As a research network that involves scholars, students, artists and community members across North America, SpokenWeb condemns racism, and supports those who are actively protesting against structural anti-Black racism and violence.  We condemn the murder of George Floyd and the hatred and violence against Black communities that it represents. We support Black Lives Matter and believe it is crucial to amplify the conversation this movement has initiated.

SpokenWeb’s work in discovering, preserving, and sounding voices of the past is motivated in great part by the desire to challenge canons of literature, and reimagine Canadian and North American literary and cultural history by listening and attending to voices that had previously been silenced.  Our work has been and will continue to pursue the goal of providing support and platforms to artists of diverse backgrounds whose work helps us see and resist structural racism and other forms of violence and oppression.

Beyond our ongoing program of preserving, studying and supporting the work of performers and artists who have been affected by racism, settler-colonialism, and heterosexism, SpokenWeb has decided to focus its annual Artist / Curator in Residence fellowship program this year to support Black poets, spoken word artists, sound artists and/or curators whose work explores Black experience in Canada.  We will support this work in the form of two residency fellowships of $5000 each. Please read an announcement about this new program, here, and please apply if you are eligible.

Find out more about
the new program…

There are also more immediate actions that one may take to support the resistance of anti-Black racism. We can all continue to educate ourselves, and help.

Black voices matter.
Black Lives Matter.

Listen to the voices of the Kamau Brathwaite Remix Engine
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Official George Floyd Memorial Fund: All proceeds go to the Floyd Family.
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Justice for Regis petition and fund: In Toronto, Ontario, on May 27, 2020, Regis Korchinski Paquet was witnessed being pushed off her apartment balcony by police. Here is the petition and fund for Regis. Proceeds will go to her family who are seeking answers from the Toronto Police Department.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PETITION →
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FUND →

Standing Committee for the Support of Demonstrators (SCSD): The SCSD (Montreal-based) aims at supporting individuals facing repression (legal sanctions, injuries, etc.) in the context of demonstrations and street protests.
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Black Lives Matter – Montréal
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Black Lives Matter – Toronto
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Black Lives Matter – Vancouver
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Black Youth Helpline: As well as the physical health of Black Canadian youth, their mental health is important, especially in times of collective trauma. The Black Youth Helpline, a registered Canadian charity organization, provides material support to vulnerable youth in marginalized communities.
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Updated June 8, 2020