%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |  A blog for all things personal, informational, educational, and fun. |
|
Here at my personal blog Thoughts & Things, I share a wide variety of, you guessed it, thoughts and things. Anything that sparks my interest is up for discussion. For those who are uncertain of what that might cover, I'll generally talk about reading, writing, books, movies, music, games, history, current events, and feminism. I talk about my personal emotional and health struggles from time to time. I'm also a big fan of lists. This is the place here at WDC where you can get to know me best, as I talk about the things that interest me, impact me, and amuse me. |
| Ever since I was a little kid, I have been into the notion of girl power. I can't seem to help myself. I think it's because I was a huge Spice Girls fan as a child. Being a little girl in the nineties definitely gave me more exposure to the concept of girl power. Maybe it's that my mother is a feminist too. Honestly, it could just be that as a girl I felt a lack of a certain sense of power, and girl power gave me that feeling of power that I hadn't had before. Regardless, girl power is my thing. As a kid, that meant that I liked a lot of girl groups (anything from the Spice Girls to Destiny's Child), and a lot of books, TV, and movies that featured brave or strong or smart girls. Hermione was one of my favourite characters in anything I ever read or watched, particularly given that I was a child who loved school. Anne of Green Gables was one of my early Canadian loves. The Paperbag Princess was probably one of the first girl power books I ever read--the princess tosses on a paperbag outfit, slays the dragon by outsmarting it, saves the prince, and then dumps him because he's a jerk. I was a bit of a tomboy, so you couldn't rope me in with anything inherently "girly" but if it was girl power, I was sold. As an adult, I'm still into girl power. This isn't something I truly realised until recently. I'm still sold on girl groups that are pro girl power (I can't get enough of Little Mix). Whether it is meant for adults or children, I will check out any TV or movie that centres girls or women. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is one of the best children's shows to come out in recent years, and almost all of the main characters are unique and strong girls; Jessica Jones getting her own TV show and Wonder Woman getting revived rank among the best cinematic superhero news I could get; things like Ms Marvel, Captain Marvel, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl, Spider-Gwen, etc, being out there is some of the top comic news in recent years. Girl power thrills me. I still feel as if I am being inspired and influenced by other strong women. I know that it seems corny, and it seems especially corny now that I'm an adult, but I'm not sure I care. (I have committed to blogging daily with Give It 100. This is Day Five.) |
| Up until a couple of years ago, I didn't really write any reviews for the things I read. I am an active user of Goodreads, so I would rate the books I read, but I never actually bothered to review them. I wrote a couple reviews for a few items I particularly loved or hated, but not much else. Towards the end of 2014, I started reviewing everything I read. It actually started for a really selfish reason. I was entering a lot of giveaways on Goodreads, and I actually found out that you're more likely to win books if you have a profile with a lot of activity, particularly lots of reviews. (By the way, I have won two of their giveaways since I started reviewing all of the books I read.) Now that I have gotten into the habit, I realise there are a lot of reasons that I enjoy the reviews, and I feel like they're incredibly beneficial to myself and others. I feel like I connect with other readers on Goodreads, and feel more part of the community as a whole, when I share my reviews. I know that I end up having more conversation with other readers when I am initiating those conversations in the form of reviews. I also feel like I get to contribute in some small way to the decisions people might make in what books to read or not. Knowing that I have even the smallest bit of influence feels really nice, and it's pretty wonderful to be able to share the things I love with other people who might love them too. As a reader, I also feel like I get a lot more out of my reading because of the reviews I write. Because I'm thinking more critically about the things I read, I feel like I've ended up forming a stronger bond to some books that I connected with on a deeper level. Now that I am thinking about the reasons why I like or dislike certain aspects, I less often have the nagging feeling of "I don't know why I liked/disliked that, I just did." As a writer, I feel like reviewing everything I read has been immensely beneficial to me. I am more inclined to notice specifics of what I like or dislike in a genre, plot, style, and this allows me to apply those specifics to my own writing. Actively reviewing every time I finish a book means that I am guaranteed to do a little bit of writing on a semi-regular basis, which helps to keep me in practice. I also believe it makes me a better reviewer here at WDC. I have been trying to write more reviews here because I finally feel like I have more commentary that might be of value than I did before. I'm more confident in my reviews here, and I feel like I can be more helpful now that I am more practiced. I highly recommend taking up reviewing everything you read. I have grown so much (as a person, a reader, and a writer) since I started doing this. The longer I do it, the less effort it takes to do regularly, as I have developed a format that works for me. Taking a few minutes to review the books I would be reading anyway has paid off more than I ever expected it to. (I have committed to blogging daily with Give It 100. This is Day Four.) |
As a follow up to my previous blog entry, "Top Five Disney Villain Songs"  , I have decided to present my personal ranking of the singing voices of the Disney princesses. Disney music can be absolutely irresistible, and the voices of the princesses is part of what makes that music so irresistible. The most memorable princess songs tend to be sung by the most memorable voices. This list is as much about my personal favourites as the previous list was. Please note: I have included Anna, Elsa, and Moana, even though they are not officially "Disney Princesses," and I have not included Merida, even though she is a Disney Princess. 12. Adriana Caselotti (Snow White) I don't have much of a soft spot for Snow White. I enjoyed it well enough as a child, and I fully understand its significance to history and to film. It's just not one of those ones that has really stayed with me into adulthood. I do wonder if it has something to do with Adriana Caselotti's voice. She isn't a bad singer, and I would never try to say as much. Her vocal stylings don't really stand the test of time, and they just aren't something I have any particular fondness for. Something about it rubs me the wrong way, and I couldn't say what. 11. Ilene Woods (Cinderella) Honestly, this one is almost the same as with Snow White. I have no real fondness for Ilene Woods' voice, or for Cinderella as a whole. I don't find her voice grating, but it's simply forgettable to me. While the original Disney princesses helped to set the mould for what Disney princesses should be and sound like, I genuinely don't think that they offered up any sort of perfection in that until further into the Disney films. 10. Mandy Moore (Rapunzel) I really enjoy Tangled, and I have nothing against Mandy Moore's voice. She sings all of the songs in Tangled just right, and I don't really have any complaints. We've reached the part of the list where the singers are "just there." I don't love them, but I have zero complaints, and they sound exactly as they should. 9. Kristen Bell (Anna) Kristen Bell falls into the same category as Mandy Moore. She sings her songs just right, but nothing stands out completely to me, at least in regards to her singing. I think she might have ranked slightly higher if I had any real fondness for her songs. Do You Want To Build a Snowman is great, but it's the only one of her songs from Frozen that I particularly adore. 8. Jodi Benson (Ariel) Jodi Benson has a lovely voice, and it fits the role of Ariel really well. Unfortunately, I would necessarily say Ariel is one of my favourite princesses. I think it's a sign of adulthood setting in, but her whole "but daddy, I love him" argument just sits as a whiny teenager thing for me. I want to send her to her room and tell her she's grounded or something. Some of her songs are indeed beautiful, although my favourite tune from The Little Mermaid is the villain song. 7. Mary Costa (Aurora) Mary Costa has an enchanting voice that brings a touch of opera to Disney, which is quite lovely to hear. "Once Upon a Dream" is one of those songs that has stuck with me into adulthood. I always have to sing along, and then it gets stuck in my head. Costa's rendition of it will likely always be how I hear the song in my head. It's also worth noting that out of the early Disney princess films, Sleeping Beauty is my favourite by a long shot. 6. Idina Menzel (Elsa) Idina Menzel is one of those singers that you can't quite imagine in Disney, despite her lovely voice, but once it happens it works anyway. Her voice is incredibly unique, which works well with the role of Elsa, as she is a unique character. It was fantastic to hear a Disney princess type character belt it out like she's on a Broadway stage. Honestly, one of my biggest complaints is a result of having heard Menzel sing the song live, and not quite live up to expectations. 5. Paige O'Hara (Belle) Belle's introductory song in Beauty and the Beast is probably my favourite example of Paige O'Hara's angelic voice. She has one of those voices that is simply made for Disney. Her high notes fill my heart with joy and wonder. (And yes we have reach joy and wonder by the middle of the list, I love Disney princess movies, what of it). Beauty and the Beast will always have a special place in my heart because I relate to Belle the most, and Paige O'Hara filled this role perfectly. In fact, I loved the live action remake, and thought Emma Watson was the perfect Belle, but I did miss O'Hara's voice. 4. Auli'i Cravalho (Moana) While Moana is still quite new to already be among my favourites for villain songs AND princess songs, the fantastic soundtrack absolutely justifies this opinion. Auli'i Cravalho does the soundtrack complete justice. I never would have expected such a beautiful voice to come out of someone so young, but she beyond exceeded my expectations. Cravalho deserves a career on Broadway if she wants one. 3. Judy Kuhn (Pocahontas) We have reached the point of the list that displays some of my biases. Judy Kuhn was amazing as the singing voice of Pocahontas. Colours of the Wind is a beautiful song, and Just Around the River Bend is one of the most underrated Disney princess songs out there. That said, I adore Kuhn's voice outside of her singing in Pocahontas. She is probably my favourite of the actresses who have played Cosette in Les Miserables. That said, I think her skill in general, and the way she performed this particular soundtrack, justify her position so high on the list. It's also worth noting that she gets a lot more singing time than some of the other princesses on the list. 2. Anika Noni Rose (Tiana) The Princess and the Frog doesn't really rank among my favourite Disney movies. Anika Noni Rose is the absolute best thing about the entire film. Her voice is flawless and effortless, and she sings the bluesy style to perfection. She has the kind of voice that we don't really hear in Disney princesses, but that we definitely should be hearing. I haven't heard her sing anything else, but I want to. 1. Lea Salonga (Mulan and Jasmine) Lea Salonga takes the number one spot for me with ease, and for several reasons. I am completely biased in her favour. I don't think I've heard her do anything I didn't love (Eponine and Fantine in Les Miserables, Kim in Miss Saigon, Kei Kimura in Allegiance), and I enjoy hearing her renditions of any pop or show tune. Even with my adoration of her work aside, Salonga manages to sound fantastic as the singing voice of two Disney princesses, rather than only one. If angels are real, they sing like Lea Salonga. She has the perfect tone and technique to sing just about anything. Her voice has aged like a fine wine, and she sounds flawless singing Reflection or A Whole New World, even decades after their original releases. She still performs them live to perfection, and even gives live performances of other Disney princess songs. (I have committed to blogging daily with Give It 100. This is Day Three.) |
| I love Disney music. Really, who doesn't? I think most of us who grew up watching Disney films have a special place in our hearts for the songs that came along with it. That said, I think many of us can agree that villain songs are often some of the bast songs Disney has offered up to us. I am writing this blog post to share my absolute favourites. I would like to note that this list would have been up about 12 hours ago, but I could have sworn I had a sixth favourite in the middle of this list, and I couldn't think of it. It will continue to drive me bonkers. 5. Shiny Shiny is the villain song of Tamatoa (voiced by Jemaine Clement) in Moana. It's the newest of the Disney musicals, so Shiny gets ranked at the bottom of my list. I could see it eventually moving up once it has more time to be firmly cemented on this list. What I love about this song is that rather than tell us how evil he is, Tamatoa tells us how beautiful and stylish he is. He shows us how evil he is in the song, simply by his pursuit of all things beautiful. When I saw this at the movies with my sister, we were both bobbing our heads and laughing hysterically, and I knew it would make my favourite Disney villain songs right away. 4. Hellfire Hellfire is the villain song of Judge Frollo (voiced by Tony Jay) in Hunchback of Notre Dame. When this was new, I didn't have a full appreciation for it. I was a child, and it's a very serious song. As an adult it is one of my favourites. The somber choral music moves from angelic to satanic before the song is out. Frollo sings of how Esmeralda is a temptress, and blames the devil for his attraction for her. He eventually comes to the conclusion that he must destroy the object of his desire to save himself from sin. This is pure evil, and all the more unsettling because men like this truly exist. Musically, it's beautiful and unique. Lyrically, it is one of Disney's darkest songs. 3. Poor Unfortunate Souls Poor Unfortunate Souls is the villain song of Ursula (voiced by Pat Carroll) in The Little Mermaid. Ursula is absolutely up front in this song, as she tells Ariel exactly what she wants from her, and exactly what she plans to do to her in the end. She even admits exactly what she thinks of her victims. This is one of the most honest Disney villain songs ever sung to a hero/heroine. Besides being completely honest, the song is also incredibly catchy, and wonderfully sung by Pat Carroll. Poor Unfortunate Souls also offers an excellent sense of humour. Ursula's expression are a delight to watch, and her tone of voice as she sings about "body language" is unforgettable. 2. Mother Knows Best Mother Knows Best is the villain song of Mother Gothel (voiced by Donna Murphy) in Tangled. This song is disturbing for an unconventional reason. Mother Gothel absolutely reflects the sentiments of real life abusive parents, as she sings to Rapunzel, not about how evil she is, but about how she's trying to protect her. If you watch this one closely, you can notice that any time Mother Gothel expresses affection for Rapunzel, she is singing directly to her hair. Donny Murphy was perfect in this role, and the pure motherly drama is displayed to perfection. Despite its sinister nature, you can't help but laugh as Mother Gothel sings of cannibals or the plague. 1. Gaston Gaston is the villain song of Gaston (voiced by Richard White) in Beauty and the Beast. Gaston takes the number one spot for me for a number of reasons. As a villain, Gaston is rather an unlikely character. Men like Gaston are often the hero rather than the villain. The song is not initiated by Gaston himself, but rather by his close friend Le Fou. It has nothing to do with evil deeds, thoughts, or plans. This is a villain song that exists to tell you exactly why the villain is so great. This song is an amazing demonstration of exactly the kind of vanity and narcissism that lurks behind Gaston's facade, and behind the facades of many people you would never suspect were capable of murder. This song is also probably the funniest villain song ever made (as I'm sure you can tell, I have a soft spot for funny villain tunes). Gaston sings of how he eats five dozen eggs a day, uses antlers in all his decorating, and is "especially good at expectorating." I am especially fond of the moment he proclaims "every last inch of me's covered with hair," opens his shirt, and winks at the audience, a moment I never really noticed as a child. (I have committed to blogging daily with Give It 100. This is Day Two.) |
| I felt alright for most of the day. A little under the weather, but not really anything out of the ordinary. That said, as the day has progressed, I have become more and more anxious about what kind of day tomorrow will be. I have doctors' appointments to attend, important phone calls to make, a sick relative to visit, and an outing with friends at the end of it all. Busy days scare me. I have a deep fear of anything going wrong with the doctors' appointments or phone calls, and even more afraid that by the time the visit and the outing happen I will feel too unwell to get any enjoyment out of them. Of course the stress makes sleep difficult, which means I likely won't get enough of it, which means I am more likely to be wilting by the time I get to the enjoyable part of my day. This vicious cycle seems to follow me everywhere I go. If I'm not anxious about the present, I am anxious about the future, and the anxiety causes me to lose sleep, resulting in a reason to feel anxious. I've always had the feeling of impending doom over any sort of important tasks to come, and actually having health issues only makes that worse. Of course, the anxiety makes it difficult to relax using the things that would relax me when I don't feel anxious, like reading a book or watching a movie. It's all a matter of waiting for it to pass, which means sucking it up for now I guess. Sucking it up is hardly the best anxiety suggestion, but it's all I have right now. I do have a song that I relate to heavily. Nighttime by Sammus. It's incredibly relatable for me, and it's easy to just listen to on repeat until I fall asleep. The lyrics open as follows: Hey brain We should talk About some things We’re on the rocks I wish I didn’t get so Goddamn crippled by anxiety We should get a grip over that side of me I’m tryna see Cuz maybe if we could then I’d be brighter than Hermione Or maybe do more good work as a writer like Queen Ida B I tell you to resolve to take on more than we can do But when I drop the ball, it’s weird; I’m sorta mad at you Display a horrid attitude Throw shade as hard as Lakitus But I’m just scared of all the thoughts you’ll share With no more to fat to chew (I have committed to blogging daily with Give It 100. This is Day One.) |
| When I was a little kid, I was quite fond of comic books. I was happy to pick up the latest Simpsons or superhero release off of the shelves at the newsstand or off the magazine rack at Walmart. As long as it was exciting or funny, and easy to read, I was content to pick them up every now and then. As I got into my teens, I wanted to get more involved in some of the stories I came across, but so many of the stories were so far in, that I simply couldn't become immersed. All of this changed in 2014. I had already entered my twenties, but the interest in comics from my childhood had never fully faded for me. I worked at a large bookstore with a substantial graphic novel section that I would often end up needing to shelve books in. I recall many instances of my eyes being caught by beautiful art, intriguing blurbs, and numbers on the spine indicating it was the beginning of a story I might want to experience. It was when I worked at the bookstore that I found the comic that changed everything. I was sorting comics to be shelved, and I kept coming across the first trade paperback volume of a comic that looked incredibly beautiful. The front cover featured a couple; a man with horns, and a woman with wings. The woman held a baby in one arm, breastfeeding the child, and holding a pistol in the other hand, while the man held a sheathed blade. Despite the subtle colouring and the white background, the cover absolutely jumped out at me. The art was some of the most beautiful comic art I had seen, and the subject on the front cover was eye catching. I would find myself flipping through the art on occasion, admiring the sheer beauty of it. Eventually I went into the store during open hours (I worked the night shift), and hunted down the book. I had shelved it personally so I knew where to look. The title of the series is Saga, so it was shelved with the S titles. Written by Brian K. Vaughn and art by Fiona Staples. The blurb was fascinating, but I was still trying to decide if I wanted it. I was almost positive until the man working in that section came over to talk to me about it. He told me it was one of the best current comics out there, and that it was best summed up as Romeo and Juliet meets Star Wars, but written in such a way that you care about every character, including the 'bad guys.' This had me completely sold. The decision was made. From the actual first page of this series, I was hooked. It was one of those occasions where I felt as though I had found something written just for me. It is still genuinely my favourite series. Not only did this rekindle my enjoyment of comics, it honestly fostered a love for comics I had never experienced growing up. Since reading Saga, I have read many other comics series, and genuinely enjoyed most of what I have read. I have read graphic memoirs and graphic novels, and followed many comic series from beginning to end. A slight enjoyment as a child eventually brought me to my perfect match as an adult, and I fell in love with a whole new medium of literary art. I found whole new publishers that hooked me, stories I never otherwise would have learned, art I never would have otherwise seen. Comics make me feel connected to the world in many small ways. Saga is not my only favourite comic, but it will likely always remain number one in my heart. Any series that leads me to the love I feel now, will always be special for me. And for anyone reading this post who has not read Saga: I cannot recommend it enough. |
| I genuinely think making lists is an absolute blast. Anyone who has read multiple of my blog posts has likely begun to notice this trend in my writing. Lists are fun to make, fun to read, and make things so much easier to enjoy and understand. I am here to explain my own personal reasons for enjoying lists! 1. They are organised. Lists are a great way to organise thoughts into a cohesive manner. Sometimes it can feel like my thoughts are scattered, and regardless of what I am listing, lists allow me to organise those thoughts into a way that makes sense. Making a list of groceries is an organised way not to forget what to buy. Making a to do list allows you to organise your day. Making a list of films or books or ideas or anything at all is a way to organise those thoughts into a way that is visually pleasing. While a list can be disorganised to a certain degree, putting numbers to something is certainly a good way to maximise organisation. 2. They make for a great introduction. Regardless of the topic you are reading or writing about, doing it in list form can make topics accessible to beginners. Whether it is a list of instructions, a list of items to start with, or a list of topics to consider, one of the best ways to absorb new information is often in list format, where it is laid out in a simple format. Even a more complicated topic can be broken down into list format 3. They are easy to understand. The purpose of a list is made clear in its heading, and the items that need to be understood are generally highlighted in some manner. For example, this list is meant to show ways that a list can be beneficial, which is noted in the title, and the points made are all numbered and bolded. Because of their organised and introductory style, lists are presented in a way that is easily understood. 4. They allow me to compile or discover items based on themes. This is one of my favourite things about lists. Lists of facts can be incredibly educational and enjoyable. Lists of media can allow me to share or discover new books, films, albums, television shows, etc. Lists are an accessible way to share and receive new ideas, knowledge, or media suggestions based around a specific theme, genre, thought, etc. that links all of them together. Themed lists make learning easier, and they make sharing hobbies straightforward. Some of the best new media I've been exposed to has been via lists, and some of the most interesting knowledge I've received has been through lists. I am always happy to share those experiences with others. 5. They allow for things to be ranked. Whether you're ranking world leaders, pop songs, or types of lettuce, the list format allows for ranking to be done as efficiently as possible. While not all lists are ranked (for example, this list happens to be presented in no particular order, rather than in the order I most prefer to create and read lists), all rankings are lists. Sometimes it is just a joy to present the order you prefer a particular set of things, and sometimes it is interesting to see in what order others prefer those things. |
| After reading a post in Bookriot about owning multiple copies of the same book , I thought I would share a story about a book that I personally own multiple copies of--Anne of Green Gables. I don't remember reading the book for the first time. All I remember is how much I loved it. I read all the books. I watched all the movies. I watched every episode of the animated series. I think I may have initially read a library copy of the book, as I was quite the library lover when I was little (and still now, quite obviously). Anne of Green Gables was a magical experience for me as a child. I was fascinated by the setting in Prince Edward Island, as well as the setting in time because of my interest in history. All of the characters were fascinating, and the story made me laugh and cry and everything in between. Anne Shirley was intensely relatable for me, and she is one of the characters I can first remember relating to in fiction as a child. I still love seeing characters who love to read and write and use their imaginations, but Anne was one of the very first I can remember falling in love with. The first copy I was given was a junior readers' edition. I remember liking it, but it was never quite the same for me as the proper unabridged original. I received a more adult copy of it as well, I believe within a year of the first. I also received an incredibly handsome hardcover edition, with a rich green velvet cover. I also later received a boxset of the first three books (the best three, of course). When my grandmother took a trip to the east coast and spent time in PEI, she visited Green Gables and purchased me a copy of a beautiful illustrated edition of Anne of Green Gables. I sat down and read it through as soon as she gave it to me, despite having read it a hundred times before. I know I still own this edition, but I am not sure where it went, which absolutely breaks my heart. (As a side note, I would like to add that on the same trip, my grandmother got me a "French" picture book in Quebec so I could practice reading in French. It turned out the book was actually in Spanish, and my grandma just didn't know the difference.) I later took a road trip to the east coast with my family, and I was able to personally visit Green Gables, which is one of my most precious childhood memories. I didn't purchase another edition at the time, because I already had five (although I now wish I had ignored common sense and gotten myself another), but I did get a Green Gables bookmark, as well as some postcards (which I collected then and now). I refuse to part with any copy of Anne of Green Gables. Well, except maybe to allow others to experience the same joy. I think it might even be time for a re-read in the near future. |
| From February 26 to March 4 of 2017, Canada is celebrating Freedom to Read Week. It's a cause that is close to my heart as a lover of education, literacy, and lifelong learning. I truly believe that literacy is one of the most important and freeing tools a person can have at their disposal, and I am absolutely privileged to live in a place where I had all of the necessary opportunities to become fully literate. Even with that in mind, there are many who struggle with reading or who do not have the same opportunities to learn that I did, both within and without Canada. I truly believe that it is so important to celebrate our freedom to read by choosing to read more, promoting literacy opportunities, and fighting book bans, and this week gives us the opportunity to do that. It's also important to recognise how lucky we are in having full intellectual freedom to do these things. Canada is lucky to have a government that has done very little throughout its history to censor the reading materials available to its citizens. Unfortunately, this does not stop individual schools, libraries, and bookstores from banning specific books from their shelves. While many challenges don't lead to an outright ban, every challenge against a book, is a challenge against the intelligence, intellectualism, learning opportunities, and literacy opportunities of everyone who would read that book. Most often it seems that the books being challenged are the books most needed. I have previously written in Thoughts and Things against book bannings and in favour of the freedom to read, particularly during Banned Books Week back in September. If you are looking to celebrate your freedom to read on a personal level, there are a number of options you have. The most important and obvious option would be to read books that have been banned, challenged, censored, or even merely controversial. You can celebrate your freedoms by reading books that meet any of those points within Canada or abroad. You also have the option of subsequently writing about those books in a blog, review, or any social media you use. By sharing the information you gather in reading those controversial books, you make it public knowledge that you support the freedom to read, and you share books with potentially new readers. It is a small way to take a personal stand publicly. If you are looking to celebrate your freedom to read on a broader scale, you can choose to go in several directions. You have the option to donate to organisations that fight book censorship, such as Freedom To Read or the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. You also have the option to donate to your local library in order to support their collections. When you hear of a book being challenged, you can write to the community challenging it directly, or you can share the information through social media to draw attention to the issue. You have the option to support charities that help provide books to schools, such as the Indigo Love of Reading Fund. Besides social media and donations, you can directly support programs that help bolster literacy by volunteering for them. Many libraries have read books to children, work directly with children to help them learn to read, or that help immigrants learn to more effectively read and speak in English. I truly believe weeks like these are so important to draw attention to a cause that I support year round. If nothing else, it serves as a reminder to pick up a book and celebrate your freedom to read. |
| As February is Black History Month, I have been pondering the possibilities of what to write on the topic. BHM is in February for both the US and Canada, and I came to the conclusion that even in Canada, BHM takes on a very American-centric view point. I wanted to write about something that shares the excellence of many Black Canadians throughout our history. After all, BHM is about learning about the greatness of Black people who have spent far too long going unappreciated. Even my own readings this month for BHM have been American-centric, so I thought it was doubly important to take the time to share information about Black folks in Canada. This is not any sort of rating system, it does not cover everyone of import, and is really only a starting place to learn about important Black Canadians. I will be sharing the excellence of six people here, and at the end of the post I will provide some links for anyone who wishes to learn more. Mathieu da Costa Mathieu da Costa is the first free Black person reported in Canada. In the early 1600s, he was part of the exploring party led by Samuel de Champlain, one of Canada's most important early explorers. He was originally from the pre-Colonial Benin Empire, which is now in southern Nigeria, but was invited on exploration missions due to his vast knowledge of languages. da Costa acted as an interpreter and translator for the explorers, as he spoke a number of languages, believed to include English, French, Dutch, Portuguese, and Basque pidgin, a language that the First Nations populations used for trading purposes. This year, at the beginning of Black History Month, a commemorative stamp featuring da Costa was released in Canada. Josiah Henson Josiah Henson was born into slavery in Maryland in the late 1700s. He spent years saving up to purchase his freedom in the early 1800s, but was instead cheated of his money and left to remain a slave. He escaped slavery with his wife and four children, and fled north to Canada. Once in Canada, he formed the Dawn settlement, a place where other escaped slaves were able to find refuge as farmers. Throughout his life he gave abolitionist speeches, worked as a minister, and fought with the Canadian militia. Harriet Beecher Stowe's iconic novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is based on Henson's life. Mary Ann Shadd Born in 1823, Mary Ann Shad spent her childhood in the northern parts of the US where she was able to get an education. In her early adulthood, she ran a school for black children there. She moved to Canada in the 1850s. While there she continued to teach black children. She also became Canada's first female publisher and North America's first black female publisher, when she ran the Provincial Freeman, an anti-slavery newspaper. During her lifetime, Mary Ann Shadd was heavily involved in anti-slavery and feminist activism. She has been recognised both in the US and Canada for her significant work during the 1800s. William Hall William Hall was born in 1827 in Nova Scotia, his parents having escaped there as slaves during the War of 1812 due to the Black Refugee movement. He served in the United States Navy, followed by the Royal Navy. As part of the Royal Navy, Hall fought in the Crimean War, and eventually became captain of the foretop on the HMS Shannon. He is best known for fighting at the Siege of Lucknow, during the Indian Rebellion. After most of the party had been injured or killed, Hall continued to load and fire a 24 pound gun until they were able to breach the walls. For this, Hall became the first Black person, the first Nova Scotian, and the third Canadian overall to receive the Victoria Cross. He spent the remainder of his navy career with the Royal Navy, and eventually reached the rank of Petty Officer. He worked as a farmer following his retirement. In 1901, he met with the future King George V. Hall has been featured on a stamp for Black History Month, and is due to have a ship in the Canadian Royal Navy named after him. Viola Desmond Viola Desmond was a black woman in the middle of 20th century Canada, at a time when Canada had similar segregation laws to the US. Desmond owned her own beauty parlour, and started a beauty school for black women who had been denied entry to local white beauty schools. On November 8, 1946, Desmond was arrested for sitting in the whites only section of her local movie theatre. They claimed at the time that this was not because she was black, but because of the one cent difference in the tax on the ticket, rather than because of her race. For this stand against segregation, Viola Desmond has since been known as the Rosa Parks of Canada. Desmond was not pardoned until the 2010s, decades after her death. For her work as an activist and a business woman, Viola Desmond is due to have her image placed on the Canadian ten dollar bill, and she will be the first woman and first Black person to be represented on a Canadian bank note. Ferguson Arthur Jenkins Ferguson Arthur Jenkins, also known as Fergie, was born in 1942 in Canada, and grew up to become one of the great baseball players of the century. Jenkins played for both the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox. Considered one of the best pitchers to play for Major League Baseball, he was the fourth pitcher to win over a hundred games, and he retired with the best ever finesse record in the history of organised baseball. After his retirement from professional baseball, he also played for the London Majors in the minor league in Ontario. He was the first Canadian to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Jenkins was made a member of the Order of Canada, and in 2011 he was featured on a commemorative stamp for Black History Month. If you have any further interest in Canada's Black History Month, please check out: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month.html https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month/black-c... http://blackhistorycanada.ca/ |
 Log in to Leave Feedback |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
I hate sad endings. They make the best stories though. I guess I'll make reading William Shakespeare my New Year Resolution for next year or something I'd write for Dear Me 2018.