Malandren writes

On October 12, 2024, the Federation of Black Canadians (FBC) hosted " Heritage Unveiled ," featuring a presentation by renowned historian Rito Joseph . His talk highlighted the significant contributions of Black Canadians across various fields since the late 1700s, a crucial topic often overlooked in Canadian history education. While many are familiar with the Loyalists—those who left the United States to remain loyal to the British monarchy—Canada’s curriculum rarely explores who these individuals were or how they helped shape the development of Upper and Lower Canada. The event also included a Q&A session featuring a diverse panel of experts: - Wilkinson Derisme, founder of MusiqualiT, a platform for creatives, musicians, and producers. - Samanta Nyinawamuntu, leader of the Black Healing Centre, which offers wellness activities and mental health services tailored to the Black community. - Lourdenie Jean, an intersectional feminist and community organizer advocating for ...

Minutes away from the next chapter of my life, I am re reading the previous ones. I cannot lie to myself, I have no idea how I am still here, breathing, experiencing life. Yeeeeeaaahh, I know! That's not exactly what was expected from this text, huh?  But I will be 100% honest: If it was not for my community, my friends, my day ones, the sisters and brothers life gave me throughout life, It it was not for my people holding me tight, answering my calls, my messages, spending some quality time, If it was not for them who helped me, guided me, supported me, through thick and thin; If it was not for those random calls, those random messages, those random videos or memes sharing;  If it was not for those who heard me complain, for those who hugged me, those who cooked for me; If it was not for those who poured into me when I was empty, for those who spoke highly in my life when I no longer had the energy to do it; If it was not for those who STILL believe in me, even when I had sto...

Today, I salute every mother: The one who have seen their embryo leave their womb, the ones who no longer have tubes, those who no longer have a womb following fibroids or any other medical complication. I also salute the mothers who chose to adopt instead of having one biologically, I raise a glass those who were given a child to raise, I salute those who had to bury their offspring, and those who conceived following a nonconsensual relation. Today's a day for all of them. "Happy Mothers' Day!" is a sentence every mother heard throughout the day. Must be nice to be celebrated, seen, and recognized. But what about the other days? Being a mother is a 24/7 job, it seems like no rest is allowed for her. It seems like no error can be made once you're a mother. Yet, we know life is a road in which there are success and failure stories, high and low emotions. Can mothers have this liberty to be and live anymore? Growing up, I had the impression they couldn’t; however, i...