Black Influencers in Social Media You Need to Hear About
By: Lavanya Kathirgamanathan In 2020, since the COVID-19 pandemic, social media has been one of the biggest platforms to gain worldwide recognition. The lockdown created an atmosphere for people to grow and create content while staying home, which led to popular content creators and new advanced skills. According to statistics on Zippia, only 7.2 per cent of content creators are Black or African American. By comparison 61.7 per cent of the content creators are White, while 13.3 per cent of content creators are Hispanic or Latino. Unfortunately, this is not the only issue Black content creators have faced. It has been noted that Black creators are underpaid compared to their White counterparts. Another issue is that White content creators generate the most views while stealing ideas from Black creators who go unnoticed. These issues create a challenge for people of colour to gain an equal opportunity for success in the social media industry. To those who wish to make a living from content creation over social media there are inequalities that need to be addressed. Although the percentage of Black content creators is low, this cohort of creators exists everywhere because of the quality of their work. Many Black influencers create comforting videos that share tips and advice, bringing the audience close and allowing their ideas to inspire others. Being a content creator is one of those careers that can make or break you. Fortunately, the Black community has brought more comfort in their content and less controversy than many others in this career. You can watch a series of interesting videos that cover a range of diverse topics from cooking tips, relationship advice, fashion sense advice, cleaning advice, hairstyle techniques, and fitness advice. Anything that you can think of, the Black community has released videos about it. Listed below are content creators with a strong social media presence who are changing the game and have started their career from rock bottom. Britnee Ciara Britnee Ciara is a Black food content creator who chefs up incredible meals involving her daily routine. She shares her personal experience on how she views food and the benefits of some of the ingredients to her followers. Ciara mentions in some of her videos that sometimes it is hard for her to eat the meals she cooks, and it can be tough to create videos when her mentality is not good, but for her fan base, she does it anyways. Sharing her personal experience while creating this content is authentic to her and her fans. It shows that she has a desire to provide her audience with realistic and passionate videos for their benefit regardless of what she is suffering from internally. Eating disorders are common, the road to recovery is not easy and talking about it is challenging. Ciara briefly mentions how she is slowly recovering from her personal experiences dealing with ED and provides her opinion on how it can be managed if her fans are going through a similar challenge. According to a survey from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL,) they found that 1.5 per cent of adult Black Americans have a higher chance of suffering from bulimia. They also found that binge eating disorder is the most common ED found in the Black community. Ciara aims to bring positivity to her environment in food and lifestyle content. Mo Flowers Mo Flowers is a Black content creator who creates fitness and healthy eating content. She promotes her business as an online coach to share her skills and experience with clients who aim for similar goals and achievements that she promotes. Flowers has been rooting for her fitness experience for over a year and has finally reached an audience where she can turn her social media business as a full-time job. Her main goal is to share her results to help others feel motivated and comfortable to go to the gym, to sustain a healthy lifestyle. While a majority of the fitness influencers are White, creators like Mo Flowers embrace diversity and can inspire her diverse audience to start their fitness journey and be confident. Jackie Aina Jackie Aina is an influencer taking over the social media world with her engaging and entertaining content. Aina is a Nigerian-born woman that is living her glamorous life in Los Angeles creating lifestyle and beauty content. Aina has been creating content for a while now and took her platform to TikTok, where she continues to upload various types of content that are more than just beauty. Her cleaning videos create a space for those who want to feel motivated, calm, and relaxed. As a well-known Black content creator, Aina took her content to the next level and made it one of a kind; with the camera, the lighting, and the way she edits her videos. You will notice that Aina has put a spin on her content to make it her own, and nobody else’s. Jackie Aina creates a welcoming and comforting space for all of her followers and brings empowerment to the Black community with her talent. Aina is one of the many Black content creators who knows how to run the content creator business like a boss. Her enthusiastic personality adds a unique touch to reel in views and followers that want to stay and create a strong community.
Poetry: FIGHTING FOR MY RIGHTS
By: Lavanya Kathirgamanathan Freedom for me Is not always Granted. I always wonder, How would it be? Then again, I am dark skinned Not a lot of Good outcomes. For my skin colour Or the way I look Right now, My mind is thinking, Intrusive thoughts, Yelling, Screaming. Reasoning with myself that It is okay, it has Got to happen, but Hopefully one day There is an end for the fight To be seen, heard, loved Someday, it will.
Poetry: My Brown Skin
By: Lavanya Kathirgamanathan My Brown Skin Born with power Melanin queen Every day, every hour People may look at me But that is fine Ignorance is bliss And this skin is mine for life. My Brown Skin Holds truth and fear Sometimes it worries me What might be near, Racism, Colourism, Discrimination, and more, Why would I suffer when Brown skin is everything I live for? My Brown Skin Makes me who I am Sweet like chocolate, Walking the streets with a BAM! The intrinsic beauty lies Within the colour of skin, Why do some people Think it is a sin? My Brown Skin Is filled with joy Like a kid in a candy store, Or even getting a toy Walking down the street With a smile, filled with glee I am one of a kind, Who else will there be? My Brown Skin, Is a blessing to my heart It holds my personality, And I am a work of art No one should ever Bring you down for your looks If fear arises against you, Look at them and smile with confidence, Ignore them, and leave them bewildered.
Let’s Talk About: Zanana Akande
By: Lavanya Kathirgamanathan Zanana Akande is a woman who embodies bravery, power, and strength as she represents one of the many voices in Canada who created a diverse environment in the political world. In 1937, Akande was born in the heart of Toronto, a city filled with diversity, innovation, and culture. While growing up in Toronto, Akande attended multiple post-secondary schools which included Harbord Collegiate, University of Toronto, and Ontario Institute for Studies and Education. During her education timeline, Akande was also a member of The Federation of Women Teachers Associations of Ontario. In 1918, this federation was created in Ontario to represent women in the school systems. Akande is a figure who mobilizes increased political engagement and participation to make the lives of many free and fair. Her academic accolades and knowledge inspire many to push for social change. Her parents immigrated from Saint Lucia and Barbados, where they pursued their careers working as teachers. Her parents’ success motivated Akande to pursue the same occupation in Canada. Inspired by her parents, Akande followed their passion and pursued her teaching career, working towards being a principal at Toronto District School Board (TDSB). While serving for the TDSB, Akande shared her prior knowledge on the disparities within the education system and created a program for students with special needs. Her initiative to provide equal education for special needs students is important because it addresses the barriers disabled students face. Often, special needs students require additional programs such as remediation that are not provided with the appropriate budget and funding. Akande’s program aims to provide special needs students with the appropriate program and environment for students to excel academically. Soon after becoming a principal, she was responsible for duties including overseeing the education agenda and mandate, focusing on equitable policy, and ensuring her students were situated in a positive and safe environment for academic success. From 1990 to 1994, Akande immersed herself into the political world where she served as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party (ONDP). She represented the riding of St. Andrew-St. Patrick, and represented her cultural roots from where she grew up in the heart of downtown Toronto. Soon after, Akande was appointed as Minister of Community and Social Services. With her duty as a Minister, she created economic change for those in low-income communities. Akande raised the rate of social assistance from 5 per cent to 7 per cent. Akande also increased the shelter allowance for those in need. Although she resigned as Minister of Community and Social Services in 1991, she was then the Parliamentary Assistant to Bob Rae to create and implement JOYP, Jobs Ontario Youth Programme, to provide younger adults with more opportunities to find jobs at their age and help them create a path for their future. In 1994, Akande decided to resign from her political journey due to a conflict arising over an investigation that took place involving a dispute with Ontario’s previous civil servant, Carlton Masters. Zanana Akande notably became the first Black woman elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. She was also the first Black woman in Canada to serve as a Cabinet Minister in the country itself. This achievement inspired the Black community that a woman of colour can work in politics. Akande always believed in herself and took a step forward to create meaningful changes that helped others. This ended up making history in Canada, and will be remembered for future politicians in the Black community who want to immerse themselves in politics. Since 2009, Akande has been retired and continues to share her knowledge in the political realm through volunteer work with local organizations, such as the YWCA and Centennial College. Her efforts to immerse herself into the environments where citizens lacked the appropriate assistance fueled her drive to allocate funds to food banks and policies aimed at achieving welfare benefits. To learn more about Zanana Akande’s career history, click here.
Take a Look: Black Authors You need to Discover
By: Lavanya Kathirgamanathan In life, we all have a unique story to tell. Our stories are what shape the plot authors get to write about. Globally, in just a year, over 500,000 to 1,000,000 books are written from a variety of different genres including horror, mystery, thriller, humor, and action. These genres cater towards a variety of different audiences that allow reading to be enjoyable. Books also offer different lengths. Many books require a whole series to execute a complex plot. Every book has a beginning, middle, and an end that carries the reader through a series of events filled with entertainment. In the world, many Black authors gain inspiration to write through their own personal experiences and creativity. In society, Black authors and people of colour are unrecognized compared to White writers, yet each story shares who they are and what they want the readers to comprehend. Outlined is a list of authors who create unforgettable storylines and bring an engaging experience to the Black community. Ashley C. Ford is a Black American writer and educator who writes with a focus on race and sexuality in her publications. Sites like The Guardian, Buzzfeed, and Elle are where people can read some of her written work. Ford is most famous for her book Somebody’s Daughter, an exclusive memoir that illustrates her childhood. Ford transforms the world of literature as she uses her skills and personal experiences dealing with an incarcerated father to highlight the reality of success being a Black author. For Ford, her sense of freedom is achieved when writing pieces of literature that advocate for racial inequalities. Books are a powerful mode of resistance against oppression as our opinions and ideas are what shape and influence our audiences to behave and think differently. Books allow us to reflect on our own privilege and make use of the resources we are offered to share our voice wholeheartedly. Chelene Knight is a Canadian writer and poet who was born in Vancouver. Knight is the author of the poetry book Braided Skin, which shares the experiences of mixed-race ethnicity, growing up in poverty, and urban childhood. Knight transforms literature by discussing the reality of growing up poor. She addresses that in circumstances where an individual is confronted with poverty there can be greater opportunities for success. These themes shape how individuals view the term “Braided” as it can refer to an intertwining of races and blending to achieve cohesion and conformity. The book unravels concepts that can allow one to recognize symbolism of unity and hope to achieve equality. Kern Carter is a Toronto author and freelance writer. He created a novel called Boys and Girls Screaming, which unveils the concept of how family trauma and sisterhood coincide. Carter hoped to create a storyline that sparked conversations in the community and wanted it to be an entertaining, eye-opening story. Kern’s vision is to encourage academic institutions to adopt practices in facilitating emotional support groups to those who suffer from trauma. This book highlights that schools have a responsibility to provide additional services to students. These services allow students to interact and form close relationships with those who face similar struggles. Angie Thomas is a Black American author born and raised in Mississippi. Thomas is known for her award-winning novel, The Hate U Give. The Black Lives Matter movement played a role in the inspiration for the novel. This novel is important because it addresses issues of inequalities in the criminal justice system. When Khalil, who is unarmed in the novel, is shot by a police officer unjustly it creates stereotypes that place Black people at a disadvantage for being labelled as a criminal. This novel highlights the reality between Black people and the way they are perceived in the criminal justice system that demand reform. Octavia E. Butler was a Black American science fiction writer raised in California. She was recognized as one of the best science fiction writers in the community. Butler illustrated Parable of the Sower, which takes place in the future and focuses on a teenager who suffers from hyper-empathy. This condition means that in circumstances where individuals face hardship their emotions are weak. The story addresses this issue, while trying to navigate in a society that is slowly collapsing. Butler’s story line incorporates the history of how society views White people as wealthier and “more safe,” while racialized people were not treated with respect or safely. The story also focuses on Black communities futuristically, and how it might be. Alexandra Elle is a Black American author who lives in Washington, DC. She is a bestselling author and wellness educator. Elle is known for her guide, How We Heal: Uncover Your Power and Set Yourself Free, which offers techniques on self-healing, mindfulness, and activities involving journaling.This is a space for readers to express the oppression and discrimination that they have been through for decades, and gives them a place to open up about their personal feelings. As individuals are confronted with different lives, circumstances, and roles these healing practices are illustrated to provide a sense of direction in times of disarray. This can be useful when we go through stress and grievances that cannot be dealt with appropriately through health care services. More often, the natural route to healing is in our best interest to adopt independent practices that are healthy and positive.
Mental Health Resources for Black Communities in Canada
By: Lavanya Kathirgamanathan Films provide an escape from reality among its viewers. Films exemplify life issues and include topics that everyone can relate to whether that is relationships, family, work, trauma, and health. Spike Lee is a renowned filmmaker who uses his platform to explore thought-provoking themes throughout his films. A common plot Lee likes to explore are issues pertaining to Black people such as racism, colourism, stigmas surrounding interracial relationships, and injustices within the system. Malcolm X, Crooklynn, She’s Gotta Have It and Jungle Fever are some of the most popular Spike Lee films. School Daze is another outstanding film directed and written by Lee. Based on his experiences growing up as a student attending Morehouse College, the 1988 film touches on colourism, texturism, activism, and hazing while students navigate through their life at Mission College, a fictional-historical Black college. Featured in this film are well-known actors and actresses including: Laurence Fishbourne, Giancarlo Esposito, Tish Cambell, Samuel L. Jackson, Jasmine Guy and Lee. 35 years later, and the themes the film navigates are still relevant over social media. Outlined are some of the most prevalent issues School Daze touches on: Activism Activism is a form of collective action that aims to resist social injustices targeted towards racialized communities that experience racism, sexual harassment, and arbitrary violence. Movements such as the Civil Rights Movement and Feminism Movement are examples of movements that have a shared interest to fight against oppression. Dap, the film’s protagonist, is a Morehouse student and young activist who wants to fight for equal treatment on behalf of everyone within the Black diaspora. The character is introduced when his boycott of apartheid in South Africa is interrupted. His main goal is to mobilize students and faculty to participate in a movement against the Apartheid. Although most students are reluctant to participate due to being expelled, Dap manages to mobilize support and stand up for their freedom. Just like every collective action movement, there are struggles and challenges that occur along the way. However, once people recognize the end-goal, it can help others realize what cause people are fighting for. Hazing Sororities and fraternities are supposed to bring people together and provide a sense of belonging for students as they navigate their journey through post-secondary school. Joining a sorority or a fraternity can sometimes come with downsides. Some pledges are forced to go through hazing rituals that can be humiliating or dangerous. There have been many hazing incidents that have led to serious injuries or death. Half-Pint, who is illustrated as Dap’s cousin, wants to join the Gamma Phi Gamma fraternity. He objects to his cousin’s views who believes those who join one are sellouts. Half-Pint and the other pledges are forced to fish out rotting bananas from a toilet with their hands, to imitate dogs. Half-Pint was also challenged to sleep with the leader’s girlfriend. Fraternities and sororities can have many positive outcomes. However, joining one should not put one’s health, reputation, or life at risk. The movie may have aired 35 years ago, but the issues the film addresses are still relevant in today’s society. People continue to be exploited for making colourist and/or texturist comments. Injustices are still rampant and pledges at post-secondary schools are still being subjected to hazing rituals. However, the film’s message is still powerful and shows viewers that there is hope to break free from conforming to damaging school traditions.
Resources in Toronto that support the Black Community
By: Lavanya Kathirgamanathan
Three Black Owned Restaurants You Need to Try All Year Round: Part Two
By: Lavanya Kathirgamanathan
Who is Don Hogan Charles?
By: Lavanya Kathirgamanathan
BREONNA TAYLOR / POEM
Published on January 6, 2023.