With rising support from the community in response to protests calling out systemic racism, the Guelph Black Heritage Society says the time to amplify BIPOC voices is now.
To help do this, GBHS has launched Diverse and Converse with Rogers TV in which BIPOC community leaders will engage in panel discussions to highlight changes needed on issues such as anti-racism, discrimination and police brutality in the community.
“They are the experts. They’re the ones doing the work, creating that change and we want to make sure that we have the right people on the panel to discuss those active steps for the community to collectively come together to create this positive effect for future generations to come,” said Aleia Ally, who is co-hosting the show with Kween, executive director of the GBHS.
A one-hour long episode of Diverse and Converse will run monthly on cable channel 20 in Guelph and Waterloo Region on Rogers TV. Each episode covers different topics. The first official episode will air Thursday and will discuss the education system.
“I think we knew these conversations needed to happen years ago,” said Kween who launched the show under her production company, The Kween Company.
She said while there have been programs to amplify BIPOC voices in the past few years, they haven’t been able to bring much change.
“In the light of the George Floyd protest and Breonna Taylor, it became heightened and aware that our voice is so damned everywhere,” said Kween.
Kween said by conversing with different communities, they’re opening the door to uncomfortable conversations which will allow community members to learn, grow, become better to each other and ultimately become better human beings.
“I think for myself, there’s never been that representation,” said Kween.
“Canada is a multi-race, multi-faith, multi-faceted community and if we continue to advertise that as such, we need to honour that.”
Kween and Ally pointed out that if shows like this existed while they were growing up, they would have had a different experience in the community.
“You would see yourselves on TV. You would relate to those characters or whoever was on television,” said Ally.
“You need a leader to look up to and I just didn't feel that was happening in my childhood at least.”
Ally said the show received incredible support after its pilot episode ran in July where a member of the Indigenous community, a member of the Black community and a person of colour discussed diversity by sharing their own stories.
“Our panellists are speaking from their own truth, their own experiences and that’s where we can connect and reflect and kind of bridge gaps that have been divided for so long,” said Ally.
“There are so many discussions we can really have and really at the end of the day, for Alia and I, is to challenge people a little bit, and ourselves and our idea and our thoughts we can work on to bring positive change in our community and for ourselves,” said Kween.
Ally said the positive responsive from the community is proof that community residents want to learn more.
“I cant wait to see it evolve. I know I keep saying that but I cant wait to see where it goes,” said Ally.
Kween said the goal of the show is to bring leaders of the BIPOC community together on a platform so their voices can be heard and the community can understand them and connect with them better.
“This is all about highlighting and continuing to push for that change whether that's a panel of all Black business owners or maybe a group of all BIPOC queer members or perhaps our South Asians that run so many businesses here.”
She said after the pilot episode, a panel member pointed out the significance of his child witnessing BIPOC members sharing their views.
“It was almost a safe space where we wouldn't ve judged or misconceptions from the media. It was just a space that they could come, educate, learn and grow.”
