Ryerson University’s annual Social Justice Week Mandela ECI Lecture has always managed to capture the imagination of a wide variety of Torontonians by keeping its finger on the pulse of timely, topical issues tied to race, culture, and the African diaspora. This free event takes place Wednesday, October 25 at Ryerson University.
This year’s Mandela ECI Lecture Black Be/longing: At the crossroads of art, culture, and human rights will spotlight one of Canada’s most important contemporary writers and revolutionary thinkers, M. NourbeSe Philip.
By writing memory upon the margin of history, in the shadow of empire, and at the frontier of silence, NourbeSe Philip’s aim has always been to make us see what has gone unseen. In this lecture, NourbeSe Philip will draw from Blank and explore questions of belonging, race, politics, art, and the so-called multicultural nation. The lecture will be moderated by Ryerson University’s Dr. Denise O’Neil Green, Vice President of Equity and Community Inclusion.
Joining her to respond and share their reflections are civil rights lawyer Anthony Morgan, and journalist/ columnist Vicky Mochama.
The evening opens with a performance by 2017 Polaris Music Prize Award-winning musician Lido Pimienta.
NourbeSe Philip will also launch her new book Blank (Book Thug) at the event. Be sure to stay around to learn more about her latest project.
Speaker & Guest Bios.
M. NourbeSe Philip is a poet, essayist, novelist and playwright who lives in the space-time of the city of Toronto where she practised law for seven years before leaving to write. Among her published books of poetry, five are seminal: She Tries Her Tongue; Her Silence Softly Breaks, Looking for Livingstone: An Odyssey of Silence, and Zong! where she engages in genre-breaking exploration of memory, history and the untelling of the transatlantic slave trade. Saying she is prolific is understatment. Philip has also published four collections of essays, one playscript, and has received many recognitions — including Pushcart Prize (USA), the Casa de las Americas Prize (Cuba). Her play, Coups and Calypsos, was a Dora Award (Canada) finalist.
I met NourbeSe Philip many years ago through an arts festival. She is kind, friendly, and so very knowledgeable. I have also seen her perform at SummerWorks. Her voice and words are powerful, and surely make an impression.
Anthony Morgan is a human rights and civil liberties lawyer at Falconers LLP, where his practice focuses on state accountability litigation. He is also an advocate and frequent legal, social and public affairs commentator on issues concerning racism, critical multiculturalism and critical race theory in Canada. He was appeared on or written for CBC, CityNews, CTV, CNN, Toronto Star, Globe & Mail.
Vicky Mochama is a writer who comments on politics, gender and race. She writes a column for Metro News and for the Toronto Star. In addition, she co-hosts a podcast (with Buzzfeed’s Ishmael Daro) called Safe Space. Vicky is a co-author of the best-selling Canadaland Guide to Canada.
Lido Pimienta is a Toronto-based, Colombian-born interdisciplinary musician and artist-curator. Her music and art explores the politics of gender, race, motherhood, identity and the construct of the Canadian landscape in the Latin American diaspora and vernacular. Lido’s latest LP La Papessa which won the prestigious 2017 Polaris Music Prize.
Ryerson University / Social Justice Week – Mandela ECI Lecture
55 Dundas St. West (TRSM 1-067)
Wednesday October 25th 2017
6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
FREE ADMISSION
NourbeSe at Naropa-Wake for Trayvon Martin from Alystyre Julian on Vimeo.
