An African Canadian Response to the Pandemic and International Uprisings
Moderated by Dr. Valerie Mason-John (hon.doc) M.A, author of I’m Still Your Negro: An Homage to James Baldwin, and co-editor of The Great Black North: Contemporary African Canadian Poetry – British Colombia
People of African-descent have been hardest hit by current circumstances. Economic distress and unemployment has disproportionately affected this population in the West, and statistics show that more individuals of African descent have died from the virus than in most other populations. This month, as well, we have had to bear witness to the public lynching of George Floyd and the suspicious death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet in Canada. Two more names added to the long list of black people who continue to be targeted and/or killed by the police.
Featuring:
Dr. George Elliot Clarke – The 4th Poet Laureate of Toronto (2012-15) and the 7th Parliamentary/Canadian Poet Laureate (2016-17) – Ontario
Dr. Afua Cooper – Professor, Chair: Lord Dalhousie’s History on Slavery and Race – Nova Scotia
Idil Issa – Advocate, writer, public speaker – focussing on gender, race, religion, and Muslim women of colour – Quebec
Ras Rico – Community Leader – Manitoba
Neil Donaldson – Creative Director of Stolen From Africa – Ontario
Dr. Malinda Smith – Incoming Vice Provost (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion), University of Calgary – Alberta
Dr. Handel Kashope Wright is professor of education and Director of the Centre for Culture, Identity & Education at the University of British Columbia
Matt Thomas – Keynote Speaker, Coach Educator – Alberta
Hosted by Lauren Carter and the Pandemic Response Reading Series.
