Issue 14  February 9th 2023

The Business of Art: I recently attended the 9th annual RISE Edutainment Summit. The event's aim was to bridge the gap between emerging and professional artists. Speaking with Randell Adjei @randelladjei, who is the Executive and Creative Director of R.I.S.E (Reaching Intelligent Souls Everywhere), he repeatedly references words like community, healing, inclusive, and safe space talking about the organization's mission. Adjei means what he says and is also an accomplished author, speaker, and Ontario's 1st Poet Laureate from Toronto.

At the RISE Summit, I met Desiree Mckenzie @desireemckenzie and Spoken By T @spokenbyt, two rising stars based in Toronto, who are spoken word poets and artists.

I asked them about their experiences with microaggressions.

Interview: Desiree McKenize was ranked among the top three poets in Canada at the 2020 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam. Her first EP of spoken word, WET HAIR, is available on Bandcamp and other streaming platforms. Desiree performed the poem, "The Canada no one wants to believe exists", calling for racial justice after the global racial justice protests that followed George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis in May 2020.

SF: What's been your experience of microaggressions growing up in Toronto?

Des: Being told I'm well-spoken/smarter than a person thought when doing something very basic/something that I wouldn't be underqualified for (this would happen a lot in school).

SF: How did you handle this incident? What do you do to maintain good mental health?

Des: "In those moments, I didn't know what to do. For a long time, I would just take it as a compliment/acceptance but now I understand how it can be backhanded for racialized folks, especially when said in an overly enthusiastic/ patronizing way. Now I would handle it by addressing it with the person, and stating how it can be received (in some cases this is harder than others, but I'm working on it!)"

"Writing poetry is a huge outlet for me and spending time with people who have similar experiences to me to be affirmed in my feelings - also discovering new music!"

SF: How do you deal with negative online haters or trolls leaving hurtful and negative comments on social media?

Des: “I personally have never really dealt with them but the way I would try to view it if I did is to try to understand that while it hurts, you have to remember the mission you’re on and what you stand for, which I would imagine, doesn’t include time to spew hate or respond to people who do on the internet.”

“Try your best to focus on those who empower and uplift your work - but most of all, people who will respectfully question it/give feedback in a well mannered and appropriate way.”

Interview: Spoken By T @spokenbyt in early February performed at Mayor John Tory’s annual Black History Month Reception and recently sold out her first self-curated show at The Drake Underground.

SF: What was your experience with microaggressions growing up in Toronto?

Spoken By T: "Due to the fact that I am of mixed race, I’ve experienced a multitude of racist and microaggressions over the years, a lot of them alluding to my “lack” of blackness and being “too white”. The most common ones I’ve experienced that have sat with me for a long time is colour blindness and being limited to someone who isn’t of colour, due to my pigmentation, hair texture and ethnic background. I’ve been told an abundance of times by members from all races & communities that I’m not black, or black enough, and that I know nothing about black culture because my mother is white."

"While the list can extend to assumed criminality amongst myself and my friends, as well as the comments relating to being loud “because I’m black”, which in retrospect is contradictory to the other side of microaggressions I do face, the long-lasting ones regarding my skin tone and ethnic background and “quality” has impacted me and shaped the way I view myself in a poorer light."

SF: How did you handle this incident? What do you do to maintain good mental health?

Spoken By T: "Depending on the nature of the comment and the tone in which it’s said, I often laugh it off to avoid controversy or confrontation because truly at the end of the day, that’s easier. I find myself to be more of an advocate against comments like these when they’re directed outwardly towards my friends or people I’m surrounded by.

Over the years, I’ve become accepting of the reality that you can’t control anyone but yourself so in that, I find comfort in letting those who think ignorantly, to eventually learn on their own path. It’s not my job to educate every time I’m hurt, I’d rather spend my time healing."

SF: How do you deal with negative online haters or trolls leaving hurtful and negative comments on social media?

Spoken By T: I definitely just ignore them! Anyone who spends time antagonizing someone behind a screen does not have the strength or level of maturity to address it in person. It’s a waste of time & energy to consume myself with anything negative coming toward me in that fashion.

Wrap-up: Talking with Spoken By T and Desiree Mckenzie made me wonder where their strength comes from, despite experiencing their share of racial trauma and setbacks. They're undaunted, driven, focused, and hungry. I think adversity speeds up self-awareness and a need to find belonging in sisterhood, and communities like R.I.S.E. for these creators. Healing is an important benefit that comes from stubbornly pursuing your craft. What this means is that you should follow them because they're going places!