I am a Black Woman. I am a black woman who is a Canadian citizen. I am a black woman who was born in Trinidad where I spent the first quarter of my life and I now call Vancouver, British Columbia my home. I don’t feel qualified or that I even have the right to write […]
When Anger Points to Racial Reconciliation
by on November 26, 2018 10 Comments
By Allison Harrell While scrolling social media on September 7, I find out that a man named Botham Jean was murdered in his apartment by an uniformed off-duty police officer the night before. My mind swirls. So many headlines grab my attention. I read through a few articles, but nothing makes sense. There are clearly […]
Dear Kadija
by on July 26, 2018 Leave a Comment
Dear Kadija (aka, Black African in Libya), I am sorry. My heart shatters into a thousand pieces at every remembrance of you. I cannot forget you, because I look exactly like you. I am so sorry. I am sorry that it took a CNN report of the live auction of you in 2017 for the […]
Confessions of a White Ally
by on May 9, 2018 9 Comments
A good writer zips the reader into their skin, according to Memoirist Mary Karr. A good Christian zips herself into the skin of others. As a white woman researching race, ethnicity and white privilege in the United States, I thought I was doing this—learning empathy, increasing compassion. I read the books, listened to podcasts, shared […]
I Carry All Their Stories In Me
by on April 10, 2018 8 Comments
My hands are his hands. They are the same shape as his and move like so – just like his did I marvel at the memory of this giant of a man, of this larger-than-life presence, of this proud and passionate man with these hands, these soft and gentle and determined hands. I carry him […]
