Amplified | Black Women In The North

About this project, A week or so after the BLM Rally In Yellowknife; Kate brought an idea to me which was photographing a group of diverse black women. We chatted only a few moments before we set a date and called on friends. The original thought was one photo with a few words and quotes from the women that wanted to contribute their words. What its turned into is more than we anticipated. What you will see is 12 women; young girls, sisters, friends mothers, grandmothers, with 12 testimonies, thoughts, words, quotes, experiences. I suggest as you look through the images you meditate on the words and the faces, this is their truth, their story, for some their depths, that took great courage to stand and to share. 

“Black women are women who are of Sub-Saharan African and Afro-diasporic descent. The term black women is both a multi-faceted cultural identity and a social construct with different meanings in different places.Wikipedia

For me, in Yellowknife today it means that I get to live as part of a visible minority- an experience that is, after 7 years, still new to me. But more than ever before, I am aware of the collective courage  and the strength there is in solidarity. The social lanscape is shifting, and change is coming- dont be left behind.”

“Where is the Love? BLM”

“Almost 40 years!  I remember my family being one of very few "black" families in Yellowknife. Honestly, we felt like the only, because  aside from my brother, there was no one else in our school. Was I bullied?  Oh Yes. But I got the opportunity to live in my mother country which changed my life forever. 2020 has been something different to say the least, everything is much more intensified. I have 2 Beautiful boys!!! BEAUTIFUL!!!  I do not want them to go through what is going on right now. We need to stand together,  be kind and love one another. Simple as that right? “

“ Dark skinned girls have to dig deep to find their beauty represented in Western society; so the magic is not in the Black the magic is in rising in a world that tries to bury you; in soaring though they tried to clip your wings.” - Inemesit

“We declare our right on this earth to be a woman/man, to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary. You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless they have there freedom.”

“I have seen and experience so much racism in my lifetime, but never did I imagine my grandchildren would see and experience what I did. When will this end? “

“ Im from the North, I grew up in the North and for the first time in my life I feel like I belong.” -Candace

“Stronger together than apart. “

“I'm tired. I'm tired of taking a deep breath as I open the door to leave my home. Not knowing how I will be looked at, how I will be spoken to, how I will be treated, will I be safe... all because of the colour of my skin. I'm tired of always trying to make people feel "comfortable" with the colour of my skin. I'm tired of constantly giving myself pep talks multiple times a day... that my skin does not define me, that I am worthy. I am tired... because most of the time, I struggle to believe these words myself... "I am worthy". But somehow I dig deep and do this over and over. I remember that I am not the only one fighting this daily battle; so many before me and so many today. But now I take a deep breath and stand tall with black people, to do what we can to make changes... especially for our future generation. Changes so they dont feel the need to take a deep breath before leaving their homes, having intense feelings of worry, anxiety, insecurities or fear their safety, all because of the colour of their skin. We are worthy. Our lives matter. “

“We have to say something because’Choosing to remain neutral at a time like this is choosing the side of the oppressor.”

“As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” — Nelson Mandela

“The time to act is now! Enough is enough.” Tatenda

“Speak your mind even if your voice shakes”

-Maggie Kuhn 

“I read that quote the day Yellowknife put on its BLM rally. I walked with my friends from the multiplex down to the RCMP station and wondered what the crowd looked like out front, marching ahead of me showing support in a way I had not dared dream. I watched speaker after speaker take to the back of that truck and spread their truth to the community. Words of love and peace, the desire for our law enforcement to do better for its community, a cry for a mental health centre for our deeply scarred North. 

Tears formed in my eyes while crying out “I can’t‘ breathe” during the protest, I was in a moment of passion and pain I had never let come to the forefront of my mind, my voice, my soul.  

I grew up knowing the world hated me just because I was born dark skinned, knew I had to work harder to be seen as equal amongst my fair skinned peers, knew I would be “pretty for a black girl” to the boys I thought might see me for who I was: Intelligent, worthy, and breathtaking. I fought everyday to be “manageable” around those who found my personality too BIG or my tone too strong, aggressive even. I resisted confrontation when friends tried to rationalize to me that the cops had no choice when shooting down countless unarmed black people.

That day at the protest they called for any last minute speakers and all this anger, this sorrow, this fear that change would never come took over and l walked to that truck and I took the mic.

I want to amend that’s quote and I want anyone who reads this take one thing away from my words. Speak up. Every time you choose to watch this inequality happen you are part of the problem, every time you make jokes about your privilege while you do nothing to help this movement you are part of the problem, if you know the system that caters to you and only you and never the minority and you sleep just fine at night you are part of the problem, if these riots and protest annoy you because that’s all people can talk about you are part of the problem, if you don’t correct your family and friends when they say terrible racist things you are part of the problem.

It is not my job to teach you how to be an ally, this is the 21st-century you are an educated person who knows how to use the Internet. Research the history of the violence against black people and other minorities, research the systems that they have put in place to make sure that we are never as successful as our white counterparts, do better. Speak the hell up.

You are not ignorant you know what you’re doing, you know what you’re saying, you know what your friends and family are saying and doing and you know that it’s wrong. The only reason it doesn’t bother you is because it does not affect your life, your peace of mind but you know who it does affect? Me and everyone who looks like me for all of my life and for all of the lives of those who came before me, it affects us all and if you want to play ignorant then let me tell you this. YOU are apart of the problem.

If my voice shakes for the rest of my life while I fight to make sure everyone who I surround myself with knows that I am equal and to rightfully be treated with respect in all aspects, in all environments of my life then I will till my dying breath. I will make sure that I never feel inadequate again around anyone so be prepared because not only will I speak up I’ll make sure I yell it from the rooftops just incase you can’t hear me in the back.”