Bee Quammie
Big Hair. Bigger Mouth. Lover of Words & All Things Fly.
PROJECTS
'83 To Infinity
LOVE BROUGHT US HERE: 'If Beale Street Could Talk' Review
“Love is what brought us here.”
In his introduction at the Toronto International Film Festival world premiere of his latest film, those were the last words Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins (Medicine for Melancholy, Moonlight) uttered before the Princess of Wales Theatre went dark and If Beale Street Could Talk poured over the screen. Repeated again during the film, that short but powerful sentence reminded us all why we—and this movie itself—were here.
byblacks.com
Durham School Board Tests Out Culturally Competent Education Featured
The Durham District School Board launched a new program to help prepare kids for kindergarten—and this summer, they piloted a specific program for Black students. Read on for a first-hand experience of the Great Beginnings program.
FLARE
The Problem With Calling Serena Williams’s Justifiable Anger a “Meltdown”
Serena Williams' US Open confrontation made waves around the globe. Here's why her anger and demands for an apology and for respect were valid.
byblacks.com
AfroChic Raises The Bar Yet Again Featured
Summertime in Toronto is a special thing, largely due in part to the wealth of events that dot our social calendars on a near-weekly basis.
One of those not-to-be-missed events is the AfroChic Cultural Arts Festival, which by all accounts, did not disappoint over its two-day span earlier in July.
FLARE
Bee Quammie: Doug Ford Doesn’t Care About Black People
Ontario’s new premier says he knows how to stop gun violence—but his solutions are fuelled by disdain for the province’s Black communities.
byblacks.com
Why Black Canadian Parents Are Turning To Homeschooling
More and more Black parents are exploring the option of homeschooling their children. Why is this becoming a more appealing choice, and what are some factors to consider if you're thinking of homeschooling?
hazlitt.net
All of Our Names
Throughout the Caribbean and other parts of the diaspora, it's quite common for friends and family members to have nicknames (like "Bunny" or "Tallman") or alternate names (like "Marcia" or "Winston") while their real name goes hidden. Why do we do this? And what do my parents' nicknames mean? I explore the practice in this piece.
FLARE
Ali Wong’s New Special Made Me LOL at Things That Used to Make Me Cry
Finding humour in the ups and downs of motherhood is a survival skill. Ali Wong's newest Netflix comedy special, Hard Knock Wife, serves up real talk and real laughs - and really resonated with me, a fellow mom of two.
Today'sParent
How to feel like yourself again after having a baby
The identity shift that many moms experience after having a baby can be jarring. Here's how to start the process of getting back to who you are.
MacLean's
Your helicopter parenting means you’re privileged
Regardless of parenting style, it's crucial to remember the circumstances and contexts that lead parents to lean one way versus the next. Helicopter parents may see their style as the gold standard, but it's important to assess the ways privilege plays into parenting.
FLARE
Hiring More Models of Colour Isn’t Enough to Fix Fashion’s Diversity Problem
Hiring more Black models and other models of colour is an important step to making the fashion industry more inclusive - but it's not the only necessary step. Read more to see why it's important to ensure there's diversity behind the camera and the runway, too.
locallove.ca
Why Martin Luther King Jr. matters to Black Canadians
On the 50th anniversary of MLK’s death, writer Bee Quammie explains why his words still resonate with Canadians.
Today'sParent
6 things I wish I’d known before getting pregnant
Motherhood is an experience I had wanted for a long time, but there were so many unknowns. Here are some of the things I wished I knew going into mommyhood.
FLARE
It’s High Time That We Start *Actually* Listening to Black Women
FLARE wanted to know what are some of the most pressing issues facing Black women today, for a Black History Month special. Mine? That the world needs to do a better job of actually LISTENING to us.
The Globe And Mail
Mindfulness for children can be a useful tool in a parent’s arsenal
What are the benefits to practicing mindfulness with kids? Many - especially if you're a parent.