Canadian-born author Zetta Elliott reflects on the status of black authors in the Canadian publishing industry.

How can we perpetuate this nonsense into the 21st century? Back in the ‘60s we shouted, “Black is Beautiful”, but obviously that was just a slogan. It looks like we didn’t buy into the reality of it all.

Columnist Marc Grannum breaks down his personal struggle with the Occupy movement as someone working within the capitalistic financial industry with an upbringing that taught him fairness and equality for all.

Black students in Toronto have among the lowest graduation rates as student apathy runs high, according to the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). The reasons for this are both complex and varied but in part due to a flawed school system that fails to address the needs of some its most vulnerable students.

It is my hope that we continue to look beyond our own backyard to celebrate the unique qualities and characteristics that have made our Canada a different country than most.

Any effort to tear asunder what many of our Ancestors fought and died to put together – namely, Black unity across all boundaries, be they of class, caste, religion, geographical location, language or sexual orientation – is unnatural and abnormal and should be roundly condemned wherever it rears its ugly head.

I initially became a Liberal because of the universal misconception of what the Liberal Party of Canada / Ontario is all about. I remember my history teacher in high school, explaining to us how the Liberal party liked “immigrants and black people” in very rosy and simple terms where as the conservatives were “racist”.

I walked away content with the film’s overall message; the difference in our skin tones is nothing but a difference in levels of melanin. No matter what our skin tone, we’re beautiful, and we have to do our best to remind our daughters of their own beauty and worth so they don’t go looking for that reminder in all of the wrong places.

The 2011 edition of this annual event brought about much controversy and skepticism. From the name to change to the event owners and sponsors, everything about this Caribbean showcase was being questioned. It would seem, though, that the event was being questioned by all the wrong people.

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.