The Reason Behind My Voice

  Photo by Eye for Ebony on Unsplash It is the story I hear at almost every family gathering or every other weekend when I decide to go home. My mother tells this story the best and although I have very vague recollections, I can attest that there is truth to it.  She says that as a child, I would not fall asleep at night unless she came to tuck me into bed. It was then that I would demand she sang me a song. She recalls there were times she would send my father to tuck me in but I would not relent. I wanted her to come by any means necessary or there would be sleep for none of us.  Between laughs, she recalls how tired she was from caring for four children during the day but I would have none of it. I would not be happy until she began to exercise her vocal range. She sang songs about her faith, our folklore, and nursery rhymes. The little spider went up the water sprout countless times and I am not sure if he/she ever made it out.  My mother hardly ever made it to...

  Photo credit: Humprey Muleba As a child, I looked forward to my father making it home after a long day at the farm. I remember staring at him and cupping my face while he ate or did something around the house. He knew that look. He knew I needed to hear another one of his stories so he would quickly complete his task or tell me one of his famous tales between bites.  I recently reflected on my relationship with my father and my relationship with storytelling. I love stories; it is carefully knitted in the fabric of my being. It brought me great joy to sit and bask in his well-crafted stories. My father is masterful at what he does and it still brings me great joy to listen to him even now. It does not matter that I have heard one of his stories before. I will still listen again and again. Until he grows tired of telling them (I hope he does not) because the truth is he will not always be there to tell me stories of his youth; of when he met my mother or when my brothers and ...

Photo Credit: Wherbson Rodrigues The senseless killing of George Floyd has sparked protests across the United States, parts of the United Kingdom, and Canada. Those present at rallies and marches have been calling for the end of racism, defunding the police and justice for black lives which were prematurely ended. These calls are very timely and these protests have been a long time coming.   These recent events made me realize how many systems around the world have been built to keep Blacks suppressed; whether subtle or out-rightly. The system has not been kind to us; it never was. We were taught to hate the color of our skin. We were taught that the lighter your complexion the more beautiful you were and the more favor you would find with "kings". We were taught that the straighter your hair was as a black woman, the greater your chances of finding a good husband and climbing the social ladder. We were taught to hate our gods and not to mention our ancestors. We were...

  It Gets Better!                                       Photo credit: Nappy As the curtain closes on Mental  Health Month, I felt led  to share my story with my readers. But before I go any further, I would just like to remind you of a few things.  Mental Health Awareness is important.  Your mental health is important.  Your thoughts matter.  You matter. It is no secret that there is a common but undeserved stigma attached to mental health. Whether or not we want to admit it, everyone  has mental health. Just as one is concerned about their physical well-being, the same should apply to their emotional well-being.  However, this utopia does not exist and many of us neglect to take care of our minds. Being raised in the Caribbean I have noticed that we do not talk about our feelings, we do not share what is bothering us and we seldom reach out ...

  Photo credit: Javon Swaby   I had so many plans for this year! This was supposed to be my year of revival, releases and recovery. I thought for sure had seen enough down days and I had been educated at the school of hard-knock for long enough; it was time for graduation.   It was much to my dismay when this lock-down was  issued and my plans had to be placed on hold. I did not plan for this. Where did this set-back fit into my plan? After all, 2020 was really supposed to be a movie. I had to learn through the disappointment, through the pain and loneliness. As a writer, you learn to see the good in everything but when you are "in medias res" this can be quite a task.    If we are to be honest a lot of good has come from this lock-down.     Photo credit:  Kehn Herman   It has made us more creative.   As creatives we are taught that the world is our stage and we must always be prepared to perform, ev...

Dear Creatives, These are indeed trying times. Who would have imagined that this how we would be spending the 2020, which we so eagerly awaited? COVID - 19 has altered a lot for everyone, everywhere. We all had plans and dreams of new projects and new endeavors we hoped to embark on. Unfortunately, life can be that way sometimes; uncertain. Right now we have no idea when this uncertainty will clear up. But we must do all in our power to stay woke and not sink into depression. In this light, we as creatives should remain vigilant and ensure that we do not drown amid the panic and do our utmost to keep that creative touch burning. Following these steps may help you to remain creative. 1. Clean your space. It is imperative that we keep our work spaces clean. New energy can not flow into a cluttered space, therefore it will be difficult for you to paint that new painting, write that new song or poem which has been tugging at your heart or create that new dance routine which you...

Inspiration is Everywhere! Many are curious as to where my inspiration stems from. This is rather a difficult question to respond to, since I dare say inspiration for my work flows from various sources. From nature to those around me; inspiration is everywhere.  Being in nature, even for a short space of time, is always refreshing. It definitely brings me peace and that tranquility is often accompanied with a flood of new ideas. The resilience of the trees themselves are an inspiration. Watching on as they grew new branches after a ravaging category 5 hurricane shook them, is a testament that there is life even after the worst storms. So that's why when I feel down and un-inspired, I often detach from everyday life and make time to go sit on the beach or near a river.  My students in their own unique way, often inspire me. These young minds and their drive for knowledge often sends me on a search for knowledge, too. I have learnt quite a few lessons from the...