On May 30, 2025, at 1:38 PM, Addena Sumter-Freitag <addena@hotmail.com> wrote:
May newsletter
Thank you for joining me again, or for the first time. I appreciate you welcoming me into your Inbox. This Newsletter issue is right down to the wire!
I hope you didn’t think I forgot you. I was just waiting for my Muse. 🥰
Before I go any further, let me share with you. What’s going around me. I don’t know if you know that in my neighbourhood there’s a lot of deer that roam around and eat our flowers (not happy making!) but…. the other day I was in the house when my husband, Irvin came in to tell me to come with him because a deer was just giving birth down the road behind a bush.
By the time I got there, two babies had already been born about a half hour apart and were laying in the grass by the curb. One was just trying to stand up….
The Baby went from wobbling to being able to stand up and shakily ( photo at bottom right) walk over to her Momma Deer and begin nursing.
What a wondrous event to witness.
The mother, deer seemed to know that we weren’t any threat to her or her babies, so she let us get close enough to take photos.. ♥️♥️
For the last few weeks I have been was contemplating “Purpose”.
Well , that sounds a little pretentious doesn’t it? (I’m laughing) …actually , I was really thinking “why the hell did I start this Newsletter anyway? Mmmmmm. So ..I guess that’s looking at purpose.
I’m a writer, a poet, and a Storyteller from a long line of Storytellers I might add (I’m smiling) So I guess my reason/purpose for publishing a Newsletter was that I wanted to let people get a little familiar with me and my writing , so initially my purpose or intention was to introduce myself and let people get a little glimpse inside my head (yikes!) and inside my heart.
My first thoughts were “oh yeah! I want my Newsletter and I want it to be about my poetry, and stories, …but I also wanted it to be about the simple things that go on during each month, mingled with memories of what has gone on in my life, and also about my responses to what I see and hear going on around me during the month. I also wanted to write about the variety of eccentric, talented, fun, people I know, have known, and serendipitously meet. It was my intent to share stories and memories of old friends, family, and extended family that I sometimes get to hang out with.
I hoped the Newsletter could also provide an opportunity to “shine a little light” on other poets and artists, and musicians, community businesses, and community concerns and initiatives, because we all gotta prop each other up, support, promote, and inform each other of “ Wha Gwan”.
Actually, I can’t take all the credit for this Newsletter. It wasn’t my my idea to write it. It was actually my friend Doug’s idea.
Doug, is a brilliant, talented, Toronto musician. He is also a brilliant Web Designer and the person who designed my website.
One day Doug and I were working on the content for my site and he said , “you should write a monthly Newsletter.” (and I thought : “what the hell am I gonna say in a Newsletter?”… Once a month!)
Turns out I actually found lots of things to share, and a lot to say! .. [I’m laughing] cause it doesn’t come easy. Most months I sit and look at an empty page wondering what the hell to write about until something I hear, read, or remember, gives me fuel and lights my fire.
Like the other day, I was reading an article and it got me thinking about Cultural Appropriation VS Cultural Appreciation.
The article I was reading said : “Betty Boop Was Inspired By A Black Jazz Singer Named Esther Jones,: Esther Jones Performed Regularly At “The Cotton Club” In Harlem In The 1920s. Her style of “Scatting” was a Black Jazz Innovation, (born From a combination of Ragtime, Spirituals, and The Blues.”
Now, for those of you who haven’t heard of Esther Jones, she was a Black entertainer who began her career as a child actor, singer, and dancer . She was probably thirteen years old or 15/16 years old (there are different accounts) when she first performed at The Cotton Club in Harlem . She wore her hair in tight curls and spoke in a high pitched baby-voice and was affectionately called, Baby Esther or Little Esther. "Baby Esther" danced, made funny faces, rolled her eyes, and—most famously—interpolated wordless phrases such as "Boo-Boo-Boo", "Wha-Da-Da", and "Doo-Doo-Doo".
Helen Kane, a white singer and actress who gained fame in the 1920s and 1930s, became known for her signature "boop-oop-a-doop" style performed in the same style as Esther Jones did at the Cotton Club in Harlem.
It turns out that in 1928, Helen Kane saw Baby Esther perform at The Cotton Club in Harlem and later appropriated Jones' style into her own act, (which led to commercial success for Kane) Kane's style was so popular that it became associated with her, and also associated with the animated character Betty Boop that was created (initially with Kane serving as a visual reference.) Helen Kane later launched a Lawsuit against Max Fleischer and Paramount Studios, claiming they had appropriated her style for Betty Boop. Fletcher revealed that Baby Esther's performances were the original source of the "boop-oop-a-doop" style. The court ultimately ruled against Kane, acknowledging that her style was inspired by Baby Esther.
This particular article that I read about the history of “the inspiration for Betty Boop” reminded me of Langston Hughes’ poignant reflections and observations of Cultural Appropriation of Black Music that he spoke to in his poem, “Notes On Commercial Theatre” Whose first lines few begin:
“You've taken my blues and gone —
You sing 'em on Broadway
And you sing 'em in the Hollywood Bowl,
And you mixed 'em up with symphonies
And you fixed 'em
So they don't sound like me.
Yep, you done taken my blues and gone”…..
This seems like a very simple story I’m telling about the impetus behind the words and feelings of one the poetic works of Langston Hughes and speculating on the origins of Betty Boop, but in fact, they both involve very complex issues about Artistic Rights, and Appropriations. I’d love to hear your feelings and after you’ve considered, and contemplated them.. Please feel free to comment and share them.
Funny how things come up when you are on a topic. Speaking about Esther Jones, I just found an article in an Ebony Magazine written by Delania Dixon (in April, 2025) which announced the new musical now playing called “Boop”. Here is the announcement from that article.
“'BOOP! THE MUSICAL' IS GIVING ESTHER JONES THE DEFERENCE SHE DESERVES
Jasmine Amy Rogers in Boop!
The musical "BOOP! The Musical" is currently playing at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City. The Broadhurst Theatre is located at 235 W. 44th Street.
**The Musical. Image: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
Well…. After all my talk about wanting to include poems in my Newsletter I’d better include a few. Here is my offering of a few poems for May : a small collection of poems : about young love and not so young love, with a sprinkle of thoughts political ire.
My Cousin Peggy: Last Summer
Last summer,
When we went down home to Nova Scotia
I visited Peggy in Sydney
and she told me bout how she used to
“do it”, standin’ up.
Her Mom, my Aunt Lusie was real strict,
and she’d never allow a boy to
just drop the girls off
like they was trash.
A young man has to walk the girl
to the door
Like a Gentleman.
Then, Peggy says:
We had five minutes
To stand out on the porch
To say good-nite.
In that five minutes she said,
Clayton (that was her new beau,
She called him her Ace-Spoon Coon ),
Clayton would lean back against the porch wall,
lift her up,
and she’d wrap her legs round him.
He’d hold her up
Under her bum with one hand,
and reach up under her crinoline
and pull aside the crotch of her panties with the other.
She’d reach down and open his fly
pull out his “tha-n-g”
and guide it inside.
Then, (Peggy said) he’d kinda throw me up and down
And I’d ride it!
Oh Lord! Oh Lord!
I had to hold one of my hands over my mouth
and keep one hand over his mouth tight!
(So Momma wouldn’t hear us squawkin’ and a groanin’)
We had to hurry!
We only had 5 minutes
before Momma would stick her head out the door and say:
Turn that porch light back on and get in here now, Girl!
After I chose my poems, I considered some of the content and it made me wonder: Is there Banned Poetry in Canada? So, I looked it up and found that The Forbidden passages” Anthology, which includes pieces by authors like Kathy Acker and Dorothy Allison, featured poetry band in Canada due to its LGBTQ + and sexual themes.
The Well, domestic censorship is less frequent, it is still possible under our Canadian criminal code. While outright bans of poetry are uncommon , certain types of publications, are not allowed in Canada.
*****************************
Banned Books : In Canada,
The publication “ The Walrus” penned an article, “Book Banning in Canada Is Quiet, Systemic, and More Effective than Ever. ”.
I think you will find it provocative and rather terrifying considering how we think Canada is so progressive and focused on individual s rights and freedoms. That’s why it is encouraging that we have in Canada an initiative called , “Freedom to Read Week”.
Freedom to Read Week is an annual campaign that encourages Canadians to think about (and reaffirm) their commitment to intellectual freedom.
Penguin random house Canada released a list of some of the most common books bannned and challenged in Canada .
I found it really sad that a small group of people can prevent people from reading arguably some of the greatest novels and true stories ever written. To see some of the that are in the top 15 on the list:
Books banned (include those containing child pornography or hate speech) They are subject to criminal penalties and can be banned from entry into Canada)
In the USA:
PEN America's Index of School Book Bans: Pen America tracks instances of book bans in public schools and libraries across the country, with 15,940 instances recorded since July 2021.
****Some books have been banned from a single anonymous phone call from a (supposed ) concerned parent.
As of April 9, 2025, there isn't a single definitive "2025 book ban list" for the USA, but Pen America and “The American Library Association” are tracking instances of book challenges and bans, with the ALA announcing the theme for Banned Books Week 2025 as "Censorship Is So 1984".
Here's a summary of the current situation:
Increased Challenges: Attempts to ban books in libraries and schools are at an all-time high, with Pen America tracking 10,046 instances of book bans across 29 states and 220 public school districts from July 2023 to June 2024.
Focus on Specific Content: Many challenged books deal with race, gender, sexuality, and LGBTQ+ themes, with books by authors of color, LGBTQ+ authors, and women often targeted. Examples of Challenged Books: Some frequently challenged books include "To Kill a Mockingbird," "The Handmaid's Tale," "1984," "The Grapes of Wrath," and "Fahrenheit 451".
I wanted to Shine a Little Light on-a fantastic new food/restaurant venture in Vancouver to check out: “EKIEE MAMI” That offers AUTHENTIC CAMEROONIAN FLAVORS IN THE HEART OF VANCOUVER (BASED IN BURNABY) one of their Ads asks:
Want that food fresh & on time?
Order BEFORE opening hours to skip the wait!
We cook everything fresh – no shortcuts!
We deliver ALL over Vancouver & Lower Mainland! Here is the link:
p.s. 💥💥. They open fire grill their Fish and Kebobs.
The Eternal Song is a cinematic journey through timeless lands and their Indigenous cultures. Voices from around the world and across generations call us to witness the deep, ongoing scars left by colonization on lands and people, and the healing that comes through ancestral wisdom.
https://theeternalsong.org/
💖💖💖💖💖. “The Eternal Song”: A Global Film Premiere and 7 day gathering to hear stories from 18 Indigenous territories across the world.
🎉🎉🎉. 🌈 🌈. Announcing. The Kelowna Pride Month 2025! 🌈✨️
The theme is “Rise and Resist” , and we are gearing up for a vibrant and powerful celebration running from May 30 - June 30 for Kelowna Pride's first ever Pride Month!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. The finals of the 2025 Superstars Drag Queen Competition were scheduled for May 30 . 💥. I went to the Semi finals this month . It was a blast! So unique, so-fresh, What talent!
Upcoming.
I know we’re just coming into June but like every year our summer is full of festivals and music events so I just wanna give heads up in case you’re planning your summer vacations and summer trips about August.
August is the annual Harbour blues and roots festival. We went the last couple of years with our friends. Bill and Penny your avid Music fans and dancers 🥰. Here is the information. For the FREE EVENTS.
***** Plan your Summer. Get Ready in August for:
The Harbour Blues 'n Roots Festival 2025!
There’s plenty of seating in the bleacher-type stands, and a few benched tables on the ground as well as seating near the back at the grass., where you can catch a little shade.
I bring my lil carry-on cushion because the benches in the bleachers are metal and hard on the butt (if you’re sitting for a long time) .
Here is a list of the Line Up for the ..
Free-to-attend afternoon performances on the outdoor stage at Ship Point Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24
Saturday, August 23:
12pm
TOM LANG BAND
1pm
BLACKFISH
2pm
BILL JOHNSON BAND
3:30pm
DON PETERSON & THE TONE RANGERS
Sunday August 24
12pm
BECKY PROKOVA
1pm
BIG HANK & THE SMOKIN' HOT TOASTERS
2pm
PAUL BLACK BAND
3:30pm
JAMES VICKERS BAND.
Hope you get a chance to go to Victoria for the harbour blues n Roots Festival, in August, 2025.
So…..Take care everyone. Stay positive! Remember to dance, laugh, Love, and spread Joy. I hope you’re not in a region where you’re experiencing forest fires and remind everyone to keep their campfires checked and attendant and if there’s an open fire band at the campsite, remind them it’s imperative to observe the cautions..
One Love ♥️
Thanks for reading This Little Light of Mine: Addena’s Substack! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
As always, your newsletter arrives like a breath of fresh air. You cover a wide variety of topics and you always share some of your beautiful poetry! Thanks for continuing to grace our inboxes monthly, even if it always starts with "Whafban I goung to say?" Sounds like you are busy as ever. Take care. Have a wonderful summer. Miss you!!
As always, your newsletter arrives like a breath of fresh air. You cover a wide variety of topics and you always share some of your beautiful poetry! Thanks for continuing to grace our inboxes monthly, even if it always starts with "Whafban I goung to say?" Sounds like you are busy as ever. Take care. Have a wonderful summer. Miss you!!
Love it!