The Snake Under The Grass: Why Black History Month?

By: Ben Kwashigah

As Black History Month draws to a close, you may wonder why we even honour this annual observance. I mean, black people aren’t slaves anymore, we can vote, one of us is even a president! Yes, our society has progressed a lot since the 1960’s and does (most of the time) reject blatant racism, but what about when it’s hidden behind subtlety? In Ghana, there’s a saying that the snake under the grass is more threatening than the snake on the tree. You can see the snake on the tree and deal with it accordingly (fight it, or run away), but, you can’t escape from the snake under the grass. It kills you before you even see it. Modern day racism
exists similarly to this.

For most of our lives, we’ve been taught that racism is prejudice and discrimination based on one’s race. It is. But it’s much more complex than that. The expanded definition of racism recognizes that it is systemic, institutional, and normalized within our culture. It’s covert, and like the snake under the grass, it can be more sinister. In the form of profiling, racism can become deadly, as seen by the tragic and unnecessary deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, and countless other black men and women. But don’t fool yourself into thinking covert racism is just an American problem - it’s a Canadian one as well. In 2009, researchers doctored 6000 fake resumés, all with the same experience, to 2000 job postings in the GTA. They found that resumés with English names such as “John Smith” were 40 percent more likely to be offered an interview than names such as “Sana Khan”. In a study done in 2012, it was found that a Canadian man who was a part of a visible minority earns 18 percent less than a Canadian white man. In a report done by the Correctional Investigator of Canada, black inmates were discovered to be “over-represented in maximum security and segregation, incur a disproportionate number of institutional charges, and are more likely to be involved in use of force incidents.” Racism is alive, well, and existing in our own backyards.

Racism also creeps its way into our entertainment. For example, the movie Exodus: Gods and Kings, which takes place in Egypt (in Africa), is made up of a primarily white cast (except for the slaves, of course). Even the Great Sphinx of Giza was altered to have more “European” features. At the Oscars, all 20 of the acting nominations were white, with 94 percent of the Academy being white. Looking through other movies and TV shows, it becomes hard to find adequate minority representation. Why is that?

All in all, racism is an issue that still exists today. There are multitudes of issues that affect black people, and other people of colour, right here Canada. That’s why Black History Month is important. We must recognize that certain groups of people are oppressed, while other groups benefit from this oppression. After all, the snake under the grass is more dangerous than the snake on the tree.

Black History Month Celebrity Profile

By: Julio Balda

Throughout this century, black men and women have been dominating both politically and musically. Constantly in the news, black people now have a voice through means of others. A few of these many successful people are mentioned in the following article.

Barack Obama, the first ever black president, is one of the most liked politicians and influential people in the world. He continues to support strong causes such as gay marriage, and equality.

An amazing philanthropist, producer, and talk show host, Oprah Winfrey is a well-known household name! Most known for her talk-show The Oprah Winfrey Show, (one of the highest-rated programs in history), she has also written six books, and is one of the richest black people in North America.

Constantly talked about in media, Beyoncé is not a stranger to anyone. She has had five number one hit albums, is a successful actress starring in The Pink Panther as well as Obsessed, and made jaws drop in 2014 when she suddenly released an album without knowledge or promotion for it, which caused a huge wave in the media.

The talented Kevin Hart never ceases to amuse people and make them die of laughter. One of the biggest names in comedy at the moment, he’s hosted many award shows, such as the MTV VMAs, BET Awards, and many others. Hart has also won many awards himself, including Best Actor in a Comedy Series for the NAACP Image Awards, as well as Best Actor for the BET Awards in 2012, and other amazing awards.

Both the newest face for Lancome and named Woman of the Year by Glamour Magazine, Lupita Nyong’o has rapidly become one of the most loved actresses in the world. She starred in the award winning movie, 12 Years a Slave, and received an Oscar for her amazing and captivating performance. Nyong’o is the first black spokeswoman for Lancome, which is monumental. She was featured as the cover girl for the UK’s Dazed & Confused Magazine, as well as on Vogue. She is set to star in Queen of Katwe, a biopic portraying the rise of a young African chess prodigy.
 
Over the last couple of years black men and women have taken the entertainment world by storm, whether it’s through politics, music, or other forms of media. Black men and women have always been and always will be great leaders and influential people, despite being in a white oriented world.