggle can sometimes be overwhelming. Ask God to strengthen you and dig deep to find the strength that you have inside of you. Your God-given strength. We have an incredible ability to create meaning out of the challenges that we face in life. Maya Angelou once said, “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced …

The travel industry is constantly looking for ways to ease airport congestion, streamline operations and improve services. Current remedies include membership in Trusted Traveller Programs that are available for pre-approved, low-risk Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents. NEXUS, run jointly by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) allows pre-screened travellers expedited processing when entering designated air, land and marine ports of entry. TSA PreCheck (similar to Canadian Air Transport Authority-CATSA) grants expedited security screening at designated security checkpoints for eligible members. Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection program available to eligible Canadians, grants …

Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone and that’s why event planner Widma Jean Jacques aka BigWill has teamed up with his soulmate Suerita Spooner, to bring you an event titled LOVERS & FRIENDS on February 14th 2024, Valentines Day. LOVERS & FRIENDS is an exquisite date-night that features two unique artists and a live ban. Shaharah Sinclair of Jamaican descent is one of the unique artists on the cast. This Montrealer has music running through her veins, as her father’s gospel influence inspired her at a tender age of five. …

In a world and a nation where we have freedom of speech and various types of freedoms of choice, and freedom of expression; we think we are totally free but the truth of the matter is that there is always a head ruling over us. Collectively children are under the rule of their parents, citizens are under the rule of their government, employees are under the rule of their employers and so forth. So then, what does that mean ? There is always someone ruling over you in some way or another. The same applies spiritually as it does naturally …

Globally, February has become synonymous with the ubiquitous celebration of Black History Month. However, over the years it has become apparent that the spirit of solidarity as regards Blackness and achievements, even during the shortest month of the year, has not been embraced by the Black diaspora and most notably Africa and some parts of the Caribbean. For whom is it really synonymous? The notion of Black history month has its roots in the United States of America. It was founded by African American scholar Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson. Woodson, who earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University, had noticed that …