Quick Reads
Space - A Point of Conflict or a New Beginning for Asia?
The expansion of space activities have introduced a novel element to Sino-Japanese competition. Mitigative initiatives must be put into place—now—to avoid conflict, tomorrow.
Therapy for the Soul
Internal interrogation is necessary for personal growth and sanity. Yet, we've consistently failed to examine our inner being. Therapy for the soul discusses the necessity of self interrogation through reflection and therapy, and unpacks the stigma of therapy in coloured communities.
Increasing the Toronto Police Services Budget is not Reimagining Policing
The Toronto government is planning to increase the Toronto Police Service’s nearly $1.1 billion budget by $48.3 million for 2023. The proposal was met with large-scale disapproval from 'defund the police' advocates. I use this piece to dig deeper into this conversation.
Why Blaming Meta for Exacerbating Harm During B.C. Wildfires is a Disingenuous Political Tactic
In response to the Online News Act, Meta has permanently removed access to news sources in Canada on Facebook and Instagram. With this blockade coinciding with active wildfires in British Columbia, the Canadian government has made it a point to admonish Meta’s perceived inhumanity in prioritizing profits over safety. Here, I assess if Meta has a responsibility to allow Canadians to share and access news links on the platform in times of crisis and if the absence of this ability exacerbate harm.
Equity-Based Hiring Practices are Under Fire, But The Reality of Merit-Based Systems is Misconstrued
Discussions about the merits and minacious effects of anti-racism and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have captured media headlines and conversations in recent weeks. Many have raised questions about “equity-based” hiring systems arguing that it prioritizes diversity hires over the best people in "merit-based" hiring systems. I argue that purely merit-based hiring systems were never our reality.
Happy Birthday
It feels like a distant past, but I remember a time when my birthday would excite me. Since then, I've gone on a journey where birthday's brought feelings of nuanced feelings that shifted from indifference to grief, to gratitude.
Personal Reflections on the use of the N-word
The N-word is largely understood as a derogatory word with deeply rooted trauma. Despite these roots, it has since been transformed for colloquial use for Black people. Here, I use my personal experiences to unpack this conversation.
Transforming Care - A Critique of the Care Industry
How has the health and wellness industry contributed to a lack of care in our society? More importantly, how can we change it? Part One.
How Critical Race Theory Critics Have Manufactured a Crisis
Over the last few months CRT has inundated news headlines in American media as discussions of CRT conjured a culture clash. Discussions on the topic have provoked racial divides, political smear campaigns, and legal action to prevent its teaching. Why is this happening?
With Elevated Levels of Air Pollution We Must Question How it Disproportionately Impacts our Racialized Communities
As wildfires across Canada cloud our skies and compromise our air quality, we see that here in Toronto, all residents are subject to poor air quality—the worst it has ever been in the city. However, it’s also the case that some regions have even higher levels of air pollution, having disproportionate impacts on our low-income, racialized, and Black communities, leading to a larger conversation on environmental racism.
Stories About my Grandfather
In his old age my grandfather was a man of few words. In his early years it was his beliefs and politics that shaped the rest of his life. I didn't know much about him when I was growing up, but as an adult I heard stories of complicated life and mental health challenges that changed me forever.
Debunking the Myth: Can Black People Be Racist?
In recent years a socio-political discourse has emerged that asserts that Black people, a marginalized group, cannot be racist. Fundamentally grounded in the concepts of institutional racism and societal racism, the idea is that the bedrock of racism is power. So, can Black people be racist? I express my thoughts in this piece.