You were my first love. I fell in love with you at 16. When we met, I was dazzled by your charm. You smelled sweet and offered me everything a girl could ever want. I saw some warning signs when some of the products I needed were not on your shelves, but chose to ignore them.

Instead of focusing on the short-lived joy of spending, we must take notes from those who lived before us.

I had an extensive conservation with him at a fundraiser in Hull a few years back. He spoke to me for about two minutes and asked me if I had a napkin. When I pulled out one, he wrote his personal cell number and told me to call him so that we could allow the conversation to continue.

Black self-hate is extremely insidious. Partly due to the fact that many blacks would not share this feeling with others. This silent destroyer of our people manifests itself in a variety of ways and sadly, it appears to cling to and afflict the young and vulnerable among us.

And they will not have the buffer of a community that realizes that, despite their individual ethnic background (Guyanese, Ethiopian, Ghanaian, Trinidadian, etc.), they must rally around their common racial heritage in order to better their collective lot and provide a safe haven for their precious Seed.

We need to go back to the relevant beginning of the N-word and that is the international slave trade. Slavery begot the N-word. There were no “niggers” before slavery. Slavery created the ugly, sordid hierarchy of skin that encompassed not just the hue of flesh, but also facial and body features.

With ethnic marketing only now gaining any real traction in the industry, it may be that the time for targeting the black community has passed, as 3rd and 4th generations of Caribbeans are now assimilating into the Canadian landscape.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Library Board member Rochelle Dickenson strongly urges adults and young people alike to be positive agents for change and civic engagement as thousands of community organizations are looking for input and expertise. According to Dickenson it is imperative that we use our spare time to contribute to their noble missions in a meaningful and impactful way.

Crime in general is a concern to Pastor Wendell Brereton, yet he does not see the youth of the black community as the demographic of crime. He see them as vibrant, talented and powerful

With accolades that include a MuchMusic nomination for Best Rap Video Award and the UMAC Award for Best Hip Hop Radio Show, Motion is a poet on the move. Sway caught up with her to discuss her art form and her biggest influences.