This Little Light Of Mine:

Addena’s Substack

Ahhhh, Hello once again, Welcome, and thank you for taking a little time out of your busy lives to come and join me .  I appreciate you all.

My friend, Sidney Shapira, said he wanted to talk to me about Black History and talk about what Black History Month means to me.  

What first came to my mind when he said that, is my need to express to him that I feel Black History Month is an extremely important (designated) Month because it’s the one time you can talk about, introduce, educate and honour, Black History all over the world.   You can talk about Black History from every country that you live in, and people ( in most countries) don’t get offended and defensive about the fact that people are researching, revealing, writing , discussing, and sharing articles, photos, and documentaries about Black peoples’ History and honouring their achievements and their contributions to the world because, it’s “Black History Month”.

So many other times during the year, when you talk about Black history or tell Black people’s stories, or say: “Black Lives Matter”, many  people feel intimidated, or threatened and chose to interpret that as you saying “only Black Lives Matter” or “Black Lives Matter More”.  Some people even feel that you are trying (somehow) to place blame or guilt on them for the historical atrocities against Black peoples’, when all you are doing is telling the truth about past and present racism, prejudice, and inequalities and telling the sad truth, that to this day, those hateful attitudes still exist in our countries.  When Black people talk about Anti-Black Racism and prejudice, many people respond by going straight into “Whataboutisms”,  saying: “Well, what about this”?  “What about that?” Or, they try to make comparisons to the degrees of prejudices or racism, or hate by saying, “well, what about the Haloucast? What about the Genoocide of Indigenous Peoples in North America? What about some Black people .. they are racist too!

When you talk about Slavery, some people feel they have to say, “Well Black people had slaves!”  I find  these kinds of “Whataboutisms” just depressing!  Besides their main purpose to create a diversion , I think their  other purpose is to divide people, more specifically, I think it is an attempt to turn various cultural groups against each other.  I immediately feel really, really, sad when i hear those defensive Whataboutisms, because then I  know those people aren’t open to listening and learning and accepting and respecting Black History, from the various groups of Black peoples who are telling their varied and unique accounts of their histories and lived experiences.

Many people, especially Canadian people, aren’t used to hearing about Black History, especially their own Canadian Black History.

So, bottom line,  …. I  absolutely love Black History Month!

Even though, in my heart, every month is Black History Month, I especially love the official Black History Month, in February.

This Month makes me take the opportunity, and time, to talk to my family and about our Family History.

We now have 10 generations of our family born in Canada.  I thought this month I’d shine a little light on some of them.

Let me start by sharing some photos that I have whose timeline show some of my Family History.

Our Family Bible, passed down from my Grandparents: James (Jim) Mentis, and Henrietta Paris is now in my possession.  Sadly, over the many decades it wasn’t carefully stored, so it is worn and tattered.  It is now so old that thepages crumble when you try to turn them.

My Grandparents  got their Bible in 1882 when they were married and recorded the birth of all of their eighteen (18) children they had over the next 26 years.  My Mom, Kathleen ( Daisy) was their last child born in 1908.

My Mom Kathleen, and my Dad Walter, had five children over 26 years,

Photo below : left to right:  my Grandfather James (Jim) Mentis, my Mom Kathleen ( Daisy) Mentis, my Grandmother Henrietta Mentis/Paris and neighbours. Truro, Nova Scoti

a

1915 or 1916 photo courtesy of the Byard Family Collection

Various Family photos starting with the first Soldier in our Family, my Uncle Horace Mentis in The No. 2 Construction Battalion in 1916

then my oldest Brother Douglas who was a soldier in Princess Pat Company Light Infantry , then collages of photos from 1930’s to my daughter April and my Sister June’s photo together ( colour photo)  from 2003

More Than Seven Generations

Where are my Brothers

Where are my Sisters

Where is my music

Where is my land

Why hasn’t anyone come to claim me

Cradle me

And soothe me

Tell me I am safe now

We’ll take you home my child.

Why is it that I long for

Blackness

Blueness

Tropics I have never known

Why is it that you question

That this is my only home?

                               © Addena Sumter-Freitag   

Below is an An Interview for Black History Month by Sidney Shapira.

He asked some questions that I had to reach into my soul to answer.

Sidney Shapira

is my longtime Friend from our Theatre School Days at the “Manitoba School of Theatre and Allied Arts” ( he and I attended 4 years completing their Master Acting Class level) this month he is posting several posts in honour of Black History Month.  I am sharing this post below . It is one of his he posted for Black History Month.   Thank you Sidney 💖💖

“Addena Sumter-Freitag 's second book is entitled,  "Back in the Days." (North End Girl Prodctions, 2009; second edition, 2023) These are the poems and stories of "a black child in a white city, a young woman in the ungentle hands of racism." ("back in the days," 2023/back cover material.)

Recently, I asked Addena what has stayed with her from her days growing up in Winnipeg's north end. She replied, "What has stayed with me is the defenselessness of young kids against racism." She  continued, " ...and how they interpret and misenterpret racism."

Addena also reflected on the lessons she learned from her mother, who could be difficult to live with, but who taught her about anti-racism work. Addena commented, " She didn't teach us 'the right way,' but she tried to teach me not to be hurtful, not to hold prejudice."

Finally, I asked Addena why the work she does as a writer, an actor, and activist is so important to her. Her reply was, "I write about racism because I have to.  It is the hand I was dealt.  It is my truth.  I need to address it"

For more info, and to order Addena's books, (PLEASE!), go to addenasumterfreitag.com.

*** Limited Time Sale on Print books still on until February 29th.

          15% off plus Free Shipping!

Books are Magic!  Put a little magic in your life

Or … Gift a little Magic to someone you like.

                                                 Addena.

Next month in my Newsletter, I’m plan to shine a little light on

Sidney Shapira and his amazing photography and writing.  I’m going to shine a little light on Maureen, Washington the Canadian and International jazz and blues, singer, and tell you about all the other amazing projects besides, performing and recording she is involved in.

Plus, I’m going to shine a little light on the amazingly impressive projects  and events that the “BC Black History Awareness Society”  has done, and has   planned for 2024.

Hope to see you here in March.

I’m excited that March is International Women’s Week here in Canada 🇨🇦

Truthfully, here in Canada, we celebrate International Women and their Fierceness and  Fabulosity the whole month of March!  Yes!!!

♥️♥️♥️

In Loving memory of my amazing, wonderful Cousin, June Paris-Harrington.  June was a Shining Star and the Matriarch of our family.

She was a Mother/ Sister/Friend and Confidant to so many people.  She was a Gem of a human being.  If you were lucky enough to have known my Cousin June, then you know that were truly Blessed.

Rest in Peace my Darling June.

I know your Spirit will light up our night skies!