This Little Light of Mine:

Addena's August Newsletter

Aug 30, 2024

August Newsletter

Welcome Everyone,

Thank you once again for taking the time come and join me. I hope you are enjoying our times together, and I hope you are liking the Newsletters. Please don’t be shy to leave comments.
Wow, time flew by in August! Did it seem that way for you too? I’m just realizing that soon it will no longer officially be Summer. So.. let me share with you some things that happened in our last month of Summer.

August was busy month. It was packed with celebrations, the last of Pride events, and the last of our summer festivals . It was crazy busy month, because it also included preparing for a big move for us. We moved from Victoria to Kelowna, and let me tell you it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life! Who here realizes how much junk and treasure you accumulate over the years? Well.. if you don’t, when you have to move you most certainly will.

We spent most everyday in July (from morning until we fell into bed exhausted at night) packing to move, and since then, for weeks (ever since we got here) we have been unpacking. Did I mention this whole process involved (mostly Irvin) and me lifting and moving around tons of boxes and bins? Did I mention this move involved: many back aches? Sheer exhaustion everyday? Lots of Painkillers? Scotch on the Rocks? But I digress. Let’s get to some of the fun things. Like…

“August 01 st: Emancipation Day. Year 190” Celebrations 🎉🎉🎉🎶🎶💖💖💖

A day of Multi Media Celebrations at Emily Carr Plaza.

Organized and sponsored by: Valerie D. Walker : Multidisciplinary Artist, BIPOC Educator, Creator, Indigo Griot Artist, and Curator at Emily Carr University Art and Design Department and Mark Takeshi McGregor, a musician and visual artist and Artistic Director of the Queer Arts Festival (QAF) and Pride In Art (PIA)

Additional support for the Emancipation Day Celebration was from Emily Carr University Art and Design Department (ECUAD) and from HAS (for the space)

Their contributions, along with the contributions of the talented Artists and dancers just added to the feelings of unity and power and inclusion, and the sheer magic of the day!

The Days events began with a “Land Acknowledgment”. For those readers who may not know, at the beginning of an event in Canada, a Land Acknowledgements are words offered to pay respect and Honour the true owners of the land we are privileged to live, work, and play on. Vancouver is located on territory that was never ceded, or given up to the Crown by the Musqueam, Squamish, or Tsleil-Waututh peoples.

After the traditional Land Acknowledgement, one of our Storytellers, Siobhan Barker, gave the background and history for her offering of an Ancestral Acknowledgement song for our African Ancestors. She accompanied her song/ chant with a small hand rattle/drum. The ceremonial tribute was so moving. I had never seen an African Ancestral Acknowledgement performed before… I cried!

It was a really fabulous day, a joyous day featuring collaborations of Art: Visual Art, Poetry and Storytelling, Music, Vogueing. It also included dancing, and lots laughter.

The day was a rare opportunity to join together as allies and speak about the many truths of our, and our ancestors lives. Truths about the decades of erasure of BIPOC’s public lives, their histories, their extraordinary talents, and their service and contributions to our country.

One of the greatest things for me was on this Emancipation Day was that I had the opportunity to do a Poetry and Storytelling Presentation with my daughter, “Sumter” (April Lois Sumter-Freitag) who is a brilliant Speaker, Storyteller, Poet, and Filmmaker.

As a group, we spoke about how, after decades of racism and injustice, how encouraging it is that the need and reasons for Anti-Racist education, and Anti discrimination for LGBTQ+ peoples are beginning to be understood and accepted. Anti Black Racism initiatives and Combating Homophobia and Transphobia work are beginning to be regarded as non-threatening initiatives aimed at fostering understanding and respect. Most people understand they don’t have to feel and react defensively about this work, and have learned that Education about these issues is not designed to place blame or shame on anyone. It is just designed to promote inclusive history, share truths, and promote acceptance of people who may be different than you, and as a result of that they’ve had different experiences in, and from, society than you have.

We experienced fabulous Art and video shows in the “Integrated Art Space”. The room was lit up with colourful hanging lights and had stations all around the room displaying different Visual Art. Valerie D. Walker (whose Art we have featured in issues of This Little Light of Mine Newsletter) even had several pieces of her fascinating Indio Grio panels draped and hanging in various areas of the space.

The Emancipation Day 190 organizers booked a super cool D.J., and there was some help from a couple of fantastic sound Techies. We shared spoken words, watched excitingly spectacular Voguing, and 🎶🎶🎶 Did I say we all danced! And we laughed, and we were treated to fabulously innovative food (like Wild Mushroom Rotis)! There also put out trays of fruit and Veggies, and baked goods, all donated by Siobhan Barker from Community Care- Hogan’s Alley Society! Mmmm mmmn .

Can you imagine? I just wish you could’a been there. Hopefully next year. 💖💖

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Another exciting Event in August was “Da’ Luv James Festival and Book Fair” in Vancouver held at The Black Library at Sun Wah Centre.

I was invited by Lincoln Thorne (aka Linx) founder and Executive Director of “Fade to Black Entertainment Society” (1998) to take part in this exciting event and offer a presentation in this celebration of Da’ Luv James Book Festival”. Lincoln said that for the Vancouver Black Library Book Festival organizers and he, would love for me to discuss my book "Back in the Days," covering its history, the rebirth from the past to the present day, and the forward-thinking subject matter. He asked me to explore key features of the book, share what was the catalyst for writing the book, and provide commentary, considering how "Back in the Days" replicates some of the same generational tensions that affect us today.

The event was held at Vancouver Black Library #072-288 Keefer St. upstairs in China Town’s Sun Wah Centre, which is close to the historically displaced Black neighbourhood of Hogan’s Alley. The Vancouver Black Library was founded by Maya Preshyon in 2022. Maya Preshyon is the executive Director of The Vancouver and Black library, which is a completely volunteer-run venture.

The Library was founded, in part, because many visitors to Vancouver don’t see many Black people, and there is no specific Black Community for them to visit like in other cities they may travel to. There is also no specific places or resources for them to go to learn about the long History of Blacks in B.C. or to access books written by black authors. The city of Vancouver is sorely lacking in hubs for the BIPOC community and the idea for this library was and effort to connect Black people, and connect people who want to know about the Canadian Black culture literature, and music. It is a safe space for students, as well as adults to read, and study, and access information to resources and events that may interest them. It is also the perfect place to offer your services as a volunteer or Mentor and meet and engage with BIPOC community members.

The library space is upstairs in one of the Art Studio space rooms. Take the elevator to get up to it and follow the long, winding, Blue line on the floor to find it. If you get lost, ask anyone up there you see. 😊 It is quite a large room and can also used as a venue. You can do a Google search for “photos of Vancouver Black Library” to see more of the space and set up, and you can check their Facebook Page for current information and upcoming activities

Fade To Black Entertainment Society was founded with the vision of highlighting the educational and other contributions and talents of the Afro diaspora, by sharing the fascinating stories and legacies we have here in Canada. Fade to Black Entertainment Society, is a non-profit society, and because they are a Nonprofit Society, much of their funding comes from community people, grants, out-of-pocket expenses, Visa, donations, and in-kind contributions. This event was a two-day Fundraiser for the Society. The society also highlights Filmmakers Of Colour with their (reimagined) Vancouver Black Independent Film Festival, (VBIFF). Most recently they organized the longest running Black music festival with their Black Music Month Vancouver (BMMV).

This Du Luv James Book Festival’s goal for this year’s celebration event was to showcase and give representation and recognition to our very neglected literary community. The festival did that by celebrating stories, fiction and nonfiction, that encompass all things African related, from oral tradition, to education, and knowledge. The two day Line-up of Presenters, (that I posted in July Newsletter) included: Historians, (talking about James Douglas and the Canadian Black pioneers), author readings, and presentations followed by Q &A sessions led by the amazing, brilliant and dynamic MC, Michelle St. Hill.

Da’ Luv Book Festival also featured Musicians, and Comedians. Also included in the Lineup was a really fun Etiquette Classes geared toward the youth of the African Diaspora. The festival also had sessions on: African headwear, hats, linguistics, languages, and Patois. I think one of the most unique and exciting Vancouver Black Library event for that festival was a reading Book A Thon for youth.

Did I mention all the great music? Did I mention he Craft Tables sent up (outside the library) with African woven baskets and mats, hand-crafted fans? Oooooh, don’t let me forget to mention the handmade Jewellery designed by: Valerie@Damba Designs. Please check them out Online.

I brought some fabulously unique Earnings from them for Christmas presents. Although … I may keep them for myself. 😊 ….. And there was free food y’all 💖 donated by. Fade to Black Entertainment and Community Care - Hogan’s Alley Society).

Those 2 days of Da’ Luv Festival and Book Fair were a blast. Honestly, I was so impressed at all the work Lincoln and everyone involved did, and I was grateful for all the support and involvement/sharing from the attendees. I happily donated 2 copies of each of my books to the library to add to their collection.

After my reading and Q&A discussions lead by Michelle St. Hill, I had quite a few book sales. I think it was because I chose a variety poems and stories for my reading that started with, “ Name”, a poem about Slavery, which was the beginning of our Canadian history, and went through our historical and family experiences since then until these present days. I read the poem, “My Daddy was a Porter”, and “He Knew”, (which was a story of my Dad’s experiences with violence and racism growing up in the USA’s South), and I read a poem about the confusion of a young girl by complicated relationship between the Africans (who immigrated to Canada) and the Canadian community, in a poem entitled “ I Am Your Sister, I Am Your Child”.

I hoped the audience there would find my poems and stories identifiable, and unique, find them funny, and provocative. I think I hit it on the mark. They Laughed, they cried.

Throughout the readings, stories, poetry, presentations, and comedy, ,we shared facts about our Canadian history and our personal experiences, and we took a look at how some racist and inequitable policies that were written and enforced in Canada mirrored some of the racism and Jim Crow Laws and policies enforced in the USA. One particular discussion gave a reminder of the racist and enforced bans against Black people in swimming pools, in Canada, ( yes, even here in Vancouver B.C.) Those same racist bans were also extended to Aboriginal people, Chinese people and Japanese people, living here as well.

Those talks brought to mind all the old myths and clichés about Black people, like:

-Black can’t swim.

-Black people can’t float.

-The reason Black people can’t swim is because their bones are denser, than white peoples bones.

-Blacks people can’t swim, because, as the descendants of slaves forced here across the oceans stowed in the bottom of ships, Blacks have a genetic fear of bring in or near water.

Sadly, I could go on and on, but I’m sure you’ve heard those myths and dozens of others as well.

It is those particular myths I spoke of above that inspired me to write this poem:

“Once I Could Swim”

Once I could swim

Genetically

It was my Heritage

And I lived by the Sea

And swam by the Coasts of Ivory.

Once I could swim

Genetically

It was my Heritage

Before I arrived here

Before I took my last baths in the Assin Manso Slave River

Before you bound and gagged me and fastened me down in your boats.

Despite the myths you perpetuate,

Once I could swim

Genetically

It was my Heritage

Before segregation and Jim Crow destroyed my form

And your practice of lynching us from bridges

Made over, and near water, a place I did not want to be.

Yet Once I could swim

Stroke

Powerfully,

Skillfully

Masterfully,

Loving being at one with the water

Its caresses giving me Joy

Power

Freedom

That’s why you worked with surgical precision

To take that all away.

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Well I’m gonna leave you now. Its after 2:00 a.m. but I really wanted to get this published. I’m not even going to whine and curse the heavens and wail because it took me days and days to write this! This is my 4th attempt. Same old story… I’d almost finish writing it all and inserting the photos and then Poof!! the whole damn thing would disappear and I’d have to start over again. My photos had to be moved to three different places before I could access them to save them to insert them. It drove me mad!! But you know me… I never give up. Someday, I’ll learn how to use a computer efficiently (for something other than a Word doc program). Cross your fingers for me. 😊

Addena

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Don’t forget to Check our my books on my Website: addenasumterfreitag.com

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Last but not least: I Gotta Shine A Little Light on my friend, Sidney Shipara from Winnipeg who sent out an announcement: “Greetings, dear friends in the poetry community. I am pleased to announce that Beyond the Gate/Poetry and Photography by Doug Jordan and Sidney Shapira (FriesenPress, 2024) is now available from the FriesenPress Bookstore.

I would greatly appreciate any help you can give us to create some buzz about the book. If you plan to purchase a copy, buying it now from the FriesenPress Bookstore would help us get FriesenPress Bestseller status. Please share this email and the link, below, with anyone whom you think would love our book. Thanks so much for your support. Cheers.

Sidney Shapira: Poet and Photographer Beyond the Gate/Poetry and Photography” sidshapira60@gmail.com