They will be Africa’s deliverance and salvation Last time I mentioned that on his [GPS] program a couple weeks ago, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria discussed how the world would fare if more women were in national political leadership positions. It’s an interesting notion to ponder, just because except for a few countries the world for far too long has been led by an unbroken parade of white projecting and implementing their testosterone-induced agenda on the international landscape. It’s no wonder, then, that the world is currently in the tumultuous state it is; too many men have been vested with political power …

More women, international political leaders, are what the world needs. On the African continent it’s an urgency. Political men have outlived their useful… uselessness.   When I’m not in church on a Sunday morning, I use the time to partake of the religion of politics by watching and listening to the ideological ponderings of diverse characters that saturate network television. And there’re enough characters every channel espousing individual political and ideological perspectives to nourish and satiate viewers’ political bents. I especially like CNN’s Global Public Square (GPS) hosted by Fareed Zakaria, an award-winning journalist, political scientist, and author. And his …

On March 27, the CAQ government finally delivered on its promise to restrict the wearing of religious garb and symbols of any kind  where government business is conducted. This (restriction), known as Bill 21, only applies to the employees of the state: health care professionals, teachers, police, and so on. At the source of this religious symbol angst and conversation is religion, specifically Muslims, practitioners of the Islamic faith and what’s perceived (by some)as creeping Islamisation of Quebec society – hijab, niqab, etc., and then there’re Jewish religious symbols – Star of David, yarmulke, Kippa… The only reason why the …

Each time another human massacre is perpetrated by another white male, it’s as if it’s unprecedented so nothing changes As usual, wherever it happens and innocent blood flows, come the sadness and extended mourning… and people trying to come to terms with man’s capacity to wreak havoc on his fellowman… woman. There are prayer vigils for victims, along with what have become moot calls for political intervention — gun control. But in what’s regarded as civil North American, European and other societies where people of European progeny constitute a majority, the perennial conversation about (the right to bear arms…) inevitably …

The word and definition tell the story. Naturally or chemically, it speaks to the dangers – various side effects – some Black people are subjecting themselves to in order to acquire (a semblance of unnatural) lightness, and by extension, a false sense of specious social acceptance, or tolerance. And so it is, not only in predominantly white societies, but also on the African continent where some Black people have bought into the bleaching aesthetic and farce. The belief being that lighter is better than dark. The irony and paradox are that even on the African continent (Africa!), people are shamelessly …

It’s BLACK HISTORY MONTH, so among the conversations about ‘history and blackness’ is that perennial one about building an economically vibrant Black community. Some conversations are uplifting, others are rife with hopelessness… nourished by the absence of tangible evidence to suggest that the community is finally on an upward trajectory, which only nourishes that sense of hopelessness. So at this time of year especially, people are wondering if this community will ever exit what seems to be a permanent socio-economic morass. Sure the community is economically comatose, not a personal opinion, but a general view of the state of our …

Conversations about elevating the Black community are endless. Some are uplifting… others rife with hopelessness; absence of tangible evidence to the contrary only nourishes that sense of hopelessness. So each year at this time, many look in the rearview mirror and ponder… From her enviable vantage point, a place far outside Montreal called retirement, which she has been occupying now for a couple or three years, my dear friend of over four decades and counting can’t help thinking of a Black community she was born and raised in that begs the question: what could’ve been if…? So whenever Black History …

Laughter Is Remedy/Anodyne for the pain in society’s heart and soul [So] watching CTV news the evening of Wednesday 16th, I was taken aback by a story about a white comedian, a man with a dreadlock hairstyle. His name is Zach Poitras. According to Zach he was banned from participating in a comedy event because of his hairstyle. My immediate thinking was, what! This is nonsense, ridiculous, can’t be serious… Seems like the organizers of the (laugh) event deemed his “do” culturally inappropriate; more to the point, “cultural appropriation… and racist.” In a Canadian Press story the “aspiring Montreal comedian” …

Novel Thomas In Montreal’s Black community the name Nancy Mackenzie has been spoken of for generations. Those who have met and come to know her speak positively and proudly of the person; others have never met her, but readily admit to hearing of her Black and extra-community initiatives. It comes as no surprise then, that after her many years of grassroots work Nancy Mackenzie’s name is among the list of recipients at Black Theatre Workshop’s 2019 Vision Celebration Gala. She will be honoured with the Dr. Clarence Bayne Community Service Award. Always soft-spoken and humble, Ms. Mackenzie admits to being …

Well… Yes, I did. But that’s old news right now. With a little more than eleven months to go before we do it all over again, that’s truly a long, long stretch to cover. But as the saying goes, “good things come to those who wait.” I can. It’s a new year new year, 2019, so here we go again. Let’s put Christmas behind us. It will come again to be enjoyed, so long as we do all the necessary things (whatever they may be) to stay healthy. That done we will make it to December 2019 and do the …