Being Black in Canada is a four-part Black History Month article series from SHIFTER editor Kevin Bourne In my first article in the Being Black in Canada series I talked about the difference between hate and prejudice and how they can both be harmful. In this article I want to take the time to address some myths, assumptions and comments I’ve heard over the past few weeks and months surrounding race. MYTH #1 – Shouldn’t all races be celebrated, not just Black people? Absolutely, all races should be celebrated, but that doesn’t negate the fact that certain groups have had…
Author: Kevin Bourne
Kevin Bourne
Kevin Bourne is the co-founder and editor of SHIFTER magazine. Born and raised in Toronto, Kevin currently resides in Ottawa with his wife Koliah and their three children. He's a big fan of hip-hop, pop culture, and urbanism and spends most of his time keeping up with the Kardashians.
Being Black in Canada is a four-part Black History Month article series from SHIFTER editor Kevin Bourne If I’m honest, I’m sometimes jealous of the LGBT community. During Pride Month, I walk through the shopping malls and I see Pride displays and rainbows. I see big corporations getting in on the festivities. You rarely, if ever, see that for Black History Month. All I see is tokenism and the bare minimum. Even schools barely celebrate it. A few years ago, my wife asked my son’s teacher what she was planning for Black History Month. She looked back at my wife…
Toronto-area student, Blaize Exeter, wrote the following piece for her school newspaper when she was in Grade 8. Her principal rejected it multiple times. Blaize is now in Grade 10 and, after attending an equity conference last week, posted the piece she wanted to submit two years ago. The article has been published with permission from the author. White privilege. Well you’re probably asking yourself one of two things. One, what is it? Or two, how does it affect me? I asked a few of my peers to share what white privilege means to them. Some of them had never…
On Tuesday, January 28th, Donald Trump stood up in front of the world and once again perpetuated the ideas of imperialism and apartheid upon the Palestine people. With all of his arrogance, he took the stand and claimed that he drafted up the “deal of the century”. It didn’t take long for the announcement to take a comical turn, as is usual practice with the White House these days. One of Islam’s holiest places, the “Al-Aqsa” mosque, was referred to as the “Al-Aqua” mosque. This coupled with the visual comedy of having an impeached President and an indicted Prime Minister…
Early Wednesday morning, 20-year old Brooklyn rapper, Pop Smoke, was murdered in his Hollywood Hills home. TMZ reported the rapper, real name Bashar Barakah Jackson, was killed in a home invasion. Fellow rappers, including Nicki Minaj and 50 Cent, took to social media to react to the news. View this post on Instagram The Bible tells us that jealousy is as cruel as the grave. Unbelievable. Rest In Peace, Pop. A post shared by Barbie (@nickiminaj) on Feb 19, 2020 at 6:57am PST View this post on Instagram No such thing as success with out jealousy, treachery…
January’s Ottawa Music Video Roundup includes videos from Capé, Frank Blak, KB Westwood, Fletcher G and Bobby Brugal (formerly known as Cashtro Crosby). We’re continuing to ask you, the fans, to vote for the capital’s Video of the Month. Check out the videos below in order of release date, then help us crown the top video in the city for January. Special shout out to our sponsor Greg Campbell – Blue Panda Realty. Last month you voted for “Cobain” by Quest featuring Hevve and Dip Black as your video of the month. Video of the Month (December) – Quest ft. Hevve and Dip…
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Aloe Blacc – who’s topped charts around the world with his chameleonic blend of soul, folk, R&B and pop -released the romantic ballad “I Do”. The GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter flexes his sensual, warm-hued vocals in a touching ballad dedicated to his wife, fellow artivist Australian musician Maya Jupiter. In the vein of classic piano-driven love songs, Blacc has written a beautiful testament to his relationship and a rare peek into the private musician’s personal life. “Luck brought us together despite living halfway across the world with a vast ocean between us,” says international hit-maker Blacc,…
Kemar, or Mars as he’s affectionately called, is off to the moon in Flight, a Jamaican short film directed by Kia Moses and Adrian McDonald (Audience Choice winner at Diversity in Cannes short film showcase). Mars can often be found on the roof imagining himself in another galaxy. Like many Caribbean households plagued by poverty, the young dreamer is jolted back to reality and reminded that the life he dreams of is for the rich and lucky, of which he is neither. What unfolds is a sweet story of a child who has a big imagination fueled by love. This story…
Written and directed by Charles Murray, #Truth is a story of justice played out in a dysfunctional church culture. Dorian Missick stars as journalist Stewart Cooper who is forced to put his journalistic skills to the test as he seeks justice for his cousin Lanie Cooper (played by real life wife Simone Missick) after she commits suicide. Church pastor and serial womanizer Kenneth Little (Michael Beach), associate pastor Martin Jarett (Terrell Tillford) and Lanie’s former boyfriend Mark Evans (Kevin Phillips) are all players in this twisted story filled with side plots of lies, anger, failed relationships, adultery and cyberbullying. While many…
From the opening scene, Soul Custody, the latest film from writer and director V. Vansay Zanubon, reels you in with beautiful drone and landscape shots contrasted with a horrific car accident which set the tone for the rest of the film. Although the film was screened at the Toronto Black Film Festival, it would be hard to simply categorize it as a “Black film”. The film highlights universal themes and subject matter―jealousy, fear, mental health and escapism―that will resonate with any audience. Soul Custody tells the story of husband and wife, Greg and Lauren Monaghan (played by Hollywood legend Clifton Powell and Asha Bee) who are…
The 8th edition of the Toronto Black Film Festival is in full effect, taking over venues across Toronto’s downtown core. On tap are some of the best short films and features from over 20 countries. One of the standout shorts was the Nathan Hale Williams-directed Burden, an at-times comedic look at racism and prejudice in America. True to its name, the film explores the many stereotypes surrounding Black men and the burden they often feel―the burden of being feared, rejected and never good enough― and the resulting anger that comes with it. Husband and father, Bennett Lewis (played by Nic Few), is a…
Today is the big day – Valentine’s Day. Couples all over the world are buying gifts, celebrating love, and, if they’re lucky, ending the night with some “extracurricular activities”. Here are ten essential Ottawa R&B songs to soundtrack your Valentine’s Day. This Luv – Jeff Sanon This is one of the older songs on our list, but it’s absolutely essential for Valentine’s Day. If you let a special guy or girl get away and you want them back, start your Valentine’s Day by sliding into their DMs with this song and let Jeff Sanon talk to them for you. https://open.spotify.com/track/1ayQXItt2qzzMXdH9dWEze?si=vLrTlC58R5aejKCFbZxGIA…
