File: TTInterview02172017 --- [Music] Q: It being Black History Month this month, why do you think it's important for people to understand the issues that like the black community faces today? A: I think it's important for everybody not just outside of the black culture but also within, because what I've noticed is there's some type of divide even within the black community and if we seem divided as a culture and a community then the outside not the outside but other cultures are going to look at us as divided also. So we have to start back to the roots, see where it all started. See like the founding fathers where things actually came from because a lot of it's just ignorance people just don't know where things started. So it's really important to have a month of just knowledge where we can share things that have happened in the history. Things that are progressing into the future and it's just really important for all cultures. Not even just the black community or or anybody outside of the black community, because black culture is so prevalent all over, especially in popular society today so. Q: So then why do you think movements like Black Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter movement is so important to have today? A:Same idea. There is some sort of divide. It comes all the way from back centuries ago and so it's important for, I think, a lot of people misunderstand that Black Lives Matter doesn't just mean black lives only matter. It's a way to stand up and say we've been oppressed for so long and this is our time to shine. We matter just as much as anybody else. So it's not saying nobody else matters, but it's saying we also matter. So I think that message is so, so important and it really sucks that it gets misinterpreted sometimes. But for the most part just for knowledge, just for people to recognize there are issues going on even outside of what's just shown on the news. So for groups like that to exist, not just for the black culture, for any culture really. It's very, very important for somebody to stand up and say here's my message, here's our message, and really have a voice for the community. Q: So then, what is the biggest misconception with black people today in your opinion? A: I think I would say for a lot of the part even like in media, black people are often portrayed as like angry or aggressive and people just see these images and then when you run into somebody of color in person you kind of already have a misconception in your head that oh they're going to act a certain way. I've had so many people say, oh my gosh you're so nice, I didn't expect that from you and it's like.... but why? And so there's some sort of stereotype, some sort of stigma that's been attached to the black culture and I'm not sure how we can erase it. Because it's just to paint everybody with the same paint brush is just it's not fair at all and so I just think those stereotypes that have been around just for years are the biggest misconception that, the anger, the aggression. I mean, of course, some of comes from what we've been through in the past but at the end of the day we're just as happy as any as any other culture. So for people to say, oh I didn't expect you to be that way, it's like why not? I think that's one of the main black women, yeah. Q: Absolutely. A: So I think that's one of the biggest misconceptions. We are not not weak, or angry, or aggressive, all the time. Like we are the same loving, nurturing, like happy-go-lucky people, and you'll find that like I've said before among many different cultures so it's not just pertaining to black but that's one of the biggest stigmas to the black culture. Q: So with racial tensions growing today in North America with you know President Trump and his travel ban and stuff like that, what do you think are the next steps to move forward? A: Back to what I was saying about the divide. It's all about coming together. Since we are separate, this is reasons why Donald Trump can put up bans like this because there are half of us standing behind him and then the other half standing way away. So we all have to come together within our own communities, outside of our communities, we all have to stand together. That way things like this cannot happen. We have to show support for one another, not just within our community, outside of our community. Literally that's just it- that divide has to close. I'm not sure on my own how we can do that, but movements such as Black Lives Matter and that kind of idea, it's a start. But that divide has to be closed or else Donald Trump can just run and do whatever and whoever precedes him afterwards can just do whatever they feel. Q: So we have less than 30 seconds left and I just want you to tell us what message you're trying to send with the Caribbean Student Association. A: Yeah I think the Caribbean gets really smooshed into a little cup of just Jamaicans or just Trinidadians, and people just forget that this island is so diverse. There's so many different cultures, So many different traditions, and things that are within the Caribbean and we just really want to express that. So it's a small region but huge culture and it influences Canadians, Americans all over the world and so I just feel like a group like us is really important. Again to say here's our message, share it with us. Take a look at it. Enjoy it with us. Q: Okay so thank you so much for being with us today.