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Bio Photo: Courtesy Sarah Martin Nathan Eugene Carson is a multifaceted, multidisciplinary artist, whose trajectory has been less dictated by the hierarchical confines of what an artist is supposed to do, and more guided by an intuitive understanding of what an artist is supposed to be. Carson brings the same freedom of thought and expression encouraged by his creative familial upbringing into his first major solo exhibition at The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery.
Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, cannabis has been considered an essential service that continues to pull in money at a time when many businesses are just trying to stay afloat. As an industry, it was lucrative before it was even legal; an alternate marketplace for poor and working-class entrepreneurs. Thanks to the heavy-handed reaction of racially biased law enforcement, a disproportionate amount of those underground businesses swept up in police raids and street checks were Black and Indigenous.
In December 2016, Dafonte Miller was assaulted by off-duty police officer Michael Theriault, and his civilian brother Christian. The altercation occurred over an alleged car break-in attempt. During the altercation, Miller was attacked with a metre-long metal pipe which led to him losing an eye. The Theriaults were charged with aggravated assault and attempted obstruction of justice. In June 2020, Constable Theriault was convicted of the lesser charge of assault, while his brother was acquitted.
Anti-Black racism has permeated all spheres of Canadian society from police and civilian relationships, education, health care, housing, jobs, to getting loans from the bank. Black Physicians of Canada is working towards addressing anti-Black racism not only within the medical profession (both trainees and physicians), but also towards Black patients. Their advocacy work plans to focus on increasing Black representation in medicine and in scientific research. I spoke with Dr. Antonia Sappong about her own journey to becoming a doctor and facing anti-Blackness.
Coming across a tattoo parlour that celebrates and prioritizes darker skin complexions is somewhat of a rarity within the tattoo community.
(PHOTO: Joe Sherlock, owner of Celebrity Vegetarian Restaurant) A construction site with seemingly limitless orange cones, detour signs, cranes and large pulsating machinery has now become part of the cityscape along a good chunk of Eglinton Avenue in Toronto. The development of the Crosstown LRT has turned the historic area known as Little Jamaica (which runs from Allen road, west to Keele Street along Eglinton Avenue) into a virtual shuttle run for cars and an obstacle course for pedestrians.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Jackie Becky Media) Sandra Adjou is a passionate advocate of African culture and identity. A native of Benin, when Sandra left her homeland to study abroad in Casablanca then Paris, she was dismayed by the negative perceptions about Black people. Disturbed by what she observed, she made it her mission to change the negative narrative around the Black community by creating the African Identity Culture Centre (AICC). I spoke with Sandra about AICC and the need for a strong identity within the Black Canadian community.
At 16 years old, Marcus McGowan is quickly becoming a serial entrepreneur with the launch of his third company, Glovely. It’s a PPE supply company that allows people to put their own safety kits together with high-quality gloves, face shields, masks, hand sanitizer. You can also create safety gift baskets for loved ones.
(Photo: Kimani Peter captured by Latoya Powell/Ryersonian) A meeting of beats, hearts and minds is set to emerge online July 4 thanks to Kimani Peter, founder of LOUD.army, a music technology startup. The 27-year-old bespectacled Brampton, Ontario resident has spent most of his waking hours these past several weeks building a virtual stage for Black artists and Black activists to thrive and vibe during the third iteration of UP2SUMIN.
“The subject matter of my work is, and will always be Black, because that’s my experience and perspective. However, the theme of my work is humanity. I try to tell the story of the beauty and humanity in the Black body; something the visual culture of our society has long tried to distort or deny. BLOOM showcases the resiliency, power, and beauty of several amazingly talented black women excelling in their fields.” -Benny Bing
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Featured events
- BLOCK PARTY NETWORKING MIXER (September 24, 2020 7:00 pm)
- The Power Plant presents Manuel Mathieu (September 26, 2020 10:00 am)
- The Power Plant presents Nathan Eugene Carson (September 26, 2020 10:00 am)
