TIME FOR HISTORIC CHANGE
Dr. Alwin Spence Kudos to the many TV and radio stations for the publicity they gave to Black History Month. Thanks to the many churches, organizations and individuals who have actively participated in Black History Month. It seems that the events of 2020 struck home, highlighted by the public execution of George Floyd, whose demise […]
Montrealer inducted into prestigious fellowship
Montreal born attorney Sandra Barton continues to make inroads on the legal circuit, hitting another career milestone when she was recently inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Barton a partner at Gowling WLG, a Toronto based law firm, has been identified by respected industry journals, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and […]
BLACK HISTORY 2021: SO WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
So another Black History Month has been observed. Now, I don’t know if the correct term to describe the 28 or 29 days of BHM is “recognize”, “observe”, or “celebrate”, but given the personal nature of one’s inter-est or involvement, any of those words is apropos or acceptable. It’s all about one’s interest and involvement. […]
Systemic racism: Living happily in denial
Whenever the issue of racism raises its head in this province, see how they run. That’s when Quebec Premier Francois Legault and his cohort of provincial politicians scamper to a place called denial. And secured in that safe space, they do all sorts of weird things, hoping that the issue will go away. Beat the […]
Canada government targets systemic racism with new Justice bill
The Liberal Party of Canada has introduced a bill it believes will help address systemic racism in the criminal justice system. If passed, Bill C-22 would amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to get rid of mandatory minimum penalties for certain drug possession and firearms offences. It would also allow […]
February Steeped in Back History, Love and Psychology
February is a short month bursting with activities to mark three key celebrations each year. The month is launched with homage to Black History and the stories of historical achievements and the injustices endured and overcome by Black trailblazers. This is also a time when people devoted their attention to their loved ones by celebrating […]
CLASSROOM INJUSTICE:FAILING TO TEACH ABOUT RACISM AND THE POLICE
Recently protest rallies were held to show solidarity with Black PhD. student Mamadi III Fara Camara, who spent six nights in jail, charged with the attempted murder of a policeman. While the police insisted Camara’s arrest was based strictly on the evidence, and not racial profiling, civil rights activists claim that the incident is part […]
Heritage Minute captures the legacy of Oscar Peterson
The legacy of Oscar Peterson lives on in a recently released minute-long video that captures his meteoric rise from the bosom of Little Burgundy to the most celebrated stages on the global Jazz circuit. The Heritage Minute produced by Historica Canada starts with the delivery of a piano to the Peterson’s household, where Oscar honed […]
Maybe it’s just what’s needed… an inquiry into the Camara affair
Sometimes a well-placed commission of inquiry is the best salve to soothe the sting of a biting act of racism and the furor it creates. The outcry over the Mamadi Fara Camara, case cut deep into the psyche of Montrealers, moved by the wrongful arrest and six-day detention of the 31-year-old Ph.D. student and Uber […]
Racial Profiling is a Euphemism for Racism
What ensuing action, what logical end, does racial profiling produce that racism would not? Recently Mamadi 111 Fara Camara, a Black man was accused of injuring a police officer during a routine traffic stop. Although claiming innocence from the moment of his arrest, he was nevertheless arrested and put into detention for six nights, before […]