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This week at SFU

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Peak Web
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photo of SFU track and field athlete Marie-Éloïse Leclair.
PHOTO: Jacob Hall / SFU Athletics

By: Simran Sarai, Sports Writer

Away Games

Tuesday, February 21: men’s golf at Rattler Invitational (all day).

Tuesday, February 21: track and field at Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Indoor Track and Field Championships (all day).

Tuesday, February 21: softball vs Chaminade (Hawaii) at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 23: women’s basketball vs Western Washington at 7:00 p.m. 

Saturday, February 25: track and field at Seattle Pacific Last Chance Qualifier (all day).

Saturday, February 25: men’s wrestling at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Super Region 6 Tournament.

  • Preliminaries at 7:00 a.m.
  • Finals at 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 25: softball vs Hawaii Pacific at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 25: men’s basketball vs Western Washington at 7:00 p.m.

Organizers call on Canadian post-secondaries to support women in Afghanistan

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of an individual, with their back to the camera, holding a sign that reads “Right to Learn. Right to Work for all Women and Girls.”
PHOTO: Nk Ni / Unsplash

By: Natalie Cooke, News Writer

Women in Afghanistan have faced many challenges, including the inability to pursue higher education. Since the Taliban had its return to power in 2021, they have restricted women’s right to higher education. “In December 2022, university education for [Afghan] women was suspended until further notice, affecting over 100,000 female students attending government and private higher education institutions,” according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. 

The Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan (CW4WA) have developed a toolkit to provide women in Afghanistan access to higher education. Sarah Keeler, the advocacy manager at CW4WA, explained the toolkit offers a variety of suggestions, including “everything from offering spaces for Afghan women to continue their studies at Canadian institutions to sharing our social media posts and factsheet.”

There are many tools that are recommended for Canadian universities, including: accepting transfer students, enabling virtual enrollment, waiving application fees, assisting with financial need, helping prepare future university students, and contributing resources and volunteers. 

She noted, “The true test of this campaign will be when Canadian institutions and communities take up the calls to action [ . . . ] We have seen a great response from higher education and civil society organizations so far, and we know that the rights of Afghan women is an issue that Canadians care deeply about.”

Keeler shared that while the toolkit was created to be used by Canada’s higher education institutions, it is important that Canadians, including youth and students, can participate in advocacy for the right to education. “Afghan women have told us that when they see people as far away as Canada speaking out in defense of their human rights, it’s a powerful source of hope and strength for them to continue their brave work.”

Keeler encourages students to take further action towards the cause, such as participating in symbolic walkouts “in solidarity with their peers in Afghanistan.” As well as urging “your institution to adopt the recommendations of the toolkit, including issuing a solidarity statement.”

Braden McMillan, the director of media relations for SFU, shared a statement to The Peak on behalf of SFU. He said, “SFU is aware of the recently issued CW4WA toolkit and will be reviewing it.”

He also shared that since 1981, SFU has supported refugee students through their partnership with World University Services Canada (WUSC) Student Refugee Program, including students from Afghanistan. “SFU has supported scholars through our partnership with Scholars at Risk, which is an organization that protects scholars around the world suffering threats to their lives, liberty, and well-being.”

In 2021, SFU developed a fund in response to the fall of the Afghanistan government. The donations “cover salary, benefits, professional development, research costs, books and conferences for scholars.” The donations also support vulnerable students by covering “tuition, books, living costs, international travel, and settlement expenses.”

“We have seen a great response from higher education and civil society organizations so far,” said Keeler. “Building this global support for the idea that human rights are universal, they apply to all of us, is a powerful antidote to the divisions our world faces.”

To make a donation to the Threatened Scholars and Student Fund, visit their website, or email [email protected].

Building Black community in Vancouver on social media

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of the outside of the Vancouver Public Library, where the event was held
PHOTO: Vancouver Public Library

By: Saije Rusimovici, Staff Writer

On February 15, the Vancouver Public Library hosted an event called “Building Black British Columbia with Social Media.” Moderating the discussion was Dr. Handel Kashope Wright, the director of UBC’s Centre for Culture, Identity, and Education. It also featured SFU student Balqees Jama, who was named one of Canada’s 2022 top 100 Black women to watch. Jama joined Debbie Forbes, SFU film graduate and moderator of the Facebook group “Meanwhile, Black in Vancouver.” 

The discussion focused on how the Black community uses social media to share the continuity of its history, celebrate, and connect online. In a city where Black people have been displaced, the speakers emphasize the importance of building community and the importance of community care. 

Since the construction of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts nearly fifty years ago, the Black community in Vancouver has not had a central neighbourhood. The viaducts were built over Hogan’s Alley in the Strathcona neighbourhood, displacing much of the Black population in Vancouver. Social media platforms like “Meanwhile, Black in Vancouver” are now working to create a “digital Hogan’s Alley.”

Today, the Facebook group has over five thousand members and connects Black people to businesses, services, and stores selling traditional goods, clothing shops, and healthcare. “Social media has helped because it has completely changed the dynamic in which people who are of African descent can find each other,” Forbes told CBC. She emphasized the group is private and screens members before accepting membership. The posts shared are also screened by the group moderators to avoid any duplicated content or inappropriate material.

Forbes recounts moving to Vancouver for the first time and struggling to find connection to the Black community. In 2017, when she became moderator of the Facebook group, Forbes started to feel like she had found her community. “I have not just found my people, but my tribe of progressive-minded Black people.” 

Jama reflected on how social media has provided her with a platform to connect with her peers. She and a group of others started an Instagram page called “Black and Muslim 604.” “For context, 3% of Vancouver is Muslim and 1% of Vancouver is Black.” She added, “You can imagine the intersection of how few Black Muslims there are.” Jama described the support that online communities gave her during COVID-19 and the George Floyd protests. 

When asked to share her message to SFU students, Jama replied: “Don’t be afraid to be political, all of our struggles and liberations are connected.” Jama also noted, “Blackness is not synonymous with struggle and trauma [ . . . ] there is a lot of diversity within Black diaspora that we do need to embrace and acknowledge.”  

She also points out that “centering community care” is an important part of Black community. “Lean on your supports and build solidarity too,” she added.

February is Black History Month, but Jama notes it is not just during this month that these issues should be considered. “Black people are Black people all year round — not just in February.” 

To connect with Meanwhile, Black in Vancouver, visit their page on Facebook. To connect with Black and Muslim 604, visit their page on Instagram @blackandmuslim604

Espresso Martinis

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Peak Web
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an espresso martini with a coffee bean on top
PHOTO: YesMore Content / Unsplash

By: Hannah Kazemi, Staff Writer

Espresso martinis combine the two worst flavours: alcohol and coffee. Made with espresso and vodka, I always perceived espresso martinis to be one of the most “adult” of the adult drinks. I’ve seen posh people order them in movies and I wanted to be posh too. I couldn’t wait to turn 19 and order one myself. Once I did, I regretted it instantly.

Espresso martinis are gross. How can it be that so many people love combining the taste of vodka (ew) and almost-warm espresso (double ew)? I’m a coffee lover, but only if it tastes nothing like coffee. Mochas, caramel macchiatos, double caramel iced coffees — they’re a million times better than plain espresso (and I’m Italian!). They make me happy when I drink them. Black coffee tastes like dirt water. Vodka tastes like nail polish remover. It makes me physically recoil. Why people would voluntarily put that taste combination in their bodies simultaneously is beyond me.

Espresso martini is also a contradiction: coffee is an upper, and vodka is a depressant. The initial stimulant effect of caffeine is not worth the rancid experience of the worst-tasting forms of coffee and alcohol combined into one drink.

I want to have some words with the person who accidentally spilled coffee in their martini and decided it tasted good, because that is a crime. Espresso martinis are an insult to all cocktails and should be outlawed.

Autism and ADHD aren’t just “trends”

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Peak Web
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illustration of a disgruntled looking person with the rainbow neurodivergence infinity symbol above their head
ILLUSTRATION: Alyssa Umbal / The Peak

By: Olivia Visser, Opinions Editor

If you’re a social media user, you’ve likely noticed a rise in posts about autism and ADHD on your timeline. Neurodivergence — the state of having a different brain from those without mental conditions — has been a hot topic in online communities over the last few years. As more people come to the realization that they experience life differently from their peers, social media has become a safe haven for those who have shared experiences and may have trouble fitting in offline. In light of this, others are latching onto the idea that these conditions are being overdiagnosed, faked, or exaggerated. Any potential truth behind such claims pales in comparison to the damage this rhetoric does to neurodivergent acceptance.

I was diagnosed with ADHD at 11, and with autism a whopping 10 years later. One of the reasons for this time disparity is a shift in public perception about autism. In 2010, few people would assume that the child who gets good grades in school and has a couple friends might be autistic. As a result, I went through my youth confused about social norms and friendships, yet blamed myself for being “weird.” 

Nowadays, more people are coming to the realization that autism is a vast spectrum encompassing all sorts of different traits and personalities. The rise in autism diagnoses means individuals are increasingly able to understand themselves and access support that meets their needs. This is a good thing. However, there are always those determined to criticize strangers on the internet. A Vox article from 2021 claims “social media is now basically WebMD for mental health.” The writer argues TikTokers overpathologize behaviours, which causes division and renders these labels essentially meaningless. 

To an extent, I can understand where they’re coming from. It can be irritating to scroll through videos that claim having strong passions equals autism, or that getting bored easily means you have ADHD. Sometimes, these videos appear to be as broadly relatable as possible to increase view counts. Likewise, many companies do the same thing when marketing their products to increase sales. There seems to be an increasing notion that being aloof or introverted means you’re neurodivergent, which isn’t necessarily true. At the same time, those who complain that “everyone is neurodivergent now” overlook the fact that late diagnosis impacts many adults. While there may be something to be said about reducing conditions to miniscule traits that most humans experience, there’s also something to be said about downplaying neurodivergent perspectives.

Most people with a late diagnosis of autism or ADHD find that their life suddenly makes sense and are able to more easily accept themselves. After all, if these conditions are “spectrum disorders,” there can’t be a strict archetype that each individual must fit into for a diagnosis. The increasing criticism towards neurodivergent people who share their experiences online has made me afraid to be open about my own diagnoses. I’m sure others feel the same way. These conditions don’t define me, but they play a massive role in shaping my daily experiences and interactions. Discovering that I wasn’t alone in my struggles allowed me to accept myself. Talking about this doesn’t make me attention-seeking.

It’s also important to recognize the barriers that prevent many neurodivergent people from seeking official diagnoses. An adult autism diagnosis is at least $2,000 in BC, and can follow a lengthy wait as well as require an interview from a parent or relative. An ADHD diagnosis is also around $300. Keeping this in mind, we shouldn’t label people as “fakers” for being unable to access an assessment. The government needs to step up its resources for neurodivergent adults, and that shouldn’t invalidate an undiagnosed person’s experiences. 

It can be easy for some to roll their eyes at social media posts they disagree with, but it’s just as easy to scroll past what you don’t like. In fact, Instagram and Twitter now offer the option to mute posts with unwanted words. I’d say this is far more productive than engaging in harmful discourse about other people’s mental health and identities.

The Central Asian Student Association organizes fundraiser drive for the earthquake in Turkey and Syria

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Peak Web
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This is a photo of the outside of the Student Union Building at the SFSS Burnaby campus. The photo is a close up of the doors. Above the doors the sign reads “Student Union Building, Simon Fraser University”
PHOTO: Afsaneh Keivanshekouh / The Peak

By: Aditi Dwivedi, News Writer & Karissa Ketter, News Editor

The Central Asian Student Association (CASA) of SFU organized a fundraiser and donation drive for the people affected by the earthquake which struck South East Turkey and North West Syria on February 6, 2023. 

More than 40 million people are suffering from the damage caused by the two earthquakes of magnitude 7.8 and 7.5. Since then, the regions of Turkey and Syria have dealt with approximately 200 aftershocks causing further destruction and an exponential increase in casualties. The affected population of northwest Syria is even more vulnerable due to the decade-long ongoing war, causing millions of displaced people to live in camps. 

While rescue operations are underway, the “understaffed and under-resourced” health facilities have made these regions “entirely reliant on international aid to assist with this emergency.” From February 14 onwards, the Central Asian Student Association has conducted multiple fundraisers and donation drives on the Burnaby campus of SFU. The proceeds of these initiatives will go towards the efforts in Syria and Turkey.

In an interview with The Peak, Sude Guvendik, a representative of the Central Asian Student Association, spoke about the importance of supporting the SFU community and victims of the earthquake. According to Guvendik, CASA collaborated with the Turkish student community at SFU and the Muslim Student Association to organize the fundraisers.

She said the “university has not issued a statement of solidarity or support for Turkish and Syrian students and faculty members; we feel left behind by our institution while grieving our loved ones.” CASA decided to work with other student organizations like Amnesty International, to help the victims in Syria and Turkey, and the people grieving at SFU.

On February 6, 2023, SFU tweeted a message that read, “With deep sympathy, SFU shares its concern for those affected by the devastating earthquake in Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria.”

The Peak reached out to SFU for comment. Braden McMillan, the director of media relations, said, “We encourage any student or SFU community member that needs support at this time to reach out” to the support resources provided by SFU Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Resources such as connecting with Health and Counselling or a guide to critical incident support can be found on their website.

Guvendik observed the need for a “collective response,” while discussing the lack of engagement beyond the international students directly affected by the calamity. She said, “The university administration’s silence is disappointing and unacceptable.” As students, members of the CASA are spreading awareness by word of mouth, posters, and through social media. The university, according to Guvendik, could have utilized the “massive mailing lists” to email faculties and students to raise awareness about the CASA’s initiatives.

Guvendik explained the CASA “wanted more exposure” of their initiatives by conducting their fundraisers and donations drives in the Academic Quadrangle at the SFU Burnaby campus, but they were unable to reserve a spot. 

She said, “The SFSS informed us that we needed to book spaces two weeks in advance — well we did not expect or predict the earthquake. She added, “There should have been an emergency response for such fundraisers that are important and urgent.” She said the situation “was really hard and they weren’t making it easier for us.” 

The Central Asian Student Association is collecting items like baby food, diapers, blankets, sleeping bags, canned and food grains, first aid kits, menstrual products, and other essential items which will be donated to the Turkish Consulate General in Vancouver. The Turkish Consulate General will send these items to the affected areas. Apart from that, CASA has an ongoing fundraiser on their Instagram page to collect monetary donations which will directly be transferred to Ahbap, a non-governmental organization raising funds and awareness about the earthquake and its impact.

To donate to the cause of the Turkey and Syria Earthquake, visit CASA’s Instagram page @sfucasa.

The objectification of women in sports

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Peak Web
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photo of a woman posing in front of the camera.
PHOTO: Miriam Alonso / Pexels

By: Simran Sarai, Sports Writer

In 2021, after years of pressure from the public, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) changed their rules to allow athletes to make money from brand deals and advertisements. This big shakeup was a massive shift from the organization’s previous regulations, which prohibited athletes from using their name, image, or likeness — commonly referred to as NIL — to make money. The rule change opened up opportunities for NCAA athletes of all levels to pursue advertising partnerships. 

Unsurprisingly, many NCAA athletes with large social media followings on apps like TikTok, have been greatly impacted by the rule change. Since NCAA athletes don’t get compensated for their performance, and therefore are not considered pro athletes, endorsements can help support an athlete in their life outside of sports. It can help prop them up in popularity to land a job in their sport in the long-term, even if it’s not as a competitor. But social media fame is a double-edged sword. 

One athlete dealing with this consequence is junior Louisiana State University (LSU) gymnast Olivia Dunne. The 20-year-old former US national gymnastic team member skyrocketed to fame on TikTok, amassing over seven million followers, and having more than three million Instagram followers.

Dunne’s widespread appeal has made her one of the most top-followed and wealthiest NCAA atheletes. She has a current net worth of over two million dollars from NIL partnerships, including a deal with athleisure brand, Vuori. However, Dunne’s fame has resulted in backlash from the public and those in the gymnastics world who feel that her social media presence reflects negatively on NCAA women’s sports. 

A story published in the New York Times suggested that Dunne’s rise to fame had less to do with her athletic accomplishments and more to do with “traditional feminine desirability.” That same story also quoted Stanford women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer, who said that the new rules allowing NIL deals overly focuses on athletes’ beauty, rather than ability. 

While Dunne’s beauty certainly contributes to her popularity, her massive following is in part sustained by the interest in her athletic and life endeavors. However, Dunne’s profitable social media presence and brand deals has come with a downside — overzealous fans.

While NCAA athletes at powerhouse schools such as LSU are no stranger to fans at their events, a lot of Dunne’s followers are teenage boys, many of whom showed up to wait for the athlete after a LSU gymnastics meet versus Utah in late January. A video of the crowd of boys showed them piled outside the meet facility, screaming incessantly for Dunne to come out and greet them. Dunne had to take to social media after the meet to implore her fans to respect her and her fellow gymnasts.

Although many professional athletes have crowds of fans craving to meet them, Dunne faces a unique situation with how fast she’s risen to fame for both her athletic ability and popularity as an influencer. Her young age and gender have not only opened her up to criticism from NCAA coaches and the public, but have also left her vulnerable to young men pushing the boundaries of privacy.

The shaming of young athletes who display a personality on social media is ironic, given that the sports world loves to objectify its athletes — especially women — to ensure that fans are remaining interested and continuing to create revenue for teams. A TIME magazine article on sexism at the Olympics referenced a study that found that 64% of women athletes were photographed in “sexy” poses, instead of being photographed in more “athletic” poses like men athletes were. 

So while the NCAA advertisement changes are life changing, young women athletes, who may have already been showcasing their personality and life outside of sports, are more susceptible to receiving criticism for their online content. And while this has become a serious issue, nothing has been done to combat issues already pre-existing in sports that are being heightened by this rule change. This includes the systemic causes of these sexist views, and the lack of professional sports opportunities that push young women athletes towards marketing themselves on social media for feasible income.

Horoscopes February 27–March 3

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Peak Web
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An illustration of a girl with long flowing hair. Astrological signs and stars shine around her.
ILLUSTRATION: Marissa Ouyang / The Peak

By: Petra Chase, Arts & Culture Editor

Aries: The Stars say to hold off on cutting bangs. Hey, what are you doing with those dull scissors? Oh wait . . . the stars are picking up on a new frequency and you can totally cut your bangs tomorrow, but it’s 4:00 a.m., how about you sleep and see how you feel in the morning? And . . . there goes your hair. How am I not surprised, Aries? Well, at least it’s almost buzzcut season.

Taurus: Just because the sun is shining a little brighter, doesn’t mean you need to be wearing short sleeves and shorts. It’s freezing out, and your smug expression doesn’t hide the goosebumps on your skin. I know you want to win the who-has-the-thickest-skin “competition,” but, I promise; it isn’t you. Please, put on a jacket.

Gemini: The Stars suggest starting a club for your fellow air signs where each week, you read a wikiHow article and discuss how to apply it in your lives. Learn to shower with a lemon, apologize to a cat, and win a fight with a stick. I know you’ve been wanting to start a book club, and this is kinda like that, but better. Trust the universe.

Cancer: Stop calling them “silly little” mental health walks. Go on your walks and own it. Splurge on that daily $8 iced oat milk latte with pride. Sit under a cherry blossom tree and take serious, grandiose selfies. Cry your heart out while you listen to sad songs but make sure you end with a confidence booster. No one likes a tough cookie, but a cookie that’s got a tough exterior and soft inside is delicious.

Leo: Leo? Is that a Zodiac sign? I swear, I’ve never heard of a Leo. That’s embarrassing . . . for you.

Virgo: You’re living proof that Virgo’s Groove is a real phenomenon. People think you’re spring cleaning when it’s just a regular Tuesday. What’s the harm in that? Never change!

Libra: It’s a great time to start journaling and focusing on yourself. Write letters to those who have hurt you. You don’t have to send them out. Just speak your truth out into the universe. The Stars will handle the rest. You can call it poetic justice. And passive-aggressively share quotes about being the bigger person on your Instagram story.

Scorpio: Arguing with strangers in the comment section of celebrities’ Instagram accounts is not a healthy outlet for your anger and resentment. No matter how right you may be, mcfoggthedog69 will never concede. Go outside and smell flowers. Step into the ocean and feel the sand between your toes. Join a meditation or yoga club.

Sagittarius: Oh, hello, there, you. You look stunning. Oh, right, your horoscope. Sorry, you make me lose my train of thought. The Stars told me you’re single and ready to mingle. Not that I asked about that — it just came up in our conversation naturally. They say you’re ready to let a new person into your life. Spring is all about being open-minded. I don’t care if you’re looking for romance or friendship. You’re just so cool and I want to be in your life.

Capricorn: The Stars and I are avid members of the Facebook group, “A group where everyone hates corn” (this is actually where we met). Your name literally translates to baby corn, so it’s no surprise you have an obsession with the substance. And it’s no surprise we have a problem with that. The tentacle-y texture of not-yet-formed bulbs is simply disturbing. Whoever said “it’s got the juice” was very wrong because there’s nothing juicy or refreshing about corn. Come back and talk to us when you’ve changed your name and appetite.

Aquarius: Yours was the hardest to get a reading on, Aquarius. I was getting visions of you cliff diving, but they didn’t end very well. So, don’t do that. Anything but cliff diving. Perhaps try something new, like knitting, or being vulnerable and expressing your true feelings instead of bottling them up?

Pisces: Spring is all about letting go, and you need to let go of your dead plants — all twelve of them. Your window sill is a graveyard. Hold a funeral if that helps you process your loss, but please get rid of them. Psst. Fake plants are always an option!

This week at SFU

By
Peak Web
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photo of an SFU softball player taking a pitch.
PHOTO: Garrett James / SFU Athletics

By: Isabella Urbani, Sports Editor

Away Games 

Monday, February 27 to Tuesday, February 3: women’s golf at the California St. East Bay Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout (all day)

  • Tied for third-place at their last competition 
  • Withdrew from the tournament last year due to positive COVID-19 tests

Thursday, March 2: women’s basketball vs Central Washington at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships 

  • Lost last year in the quarter-finals to Central Washington
  • Winner advances 

Friday, March 3 to Saturday, March 4: women’s wrestling at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships 

  • SFU will send nine wrestlers after finishing in second-place at the Regional Championships 

Friday, March 3: men’s hockey vs UVIC at 7:30 p.m. 

  • Beat UVIC 3–2 the last time they played 
  • Logan Bromhead opened the scoring for SFU with his 14th goal of the season, tying the team lead for most goals

Saturday, March 4: men’s hockey vs Vancouver Island University at 7:15 p.m. 

  • Final regular season game of the year 
  • Lost their first game of the season to Vancouver Island 

Saturday, March 4: women’s softball vs Saint Martin’s (Wash.) at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. 

  • Lost all five games against Saint Martin’s last year 

Sunday, March 5: women’s softball vs Western Washington at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. 

  • Lost last year’s season series against Western Washington three games to one 

Photography exhibition tour challenges the colonial gaze

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Peak Web
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Two Black femme-presenting people are crouched in what looks like a grassy front yard, with only their backsides visible. Both have dynamic disco-esque outfits on, one with hair rollers holding up their hair, and the other with a top knot and traditional hat.
PHOTO: Jorian Charlton

By: Nercya Kalino, Staff Writer

As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic is The Polygon Gallery’s latest exhibit, from February 24 to May 14. It’s part of an ongoing photography exhibition tour curated by SFU Masters alum and curator Elliott Ramsey, whose non-binary and mixed-race identity influences his artistic approaches. The exhibition is organized by Aperture and photos in the exhibition are sourced from the Wedge Collection, “Canada’s largest privately owned collection committed to championing Black artists.”

As We Rise features more than 100 photographs from “1930’s Harlem Renaissance, through post-colonial Bamako, to contemporary Toronto.” This includes images by iconic civil rights photographer Gordon Parks, Hasselblad award-winner Malick Sidibé, portraitist Carrie Mae Weems, and contemporary photographer Texas Isaiah.

The Peak interviewed Ramsey to learn more about the exhibition, in anticipation of the opening celebration on February 23.

“Black identity is a very heterogeneous and plural thing,” Ramsey stated, “Plural identities are really brought in this exhibition; different experiences and histories of migration, of work, of play, of family — all of these different representations.” Ramsey explained the focus is not only on the ethnic backgrounds of the photographers but also their immediate subjects that have Black histories and ancestry. He added these representations offer a different narration, considering the history of exclusion in “fine arts photography.” 

Ramsey explained there is a difference in approach when the subject and photographer are of the same ethnicity, compared to a photographer with a different ethnicity sympathizing with a subject. In the case of a Black photographer and subject, “the gaze is mutual and consensual.” He also pointed out there are feelings of reciprocalities, familiarity, and trust within the images shown in the exhibition. 

“Thinking about the Atlantic as the middle passage that the Black and African diaspora disperses out from, we’ve got photographers from North America, South America, Africa, and Europe,” said Ramsey. According to the press release, “the imagery produced is far from uniform. It is as varied, surprising, and heterogeneous as the Black Atlantic itself. Like a family album, it is idiosyncratic.”

Speaking on the audience’s response to the tour so far, Ramsey pointed out that their University of Toronto Art Museum exhibit in September 2022 amassed keen interest. “It’s been a lovely thing for our community,” Ramsey said. He mentioned that there was “an eager and appreciative crowd coming together for the opening in Toronto.” Ramsey looks forward to receiving the same welcome to the exhibition tour when it arrives in Vancouver. 

“I hope that all kinds of people, different audiences, come to see this exhibition. I think that with the exhibition As We Rise there is an assumption that it is a show for Black audiences and we definitely want to celebrate Black communities, Black people.” Ramsey explained. “I myself come from a mixed-race background and my father’s family is Black. This show is not only for one audience, it’s also for all audiences who haven’t seen Black culture through depiction in this kind of celebratory way.”

Ramsey also spoke on the methods of bringing the works of the various photographers together. The exhibition is based on a book published by Aperture in New York by the same name: As We Rise: Photography from the Black Atlantic. Ramsey elaborated how the book has many photographs but “a bit of editing had to happen there, the way the book was laid out and printed there are photographs that take up two pages of spread that in actuality are very small.” 

Ramsey and Aperture “didn’t want to organize the work by geography or time.” Instead, they came up with the themes, “community, identity, and power.”

“In the context of Blackness,” he explained, “these things seem almost synonymous with each other. Your identity comes from your community and it bestows on you power and you seek to empower that community that you draw your identity from.”

There is a lot to see once the exhibition tour arrives in Vancouver, including guided tour options. For more information, visit the Polygon website. 

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Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

Contact us:
[email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society 1965-2024