Gem fall edition 2015

gggggloballoballoballoballobal eeeeeyyyyyesesesesesManitoba African and Caribbean Quarterly Magazine
3rd
QUARTER
Fall 2015
Cultural
Mosaic
Winnipeg’s

Global Eyes Magazine Fall 2015
2
Reflection
Celebrating Diversity In Winnipeg
Summer’s gone and fall is here.
Time for fall suppers, drive in the
country to look at the spectacle of
changing leaves and children making
their way back to school. Life continues
at its own pace and we watch and wait
for Halloween and then Christmas and
it starts again. Such is the flow of life.
We make nothing happen but
everything happens to us.
Fall is a time for taking stock,
slowing things down a bit from the
hectic, frantic pace of summer where we
try to stuff everything into our lives to
make hay while the sun shines and its
heat is potent.
Another year of Folklorama fades
into the background and everyone takes
their props, gowns and cultural
apparatuses and packs them away until
next summer. It is a time when people
pull into their shells, some allow the
early darkness to weigh in their hearts
and feel out of sorts like a friend told
me until the whiteness of winter comes
she settles and surrender to its wishes
and dreams again of spring.
I invite you to remember the fun of
summer, how we mingled together,
shared spaces with people from varied
backgrounds and walks of life even ate
and drank with them and it was good.
Take those feelings with you in
your workplace, churches, temples
and mosques and let them be a
uniting force. It is so good to live
and breathe in peace and one of
the ways to achieve that is to
accept what is without judgment.
We are all here walking this earth
by design, we were chosen.
Diversity is what makes
everything beautiful, what creates
progress and prosperity, good
health and happiness. Embrace it.
Nigeria Canada Congress
of Manitoba (NICCOM) Annual
Mini Folklorama 2015 engaged a
variety of outstanding cultural
performances by several cultural
groups including First Nations,
African, Chinese, Chilean,
Ukrainian and others to celebrate
Multiculturalism Day at the
Immanuel Fellowship Worship
Centre.
As well Manitoba
Association for Rights and
Liberties had a full day of
activities at the Cube – The Old
Market Square - in spite of the
rain. The crowd waxed and waned
as the weather changed but the
party kept on.
Jamaica Association of Manitoba
was packed with Caribbean and
other folks who participated in
continued on p3

3 3
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IN THIS ISSUE
Did you know p4
Briefs p5
Global Counsellor p8
Creative Expressions p9
Benedicte Brou Newcomer p10
Leg Up Success Skills Centre p13
Healthwise p14
Dr. Vernon Johns p15 & More
Global Eyes is an independent quarterly publication
devoted to promoting cultural awareness of the African and
Caribbean communities of Manitoba and highlighting the
issues and concerns of these communities. It also aims
at promoting cultural diversity and appreciation.
It features articles ranging from the achievements of local,
national and international personalities and general information
that are of interest to the African/Caribbean
Diaspora. It offers editorials with African/
Caribbean sensibilities and letters to the editor. The
Magazine is produced under a volunteer editorial
committee that assists with proof-reading, publicity and
distribution.
Mail cheque/Money Order to: Global Eyes Magazine (GEM)
671 Rathgar Avenue,
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3L 1G6
Multiculturalism and Canada Day Celebrations sponsored
by the organization.
Celebrating...continued from p2
Maypole Caribbean Style
Japanese Drumming
One of Winnipeg’s bands
Paradise Band

4
GLOBAL
EYES
MAGAZINE
Neil Pitamber,
Lara Badmus, LLB
A Canadian-Guyanese writer,
poet
GEM’s Regular
Contributors
Distributed to local businesses, and in
Winnipeg and via email to individuals
in Manitoba and former Manitobans in
various parts of the world.
To receive Global Eyes by mail please
send a cheque for $15.00 to:
Global Eyes Magazine
671 Rathgar Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3L 1G6
Phone: 204-477-1588
globaleyesmagazine@gmail.com
All contents are (c) 2014 and may not
be reprinted without the express or
written consent of the author or Editor.
Editor: Beatrice Watson
DIDDIDDIDDIDDID YYYYYOUOUOUOUOU KNOKNOKNOKNOKNOWWWWW?????
Winnipeg LawyerTIMES ARE A CHANGING
When you shop at Forest
People Crafts has moved on
to Online Marketing. You can find it
at:forestpeoplescrafts@hotmail.com
or: forestpeoplescrafts.ca
or Phone: 204-943-3995
Congratulations to
GEM’s regular
contributor, Lara
Badmus who has recently
accepted a permanentfulltime
positionasaPublicInterest
DisclosureInvestigator at the
Manitoba Legislative
Assembly Ombudsman
Office on PortageAvenue.
Lara says she is enjoying the
challenges and opportunities
in her new position. Best
wishes from all of us at GEM
That a slave woman could not say no to
her slave master and that Rachel Pringle
Polgreen, a slave child born in Barbados to a
Scottish headmaster William Lauder and a
slave woman was proposition by her own
father and even though a slave woman could
not say no to such proposition, Rachel had the
pluck to say no to him and he ordered a public
flogging for her? However as luck would have
it she was spared from the humiliation by
Captain Thomas Pringle who rescued her for a
price. Rachel dropped her father’s name
Lauder and adopted Pringle instead. Pringle
was a seaman and went away for extended
periods of time. He appeared to have loved
Rachel and wanted her to give him an heir.
Rachel was unable to bear children and
arranged to adopt a son from a village woman
which she presented to the captain as his/their
heir. This worked for a while until the woman,
missing her son, exposed Rachel’s doing.
Captain Pringle was upset, ended his
relationship with Rachel and left the Island.
Rachel soon found security under another
man Polgreen whose surname she added to her
own. With Polgreen’s help Rachel opened a
successful tavern and through that amassed a
fortune. According to research findings even
King Henry visited the tavern and one time
behaved badly and destroyed her property for
which he paid handsomely.
By the time of Rachel’s
death at age 38 she had
amassed about 10
properties on Canary Street,
Bridgetown. Thanks to
Victor Vaughan for
bringing this story to our
attention.
The foundation stones for a
balanced success are honesty,
character, integrity, faith, love
and loyalty.Zig Ziglar
Quotable Quote

5 5
Briefs
Audrey Gordon carries PC
banner in Fort Rouge
The Progressive Conservative
Party of Manitoba is pleased to bring
Audrey Gordon onto its team as the
candidate in the Fort Rouge
constituency for the 2016 provincial election.
“Audrey adds a strong voice and
leadership with her wealth of professional and
volunteer experience,” said PC Leader Brian
Pallister. “I look forward to working with her as
we strive to bring a change for the better to
constituents in Fort Rouge, and to all
Manitobans.”
Audrey is a Manager and Business
analyst for the Renal Program of the Winnipeg
Regional HealthAuthority. Previously, she was
a director of a multiculturalism secretariat for
Manitoba Labour and Immigration and was
assistant to the department’s deputy minister.
Her community service has included
committee, council or board memberships with
the Immigrant and Refugee Community
Organization of Manitoba, the Winnipeg
Regional HealthAuthority, Vista Park Lodge,
the St. Vital/St. Boniface Health Advisory
Council and the Congress of Black Women’s
Manitoba chapter, among other organizations.
Gordon is looking for 100 volunteers to help
with my campaign. Interested individuals can call
me at 204-918-9591.
PS: Audrey Breakfast Fundraiser happening
November. 3 at the Winnipeg Winter Club for
only $24.99. Call the number above for tickets. It
is important to support our community
candidates regardless of their political
preferences. See you there.
Flosoul Role Model
Award Winner 2015
Congratulations are in
order for Flosoul on Winning the
prestigious Role Model Award
for her work in and outside the
music industry. Flo is truly a role
model in the Caribbean and
Black community in Winnipeg.
More success to you in the future.
Adaoma Patterson, daughter of Lois
Patterson and a former Winnipegger has
won the nomination under the NDP ticket
to be the Candidate for Brampton West.
A champion for progressive public
policy, Adaoma has held key volunteer
roles with the United Way of Peel Region,
Jamaican Canadian Association, and
Greater Toronto Civic Action Alliance.
She is also Vice-President of the Horace
Patterson Scholarship Foundation, a charity
dedicated to her father’s memory.
In 2010, Adaoma was named as a
2010 DiverseCity Fellow, and in 2014 as
Volunteer of the Year by the Jamaican
CanadianAssociation. She is a well
respected and popular facilitator and
speaker at local events.
Adaoma was a principal consultant for
ACP Consulting, the event management
company that created and produced the
Essence of Mahogany Bridal & Beauty
Show, which ran for five years.
Adaoma is a long-time Peel resident. She
has lived in Brampton for the past 11 years
with her son, now 13. Running a campaign
does not come cheap and if you
would like to helpAdaoma you
can make your donation
at:www.adaomapatterson.ndp.ca.
Adaoma Patterson for
Brampton West
Times are Changing in
Canadian theatre
Bahia Watson played the part of
Princess Elizabeth “Bess” the last of the line
of the Tudor family in the play The Last Wife
at Stratford Theatre 2015 season to raving
review. What is interesting is that she was
selected in spite of being Black, something
that would not have happened a few years
earlier and marks positive move on the
inclusion in arts world. Kudos to the casting
director for making choices not based on
race or skin colour. Maiko Watson with Moses
Mayes at the 2015 Jazz Festival
Bahia and Sahara McDonald singer/
songwriter, hanging out in Stratford
Bahia Watson

6
Can’t find a salon to do
justice to your hair?
Look no more!
Les Touche Salon
will send you satisfied everytime
4-555 Balmoral Ave
Hours: Mon. - Sat.
9 a.m - 7:00 p.m.
Phone: 947-5830
Editorial - Take One
Condolences
To all those who have lost a loved
one, a friend, or someone dear to you
we send you our condolences.
Kenny Daodu and her family
whose beloved twin sister Taiwo
passed away in the summer
To the Atwell Family whose
matriarch and a community
champion, Mrs. Frances Helen
Atwell passed away in September
2015.
To Lorene Mahoney and family
whose father Columbus Jones
recently passed away.
To all those who are sick may you
have a speedy recovery.
Canada as well
as the United States
was built by waves of
immigrants and the
slave trade. The
Atlantic slave trade
introduced large numbers of Black skinned
people into the Western world and injected a
new dimension of diversity into these
societies. The slaves fight for freedom and
holocaust exposed man’s inhumanity and
saw the abolition of slavery and the
establishment of civil and human rights in
these countries .
Western nations then set themselves up
as defenders of freedom, democracy and rule
of law and they tasked themselves to keep the
world safe and free. People in the developing
world saw these nations as the beacon of
civilization. Some Western countries
opened their doors to refugees and
immigrants from oppressive regimes. Canada
was and still is regarded as one of the best
nations in the world for immigrants and
refugees, and a leader in multiculturalism and
diversity. That image is however slowly being
eroded under the weight of the recent waves
of refugees, the instability and threat posed
by Jihadists who are fighting to maintain
their way of life under the banner of Islam
which is seen as contrary to Western culture.
More people some with strange customs to
people in the West are now part of our
society and are creating a bit of a
xenophobic anxiety attacks in the masses.
Some Western countries are becoming less
welcoming, less tolerant of differences, less
democratic and less free while at the same
time the Western world is moving towards a
multicultural reality.
The universe does not go according to
our plans, it has its own rhythm and it moves
in the direction it wants like a giant tidal
wave which nothing can stop. What do you
do when that happens you go with the flow
and make it work. We have to learn to accept
our differences and create a model society
like we do during folklorama on a global
scale. What seems frightening and culturally
absurd today will be ordinary tomorrow when
we’re asked to embrace something even more
absurd.
Jamaican Prime Minister calls
for Reparations
Ms Portia Simpson Miller, Jamaica
PM has recently asked Britain to pay
billions of dollars for the enslavement of
Africans. Britain’s Prime Minister David
Cameron said he does not believe
reparations or apologies for slavery are the
right approach. However Cameron added
that he knew this issue would overshadow
the purpose of his upcoming visit to Jamaica
and Grenada which is to reinvigorate the
United Kingdom’s relationship with these
countries.
Mrs.Atwell

7 7
continued on page 15
Millennial are those children born
between 1981 and 1995 and they make up
the majority of people in the workforce
today. Employers and scientists are
studying the daylights out of this group to
determine what makes them tick. They
give their parents grief when it comes to
career choices and commitment to the
dollar.
Research shows that Millennial are a
little different from previous generations;
they are not driven by money but more by
meaningful work.
They prefer to work for companies
that support their beliefs and lifestyles –
they are more committed to the
environment, they love companies that
contribute to charitable causes and there
are more people in this generation who
identify themselves with the Lesbian, Gay
BisexualandTransgender(LGBT)
community.They are open minded and
more accepting of others and more liberal
than previous generations.
Do not talk to them about retirement
plans and about the future - they have a
healthy belief in the future and that their
needs will somehow be met.
Millennial are also the most
connected to social media and some would
rather leave their job if they are prevented
from using their cell phones at work. But
they have their standards and the majority
believes that the use of cell phones in a
business meeting is inappropriate and they
still think a relationship should be started
through traditional face to face encounter.
They also like continuous training and
development, love team work and require
positive reinforcement for the work they
do. Some may see this generation as high
maintenance and if they are, these are the
children raised to have high self-esteem
and to believe they are so wonderful and
received constant attention from their
parents.
Millennials changing
the face of Work
“We all have the power to influence how our stories are
told ,“ said Ismaila Alfa, guest speaker at the 2015 Guyana
Cultural Organization’s celebration of Guyana’s 49th
Independence Anniversary at the Viscount Gort Hotel.
“I am totally impressed with the Aboriginal people’s
knowledge and skill in working with the media” he added and
encouraged members of the audience to learn from the
Aboriginal people.
Born in Nigeria to a Nigerian father and Canadian
Caucasian mother, Alfa said he was surprised at some of the
questions he was asked by Canadian children as he started
attending school as a boy – questions like “have you ever taken a
bath or shower? Did you eat every day, do people live in houses?
“I realize what Chimamanda Adichie, Nigerian author meant by the danger of a
single story. I realized they only knew a single story from Nigeria. The truth is it
takes many stories to paint a picture”
Guyana’s 49th Independence Day
Tom Millington

8
Regulars
Global Counsellor
Letter to my children
My dear children
My heart skipped a beat when I
saw my first yellow leaf danced to the
ground signalling fall and old woman
winter waiting in the corner. It’s
always shocking to me witnessing the
glory of summer slowly fade in the
background, the heat of the sun losing
its vigor. Once everything settles
down I surrender and appreciate the
changing season.
Surrendering to what is makes
life so simple and enjoyable, less
stress, less angst, less of everything
negative and more of positive outlook.
We’re just here going and growing
lovingly tendered by nature and
when we do all is well. When we
change the way we look at things,
the things we look at change. That
is so true.
We often struggle against
the flow of life even though we
never get the results we want when
we can just go with the flow. That
appears too simple a task for our
complicated minds, but we keep
doing the same things and expect a
different result which Einstein said
is tantamount to insanity.
I try to take my own advice to
you – relax be calm and watch life
flow through you – the universe is
doing its work through us, be a
witness to this miracle, watch
without attachment and see the
enfoldment of your path.
Welcome fall, and your
sparkling colours, that transform and
do out in a blaze of glory. It is time
to take stock, put away summer
cotton dresses and make way for the
warm wools and knits for winter.
Love, mom
Dear Fed Up.
Hand in there. Nothing is
unfixable if there is love between the
two of you. You stated that your
children are a priority, you want to be
there for them and that’s laudable.
There is a cultural divide here. Some
white women want their men beside
them all the time, their husbands
become their best friends whereas
strong kinship, age mate ties are
important in African culture; spending
time with your male friends is part of
the social fabric of African life as well
Dear global counsellor,
I am an African man married to
a crazy white lady. I love her dearly
but she drives me insane with her
sky high expectations and rigid
formula for a good life. No amount
of talking, dialogue, shouting
matches could steer her away from
the path that is sure to lead to the
eventual destruction of our
marriage. My happiest time with her
is when I do exactly what she says,
help her in the kitchen, be on time
for appointments and have little to
do with my friends. She wants me
all for herself and that’s not how
we African men behave. It is not
cultural. I need my wife and I need
my friends too and I need to have
fun with my friends like having a
beer or so. The problem is she
want so boss me around and I am
the unbossable type. I dig my heels
in just not to give in. I love her but
she has to respect that I am a man
and do not need another mother. We
have two adorable children and I
loved them so much and want to do
right by them but I do not know how
much more of this behaviour by my
wife I can take. Am I being selfish
here? What do you suggest I do to
keep my family together?
Fed up
as women with their women
friends. Your wife clearly does not
get this. I think this is something
that a skillful counsellor could fix.
Marriage is not about my way or
the highway. When a third party is
involved, it may help you to hear
each other and see how your
behaviour affects and are affected
by what each of you do and say.
Be open to meaningful
compromises. Maybe she is
expecting you to act like a typical
white Canadian partner and you
might be expecting her to put up with
your ways, ways that an African
woman would quicker understand.
My advice to you to is to make
keeping your family together your
number one priority. In this country
you need the shelter of a loving
family to come home to. Maybe you
can try doing things as a family. If
your friends are also married, get
together and while the wives talk you
guys could have your time as well.

9 9
CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS
There is no ‘go’ in goal-setting
Nothing long without the terms
No ‘soul’ in desolation
Everyday is just a re-write of
The previously learned...
I enviously grudge what others earn
I peversely covet
A good moral standing
Yeah, I need a change of slogan
I could use logo re-branding
Methusala’s rings are sitting just
Under my eyes
And Medusa tends to her garden
Trim stony petals
And here upon my ceiling
Content has me hypnotized
A private universe of dust
And chalky stucco
It’s not pathetic fallacy
It’s really just the fall of
‘me’
The Fall
Of All
I See...
Dahlia, (center) the grand-
daughter of Gary and Brenda Elbers
made her debut in her first
professional Ballet with the Royal
Winnipeg Ballet’s The Faerie Queen,
a play written and choreographed by
Barbadian-Canadian, John Alleyne in
2000 for Ballet British Columbia.
The play is widely regarded as the
cornerstone of Canadian Ballet.
The Littlest Ballerina
AUTUMN DRIFT - Neil Pitamber
Bin sad fuh me dis Folklorama. Saw
two of me buddies having a had time
wid memory. Las year dese guys were
good an dis year deh can’t function. Ah
have a hard time wid dat. Dis
AlZehmiers is something else man.
Hiow come soh young people getting
dis disease, wha causing dis epidemic.
Fuh a small community like ours de
percentage is high. In de las four years
or so, a latta folks developed dis
problem. Some end
up in personal care
hoems and others
languishing in de
house.
It bruk me heart
to see meh buddy confused and
desparately trying to rememba. We
need to raise funds fuh research into
dis disease.
GAFFIN WID BUDDY

10
The Photographic works of Corey Parsons
Corey Parsons is Freelance Media
Professional that has been taking
professional photos since 2014. Corey
has worked as Multimedia contractor
this year 2015 under his new brand
name Prevail Media.
This exceptionally talented image
maker’s educational background
consist of a Bachelor of Arts in Film
from University of Winnipeg,
Photography 101 from PrairieView
School of Photography, Camera
Operator with Springs TV Media team
and working towards a Media
Coordinator Diploma from Herzing
College.
Notable
Projects coming
up is a series
athletic media
campaigns for sport and fitness training to promote healthy living through activity. Corey currently
lives in Winnipeg Manitoba. You follow him on Instagram @prevail_mediaofficial and Prevail Media
on Facebook.

11 11
Radical thoughts on a
sleepless night
What if we do not send our children to school
What if we choose to educate them ourselves
What if we refused handouts from
governments
Return to the land and lived as our forefathers
What if we did not need university education
But learn through the system of
apprenticeship
What if we did not go to hospitals
But choose to live our way until the end
Without the fear of death
What if we did not fear death,
What if we made nature our teacher
The blossoms know when to let go
The seed knows when to split asunder
What if we embraced that knowing
Live happily under the sun
Eating from the Garden of Eden
Then what?
What would become of those whose feed are
on our heads
Stuff their cheeks at banquet tables and threw
us the crumbs
Work us to death for a fraction of a dollar
every day
Teachers who fill our heads with stuff that
they know nothing about
What if we took away that power and leave
them to themselves
Where will they be
Will they be rich
Will they be educated
Will they have power over us to give
or take away privileges?
You have power my people
To give or deny benefits
If you work together you are strong
Powerful beyond belief
It is you and me who give the rich
The educated and the powerful their context
Without us there can be no them
Do you feel your power
Do not lie on your backs
and make yourself a road they walk on
Stand up claim your power
Take charge and tell your story
Without us there can be no them
Do you feel your power
Do not lie on your backs
You will be the road they walk on
Stand up and be brave
Take charge live authentically
Be (BAW2012)
In 2009, I studied intensive British
English Second Language for seven
months in Perth (WesternAustralia).
Back to France, I
passed the International
EnglishLanguage
TestingSystem(IELTS)
organizedby
Cambridge University
with a competent user
level.
“Yay! O Canada!
Here I come!’’
At this time I
didn’t know that I
would spend lot of
money to renew my Work Permits
and then for my Permanent Residency
status; that I will blow up all my
savings in less than 6 months even
though I was already working part-
time; that I wouldn’t be able to
understand the Canadian accent,
either!
To be honest, I mistakenly
assumed that Canadians spoke British
English. It took me about 8 months to
understand them. I mostly felt like a
moron but after talking with other
foreigners, I realized that it was a
normal process. (Sigh)
I remember that in France,
during my middle school years, I learned
to say “bye bye” and “goodbye” to end a
discussion. Many years later, inAustralia,
I even acknowledged “see yah’’and
“have a good day”.And I don’t
mention their numerous
abbreviations such as “mossie1
”,
“kangoo2
”, “barbie3
” and “aussie4
”.
Anyhow, I wasn’t prepared for
the Canadian expressions: how’s
goin’?’’, “bye for now’’and “have a
good one”. Oh boy!!Anytime I
heard “how’s goin?” my brain
processed “house go in?’’. How
could I answer this question? Is it
too complicated to say “how is it going?”
Or when a perfect stranger told me “bye
for now’’: I was like “uh… are we
supposed to meet later?” Or the tricky
“have a good one”. I was always
wondering: “have a good one, what?”
Long story short, my adaptation to
the Canadian culture was very messy. I
was, completely lost, wandering, in
Slurpee City.
But good news! I made huge
progress. Look! Finally I figured out that:
“Winnipeg Blue Bombers” are not
hockey players, “Winnipeg Jets” is not a
private air flight company,
AndIsay:OCanada!Here I stay!’’
A NEWCOMER’s EXPERIENCE
Mellissa Yaw’s Book Launch a Success
Mellisa Yaw’s book launch at McNally Robinsons was a huge success. Friends
and family turned out to hear the reading and purchase her book of short stories about
the lives of people she knew who were living secret lives. “Secret Lives” It was the
bestseller at McNallys for the
week of launch.
Melissa is featured at the
back holding the roses, flanked by
her mother, Anne Deurwarder,
sisters Naomi and Samantha,
Debbie (r) and Felomena (seated)
and a family friend on the far left.
The book will make a great
Christmas present for someone
you care about. Watch out for
Melissa’s second book in the
near future.

12
Dr. Vernon Johns - Preacher or Prophet
On a cool night in March 2015 at
the Bethel Community Church, we were
treated to a dinner and movie
presentation. The dinner was delicious
and the movie, “The Vernon Johns
Story,” was excellent. Dr Johns,
considered by some to be the father of the
Civil Rights movement, was a preacher
of some reputation. The Board of
Deacons was thrilled to have a man of
such reputation to lead the congregation
of the Dexter Avenue Baptist church,
which was made up of a number of
processional people. While they were
familiar with his reputation, they would
be in for a shock with his methods.
Knowing the conditions which existed in
Alabama, he was prepared to put an end
to the treatment of his people by the
state, and he would not accept any
cowering by his congregation to the
white establishment. We see today that
Negroes are gunned down by white
police officers as they were when he
pastored over 60 years ago.
Dr Johns was no ordinary preacher.
He did not back down from a fight.
Some said he looked for fights to get
into. His seemed to take his father’s
position of, “If you see a good fight,
GET IN IT” as his life’s mission. When
a young man was killed by the police he
asked for witnesses to come forward,
knowing that there were several as
reported. No one, out of obvious fear
came forward. The head deacon, who
also functioned as a mortician,
admonished him to not rock the boat, he
answered in his next sermon by saying,
“I am boat rocker” making his deacon
squirm in his seat. He really was
special.
He found support in a young
deacon who seemed to understand what
he was trying to accomplish. Dr. Johns
invited him to go into a white
establishment for lunch. He of course
declined, leaving Dr. Johns to go
himself. On another occasion Dr. Johns
stood with him outside a commercial
establishment and asked him to describe
what he saw. I see a grocery store, what
do you see? I see, said Dr. Johns, a
whole mess of Negro dollars going into
white pockets. They take our dollars
but, they despise us so much they
won’t touch our hands during the
exchange. Money is power, Deacon
Hill. Right now we are consumers
and if we are just consumers, we are
parasites.
Dr. Johns felt that the church
should play a more active role in the
people’s lives and set out to lead by
example. Not only did he use a
portion of the church property to
cultivate produce, but he set up a stall
in front of the church to sell everyday
items. The members of the
congregation were shocked and
ashamed that their pastor would stoop
so low depths embarrassing the
church in front of white people.
Dr. Johns practically wrote a
recent documentary produced by
Jason Black, called 7 A.M. In it Dr.
Umar Johnson pointed out in part that,
between Thanksgiving and Christmas,
blacks in the United States will spend
3 trillion dollars in white businesses.
Dr Johns could not have had this
figure in mind but this is exactly the
message he tried to convey. This
money kept in the black community
would have such economic impact,
that beholding to the white
community would be a memory. Dr.
Claud Anderson is continually telling
us that, it is not education, nor is it our
civil rights or human rights keeping us
back. What’s keeping us back is lack
of economic power. He points out
that, unless money bounces 8 to 12
times before it leaves the black
community, poverty is the only result.
According to him, Hispanics’ money
bounces 6 to 7 times, Whites 8 to 12 times,
Asian and Arabs 11 to 12 times and Jewish
money bounces 18 times before it leaves the
Jewish community. Dr. Johns in 1948 was
preaching the same concept.
This week, on the first anniversary of
the death of Michael Brown in Fergusson
Missouri, we saw almost all the signs and
graffiti bearing the words “Black Lives
Matter.” Is this not what the good doctor
was telling his congregation so many years
ago? It took a serious tragedy and over 60
for this message to sink in.
The chairman of the Deacons board
was a weak man and seemed quite content
to bow down to City Hall, who seemed to
be running the affairs of the Dexter Ave
Baptist church. Dr. Johns was not so weak
and would always advertise his sermon for
the week on the church’s bulletin board.
This often drew the ire of the city who
would summon the Deacon, advising him to
discourage the sermon. Dr. Johns never
complied even though the Deacon would
ask him to tone down his sermons.
Slavery and all its horrors were based
on economics. Blacks were brought to this
continent, and made to work in horrible
conditions to make America one of the
wealthiest countries in the world. Though
slavery has long been abolished, it is still
alive and well in the minds of blacks. In
order to appease the City Hall bosses, the
black congregation did not even sing Negro
spirituals, citing that they were sorrowful
and undignified. Dr. Johns realized that the
congregation was mentally enslaved though
they did not seem to realize it themselves.
The chief Sambo was none other than the
head Deacon himself.
Dr. Johns was eventually arrested in
his pulpit when he preached a sermon
which cut through City Hall like a knife.
His deacon friend saw a young black man
being severely beaten by police, in the
presence of a large black crowd. He was
shot trying to get them to stop. The official
position of the police is that they were
trying to subdue a disorderly coloured boy
and Deacon Hill intervened. They beat him
and shot him when he resisted. This event
was repeated in Charleston South Carolina
in April of this year when a black man,
running away from police, was shot 8 times

13 13
Social media can be a powerful force
for change and education if used
correctly. Recently a Texas mother
proved it Black Lives Matter. It is no
secret that millions of Africans crossed
the Atlantic Oceans in chains and in
cramped ships to be forced to work on
plantations for free. However,
McGraw-Hill reputable textbook
publishers, in their recent publication
World Geography under a caption
“Patterns of immigration - The
Atlantic Slave Trade between the
1500s and 1800s brought millions of
workers from Africa to the southern
United States to work on agricultural
plantations”. This did not sit well with
Pearland High 9th
grader, 15 year old
Coby who texted his mom Roni Dean-
Burren of Pearland, Texas, and sent
her a photograph of the caption. She
took McGraw-Hill to task on social
media for misrepresenting facts. She
received in excess of a million likes on
Facebook enough to force McGraw
Hill to apologize and make changes to
the digital version of the text with a
promise to make the changes to the
text in reprints. Dean-Burren said not
only are African slaves referred to
“workers,” but the title of the section
implies that they were immigrants
instead of prisoners who were captured
and held against their will, said
“We was real hard workers wasn’t
we,” Coby sent in a follow-up text.
Monica Singh,’s friends from
IWAM days threw her a birthday
party to celebrate number 80.
Friends including Uma, Pat,
Polly, Sue and others brought
food, cakes and drinks and
honoured Monica who was very
proud and grateful to have seen
80 years and looking so good. In
the Book of Family Records
Monica has lived the longest and
she is proud of that record and is
looking forward to many more
birthdays in good health.
“There is a fountain of youth: it is
your mind, your talents, the creativity you
bring to your life and the lives of people
you love. When you learn to tap this
source, you will truly have defeated age.”
Sophia Loren
in the back. The official explanation....?
He was reached for my taser said the
officer, and was shot.
Dr. Johns advertised sermon “It’s safe
to murder Negroes” caught the attention of
the City. His family members were
harassed and threatened by the white
community and a cross was burned in front
of the church. His favourite daughter gave
him permission to preach his sermon.
“Make it as bad as you know how, even if
it starts a war.” Dr. Hill arrived at the
church to find a large police presence but
proceeded with his sermon. After speaking
a bit about Deacon Hill, he reminded the
congregation that one week earlier a white
man was charged for shooting a rabbit out
of season. He continued, “It is safe to
murder Negroes because in Alabama,
niggers are always in season.” He
admonished the congregation for allowing
things to happen and not standing up to
effect change. Two police officers at this
point entered the church to arrest him and
he finished with a question for the
congregation: “Are you worthy of Jesus
Christ or are you only worthy of the state
of Alabama?” As he was escorted out his
daughter got up and started singing the
Negro spiritual “Go down Moses.” The
congregation joined in.
This event got Dr. Johns fired
predictably, and unfortunately, he was
never offered a full time pastorate again.
Before he left Alabama though, he met his
replacement pastor Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr., whose first sermon made the head
Deacon squirm uncomfortably in his seat.
Dr. Johns spoke his mind even though what
he said was not always comfortable for
those who heard it. As he said, “The truth
is uncomfortable sometimes,” and he
always told the truth. He did not shy away
from provocation. He spoke with
conviction as did Marcus Garvey before
him and Malcolm X after him, and he did
not preach conciliation as did Dr. King and
the parents and pastors of Michael Brown
in Fergusson. I wonder what he would say
if he addressed the large crowds in
Fergusson at the funeral of Michael
Brown? Would he be as forgiving as those
who addressed the congregation?
Somehow I doubt that. I wonder if we will
ever again see a pastor bold enough and as
willing to speak out against the
establishment as Dr. Johns did?
By Victor Vaughan, Community Champion
Black Lives Matter
Uma Parameswaran, Monica Singh
and Polly Pachu

14
HEALTHWISE Gem of Wisdom
1.Cultivate authenticity – be yourself
2. Cultivate self-compassion – be
kind to yourself
3.Cultivate a resilient spirit – you are
more powerful than you can ever
imagine. Believe it.
4.Cultivate gratitude and Joy – be
joyful even in adversity
5.Cultivate faith and trust - Learn to
listen to your inner wisdom
6.Cultivate Calm and Stillness – Let
go of anxiety as a lifestyle
7.Cultivate Play and Rest – stop all
the multitasking
8. Cultivate creativity - avoid
comparison, be yourself.
9.Cultivate meaningful work - work
that satisfies the soul and all your
needs will be met
10. Cultivate laughter, songs and
dance - relax, don’t take yourself too
seriously.
Shared by Dr. Patrick Wanis.
Professor Brene Brown’s “10
Guideposts for Wholehearted
Living.”
Brown argues that you can only
experience love and belonging by
being vulnerable, by allowing your
heart to open and by being willing to
experience all of the emotions,
including disappointment and even
rejection.
2 bags fresh potato greens (4 Cups pressed
down)
1 lb peeled shrimp
3 lbs chicken and beef
1 C smoked turkey
2 medium onion (chopped)
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp seasoned salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Baking soda
1 Cup cooking oil
2 Cookspoon oil
2 Maggi Chicken Soup (optional)
1 or 2 pods hot pepper (optional)
Cut your chicken into 1 1/2 inch pieces. Cut
stewing beef into 1 inch pieces. Peel and de-
veinshrimp.
Combine and add 1 tsp salt
and 1 tsp seasoned salt. Stir
to spread seasoning evenly.
Separate shrimp from beef
and chicken.
Add two cookspoon of oil to
a large skillet. Heat oil on
medium high. When oil is
hot, fry chicken until both
sides are golden brown.
Remove from oil.
Next, fry shrimp until golden brown and add.
Reduce heat to medium and sautee’ beef until
cooked. Cut turkey in small 1/2 inch pieces and
add to pot. Set aside.
Then, prepare your greens.
Remove the leaves from the stems. Do this
by snapping the stem about 1/2 inch from the
leaf base. Rinse the leaves and transfer to a pan
of water. Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda over
leaves.
Rub the leaves. Pretend you are scrubbing
and washing a piece of cloth between your two
hands. Then wring the leaves using your two
hands. Transfer to a clean pan.
Heat one cup of oil in a deep cooking pot on
medium high. Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda.
Add chopped greens, onions, and pepper. Fry
for 20 minutes, stirring frequently.
Reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 20
more minutes stirring frequently. Add
cooked chicken, beef, turkey, and shrimp.
Simmer on low about 15 minutes,
continuing to stir.
Your greens are ready. Eat on a bed of rice.
Serve with fried plantains as a side dish.
Let your food be
medicine and your
medicine be food.
Hippocrates
Youwillneed:
3Cupsparboiledrice
1lbpeeledshrimp
3lbschicken
6ozcansmoketurkey
1mediumonion(chopped)
1greenbellpepper(chopped,optional)
2Cfrozenmixedvegetables
1/2cabbage,cutinto1inchpieces
2tspseasonedsalt(Lawry’sisgreat)
1/2tspgroundblackpepper
14ozcandicetomatoes
1/2Ccookingoil
1Cupwater
CookChicken,Meat,andShrimpandsetaside.
Dicesmokedturkeyintosmall(1/2inch)pieces.
Placeinaseparatebowl.
Addchicken,meatandshrimpto
panwithheatedoilandstir
aroundquicklywithspoonuntil
goldenbrownandcooked.
Transferbacktopanandaddthe
turkeymeat.
MakeyourSauce
Makesaucewithchoppedonion,
frozenvegetablesinapanwith
someoilandsauté,thenaddtomatoes,season
withsaltandblackpepperandaddacupof
water.Cookforabout2minutesthenaddmeats
andcookforanothertwominutesandremove
fromstove.
Cookparboiledriceforabout12minutes
andsetaside
Puttherawriceinadeeppotandadd
watertoabouttwoinchesabovethelevel
oftherice.Placepotonburnersettohigh
andboilabout12minutesandthenstrain
offthewater,thoroughlyrinsewithclean
water.
Preheatovento350degrees,settimerfor30
minutes.Combinecabbagewithriceinalarge
bowl,mixwell,addsaucealittleatatimetothe
ricemixtureinthepan
Youneedtocookthericeuntilitishalfdone.It
shouldnotberawanditshouldnotbefully
cooked.DonotcookitsoftoryourJollofRice
willbemushy,(unlessyoulikemushyrice).
Carefullypourricethroughastrainer.Rinsewith
freshwaterallowingwatertodrainfromrice.
Transfer
NowMakeYourJollofRice
Pre-heatovento350.Settimerto30minutes.
Combinecabbagewithriceinalargebowl.Mix
well.
Addsauce,alittleatatime,tothericemixturein
thepan.
Becarefulnottoaddtoomuchsauce!
Yourriceshouldbecoveredwithsauce,butnot
watery.Youmaynotneedtouseallthesauce.Youcan
addanyremainingsaucelater,whilebaking.
Mixwellandtransfertoalargedeep13x9inch
aluminumbakingpanor2largePyrexdishes(8x11).
Coverandsealwithaluminumfoilandplaceinoven.
Settimerto30minutes.
After30minutes,removefromoven.Removefoil
coveringandcarefullystirriceinpan.Replacefoil
coverandputbackinoven.Bakeanother15minutes.
Removericefromovenagain.Removefoilandtest
yourJollofRicetoseeisitisdone.
Potato Greens Stew Jollof Rice

15 15
Leg Up
Monika Feist, Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of Success Skills Centre has
seen many success over the life span of the
organization throughout which she has been
at the helm. She has been a strong and
powerful voice for immigrants as she herself
was once in their shoes being an immigrant
from Germany.
“Celebrating 30 years of Success
Skills Centre’s operations means a lot to me
and my staff. It has been a fantastic client
relationships story, an interesting funding and
partners journey, and a constant renewal of
energy as we strive to overcome the variety
of artificial barriers our clients face daily.
The first half of the 30 years our organization
was “a voice in the wilderness”, and then we
were joined by others as the Province took
on a more active part through the Provincial
Nominee Program and the many it intended
to bring to Manitoba.
For myself, the fact that the Centre is
independently sought out via word-of-mouth
and former clients’ referrals, means that, the
concept of specialized services to immigrant
professionals and skilled workers was and is
needed in order to give a hand up for
individuals willing to put in the work to
return and apply to their home country
experience and enter their occupations here
sooner (than later, or never).” Monika said,
adding, “we love to see our past clients
dropping in to see us, some from across
Canada, to tell us their dreams have come
true, and that we were a part that helped
shape their outcomes. It’s such a good
feeling, and although our work never seems
to be done, every person coming into our
offices presents us new and different
challenges. One client recently told us at our
regular alumni gathering, that Success Skills
Centre staff was creating the citizens of tomorrow. What more of a
compliment can there be!”
A CBC Morning Radio Host Alfa is also a musician. He said working for the media has
been a lifelong dream for him but did not see a lot of people who looked like him the
media so he pursued a Civil engineering degree at the University of Manitoba but quit after
year three to follow his passion. “I realized civil engineering was not for me” he said and
added that once he heard an on air personality made a throw away stereotype about the email
scammers, that firmed up his resolve to get in there and do things differently. We need to
teach our children how to speak to the media and to authority figures, he said.
Guyana continued from page 7
L to R - Staff member Cicely Valel, Monika Feist (CEO), Roy Vallance (Board Chair)
Gary Elbers flanked by two gorgeous women Stacey Felix(GCOPresident)andIsmaila Alfa
GuestSpeaker
A few hundred
invitees made up of
past students,
volunteers, staff
and board members
plus people from
networking
agencies. It was a
classy inspiring
event.

16
Remembering
the Missing
and
Murdered
First
Nations
Women. The
Red Dress art
installation
project was
created by
Métis artist
Jaime Black.
Jamaica Cultural Dancers at Folklorama 2015
Welcome
Fall in
Winnipeg
Standing By our First Nations Sisters

Gem fall edition 2015

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