So Black Lives Matter movements have taken over my newsfeed on Facebook and Instagram for the pass few weeks through hashtags, videos and images.
Unless you’re living under a rock, you must have heard and saw videos of recent police shootings and killings of unarmed Black men across the United States that energized the Black Lives Matter movement.
Black Lives Matter movement was created in the United States in 2012 after Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman, was acquitted for his crime, the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, who was typically placed on trial for his own murder. The #BlackLivesMatter movement is a campaign against violence, injustice, racial profiling, police brutality, and racial inequality in America.
You may ask why should our small Caribbean Community in Montreal care about what’s happening south of the border? My reply is that racism, racial inequality and racial profiling know no borders, and may not be as evident as in the States, but it’s surely alive here.
Understanding racism might be a little complex because it exists in many forms, and no one likes to be publicly labeled racist, hence their actions are often subtle.
Say the word “racism” and most people imagine someone in a white hood, but say discrimination and many other forms of intolerant behaviour are practiced daily.
Here’s an example of how media sometimes directly or indirectly play a significant role in instilling and perpetuating stereotypes.
This year, the 29th edition of “Trini Day” was held at Parc Jean Drapeau on Sunday July 18th and concluded at 10:30pm.
Heading home after this festival I received a few phone calls from friends and family concerned about my well-being because of the news they had seen on the 11 O’clock news about a shooting at Parc Jean Drapeau.
My reply was “The shooting occurred on Saturday at another festival and has nothing to do with Trini Day.” Wondering how they can really come to that conclusion, I went online and watched the news. They reported on the shooting on Saturday, July 17, and how an innocent bystander was grazed by the bullet, but showed video clips of the “Trini Day” stage and the people, including the vendors who had various Caribbean flags on their tent.
To me, this news coverage should not have connected the shooting to our Caribbean flags or the name “Trini Day”, which was very visible on the stage. They could have edited the news coverage differently.
My question to the readers is: In your opinion, do you think this was a coincidence or done purposely for ratings? Or was it a form of discrimination?
Island Facts:
July 18th 1995 – Montserrat’s Soufriere Hills volcano erupts and destroys the capital city, Plymouth, forcing most of the population to flee the island.
July 22nd, 2001 – A statue of World Famous Calypsonian the Mighty Sparrow was unveiled at St. Ann’s roundabout in Port-of-Spain.
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Production Sounds Chart
1. Champion -Dwayne “DJ” Bravo
2. No Behavior – Hypa 4000
3. Dem Vincy – Mason
4. My Dream – Nesbeth
5. Bruck Off Yuh Back – Konshens
6. Comfort – Patrice Robert
7. Friend ting – Problem Child
8. Don’t Come Back – Tarrus Riley
9. Champion Boy – Alkaline
10. Carnival Groupie – Machel Montano
