Racism in Canada

Racism in Canada

Part 1: Anti-Black Racism: How did we get here? Is there Racism in Canada?This is the question I’m asked the most. Except,It’s phrased like a statement:There’s no racism in Canada. As the internet has exploded with story after story in the past...
Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome

Hello, my name is Karen and I suffer from imposter syndrome. Most days, I don’t feel like part of the black community.Ridiculous, I know, but I am being honest here. Perhaps some background will help.I was born in Japan and adopted into a white family.A white...
Love Song of an Angry Teen

Love Song of an Angry Teen

I hate you!door slam means Please,love me,even whenIbellowlike a foghornatopa lighthouse Batteredby the salty wavesBuffetedby the relentless winds Alone on the craggy shorelineof afathomlessocean
Yes

Yes

I held my breathwhen I first caught sight of you As if my soul knewI wasdiving deep You didn’t notice meBut I saw youin the crowd And my heart murmuredYes Dressed in whiteyour smile a beacon at the end of the aisle My heart poundingin my chest.I’m diving...
Exile

Exile

They called me a basketchild, a homelesscase, drawn out from the murkywaters, burnt by the familytree; she will be a flamebearer, the bathing maidensexclaimed! She will bemine, the compassionateone breathed, the rushesdid not stir; did not revealthe surrogate’s...
Invisible

Invisible

Blue eyesPeer at meevery weekover the wooden pewI sharewith my husband A child’s face framedby a haloof golden curls I smile butshe doesn’t smileback I’m certain she has neverseen white teeth against brownskin in her churchbefore Week afterweekI...
Adopted

Adopted

A treewithout rootsHead and heart heavyUnbalancedClinging to the soil She cannotdraw from the waterof the generationsthat came before There are no leavesso the birds can rest from the sunNo blossoms for the bees Her bare branches laystark against the grey sky A man...
Metal Lullaby

Metal Lullaby

I always lived onthe wrong sideof the tracks although I didn’t know it then the silver threads followed mewhereverwe moved throughbullyinglonelinessbroken hearts the constantwas the rumbleof the train in the nightthe haunting wailof the hornbegging me to follow...
Black, White and Read All Over

Black, White and Read All Over

BLACKbecausethe colour of my skin …although,I always told my Mom I wasreally  brown… How often did I get judgedby how I looked?How is thatfairfor anyone? WHITEthey called me anOreo black on the outsidewhite on the inside although delicious,the...