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Catch da Flava April 2005 www.catchdaflava.com Volume 10 Issue 2 Youth and Student Newspaper Produced by the Regent Park Focus Fifty Years of Black Activism Civil Rights and the Meaning of Malcolm he Civil Rights Movement of the 50's and 60's is often told as a simple tale of passive Tnon-violent demonstrators winning the hearts and minds of the American public and tri- umphing over seemingly insurmountable forces of evil. In this tale Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. is heralded as the sole visionary who led the African American quest for integration, equality and justice. If we are told anything about Mal- colm X at all, he is portrayed at best, as a minor figure of the era who preached violence, segrega- tion and hatred of white people. Unfortunately, the truth is much more complicated and this simple version of the story leaves out the profound significance of Malcolm X and the enor- mous impact that he had on the civil rights move- ment. So who was Malcolm X and what did he stand for? In the 1950's in many parts of Canada and most southern states in America, public places were racially segregated. There were separate schools, separate seats on buses and in theatres, and sepa- rate areas in restaurants for whites and for blacks. In the US, state and local laws also prevented black Americans from voting. Beginning in the 1950's many groups and people--black and white-- began working to change these laws and these activities became known as the Civil Rights “My first impression was how could a black man talk about the government, white peo- Movement. The most prominent spokesman of the ple, and act so bold, and not be shot at? [...] How could he say those things? Only God movement was Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. who preached a philosophy of non-violent resis- must be protecting him.” tance. -Mohammed Ali speaking about Malcolm X (1964) The emergence of Malcolm X both as a spokesper- son for the Nation of Islam and as a prominent African American leader coincided with the rise of the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 onwards. Like Reverend King, Malcolm X was a great ora- tor. Unlike King, however, Malcolm rejected the philosophy of non-violence and integration and provided the single most forceful alternative to Martin Luther King. Malcolm X did not believe that America was capa- ble of dismantling its systems of discrimination and oppression. Without doing so, Malcolm X was convinced that only a comparatively few African Americans could benefit from integration. Instead, Malcolm X urged African Americans to gain con- trol of their communities both politically and eco- nomically. Only when African Americans had ownership of their own homes, businesses, politi- Dealing with difficult Ask da Sexpert: the The real story cians, schools and cultural institutions could there teachers value of abstinence behind the X-Men be any talk of integration. Page 3 Page 10 Page 7 Continued on page 6... POET’S CORNER Fight or Flight Guest Editorial bring about equity, social justice and gener- “You!” Celebrating 50 years al liberation for all human beings. I heard the voice and all my senses, like an of Black Activism Integral to the varying forms of black ancient computer, started up activism is resistance to those historical and and came online. he history of African Canadians has contemporary forces which give rise to and been told in many ways: through reinforce white domination, power and “You guy!” Toral history, traditional historical privilege. Black activism, therefore, chal- texts, literature, documentary films, acade- lenges the interconnected structural and VOLUME 10 ISSUE 2 APRIL 2005 I took one very deep breath to stretch out my mic papers and community reports. institutional systems of oppression and exploitation, in their varied manifestations chest, Although Toronto has played a central (racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, THE REGENT PARK FOCUS IS COMMIT- felt my muscles swell and connect to each other, role in the history of African-Canadians, ableism, homophobia, ageism), along with TED TO THE USE OF COMMUNITY-BASED electric shocks of fear and anxiety there remains no single, comprehensive, the ideological myths that sustain them. MEDIA TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND ENGAGE fusing them together to form documented account of social and political YOUTH. a knuckle-throwing being and then I turned, activism within Toronto's African-Canadi- Toronto's black activists can be justly already braced. an community. Indeed, there is no focused proud of their contribution to humanizing REGENT PARK FOCUS IS HOME TO: historical account which places the strug- Canadian society. Not only have they CATCH DA FLAVA PRINT AND ONLINE There were three of them gles against anti-black racism, as led by resisted oppressive and exploitative forces, NEWSPAPER, ATCH A LAVA OUTH ADIO ON and they walked with a purpose. peoples of African descent in Toronto, but they have also helped to build institu- C D F Y R CKLN 88.1 FM, Craning their necks to look around within the context of Canadian progress in tions that nurture and cultivate community. E.Y.E. VIDEO YOUTH PRODUCTIONS, as they walked up on me. equality of rights and expanding notions of social justice. The aim of the 50 Years of Black THE ZAPPAROLI STUDIO FOR Activism in Toronto project is to highlight PHOTOGRAPHY & THE YOGA DEN “ I move at five times speed John Carver!” The 50 Years of Black Activism Project a half century of struggles by black move- is intent on highlighting this history, and ments and organizations involved in REGENT PARK FOCUS IS LOCATED AT: “Blah” sets out to: 1) Define black activism, and activist work in the areas of immigration 600 DUNDAS ST. EAST show how it can be seen in the context of and employment, human rights and justice, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5A 2B9 and that was that. the African-Canadian community over the sports and recreation, media and culture, (ENTRANCE IS AT REAR BASEMENT) Three against one and what’s done will be done. past 50 years; and 2) Identify the social criminal justice, and education. These TEL: (416) 863-1074 movements and community organizations struggles have been linked to broader glob- FAX: (416) 863-9440 led by African Canadians which have chal- al struggles from anti-colonial to anti- WWW.CATCHDAFLAVA.COM T. Wayne lenged racism over the past 50 years. apartheid, labour to environmental, feminist to anti-homophobia, civil rights to human PROGRAM CO-ORDINATOR LET CATCH DA FLAVA Activism is a form of resistance to rights, and anti-racist to aboriginal. ADONIS HUGGINS BE YOUR VOICE oppressive systems which act as barriers to the legitimate rights and aspirations of Given our rich history of political and EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BO WEN CHAN Catch da Flava is a student and com- dominated groups and classes in society. cultural activity, black activists will contin- munity youth newspaper that is pub- Resistance occurs at the level of ideas, as ue to work towards the kind of society we TREASURER & ADVERTISING MANAGER lished a minimum of four times a well as through social and political organi- imagine: one based on equality, human EMMANUEL KEDINI year. The newspaper is distributed zation and action. Activism emboldens and rights, social justice and freedom. FREE to schools, libraries and com- enlightens oppressed people while chal- by the 50 Years Committee of Black YOUTH WRITERS AND EDITORIAL STAFF munity groups across downtown lenging those who support and/or perpetu- Activism in Toronto, 416-545-0796 x. 6227 BO SAN CHAN Toronto. ate oppression. It is a transformational process that remakes society in ways that (Regent Park Focus is a partner of the 50 JATINDER DHOOT Years Committee.) YVONNE KAI The newspaper is produced by the EMMANUEL KEDINI Catch da Flava youth editorial com- BIHTER TOMEN mittee of the Regent Park Focus. JESSICA UTHAYAKUMARAN TYRONE MACLEAN-WILSON Catch da Flava welcomes letters and submissions from young GUEST ADULT WRITERS people (up to age 24). Submissions ADONIS HUGGINS should be no longer than 1500 words PETER MALONE in length. If you would like more DHEENA DHAYALA NAIDU information about how you can con- NORMAN “OTIS” RICHMOND tribute to Catch da Flava, call us at MICHELLE RICKETTS (416) 863-1074. GARY WARNER T. WAYNE NEXT DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS: THIS ISSUE WAS PRODUCED IN PARTNER- April 30, 2005 SHIP WITH CKLN 88.1FM AND THE 50 Circulation: 10, 000 YEARS COMMITTEE OF BLACK ACTIVISM. Catch da Flava reserves the right to CATCH DA FLAVA IS SPONSORED BY: edit submitted articles for space THE TIPPET FOUNDATION, THE LAIDLAW and clarification. FOUNDATION, AND THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND LONG-TERM CARE. Published Since 1995 The aim of the 50 Years of Black Activism in Toronto project is to document and highlight a half-century of struggles by individuals, movements and organizations APRILinvolved in black activist 2, work 2005 in Toronto. Catch @da 5PM–8PMFlava 2 April 2005 PROJECT LAUNCH FOR 50 YEARS OF BLACK ACTIVISM IN TORONTO Jorgensen Hall, Room PODA250 Ryerson University TTeeaacchheerr KKnnoowwss BBeesstt My Teacher is Ruining My Life! o you have teachers you don't get people who are just totally wrong for their along with. Who hasn't, in their line of work. For example, the swimming Stime as a student? For the most part, instructor who assured your parents you you're not gonna like what I have to say, could swim without a lifejacket and pro- so you better read this to see if you agree. ceeded to push you off the deep end div- ing board when you were 5 years old.

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