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It’s that time of year where people reflect on the past and set an intention to improve their future. In most cases, New Year’s resolutions are driven by self-improvement. What if, instead of focusing on personal achievement, white allies worked to emphasize already existing community-based initiatives? Not just in 2022.
Mauvey (he/him) is an alternative musical artist who blends various genres into creative, authentic expressions of love. His latest project, a mixtape titled The Florist, was released in late 2021, accompanied by a short film. Born in Ghana, but raised in the UK and so-called Vancouver, Mauvey continues to push the boundaries of the local and international music scene all while spreading love.
By the Fireside: Not all of us see the winter holiday as three weeks to run around throwing piles of snow at each other. Sometimes, all we really want are calm, warm evenings with family and friends, sharing hot chocolate, marshmallows and stories.
My beloved Winter Solstice,
I hold such a soft spot in my heart for you. I used to see you as just words on a calendar, unaware of all you had to offer. Now I think back to the first time I honoured you and I’m overflowing with love and gratitude. You gave me the opportunity to hold space for myself when I felt so alone in my grief. You also remind me of the blessings of rest and receiving.
The holidays are quickly approaching, and you’re unsure what to purchase your pal as a way to say thank you for listening to your gripes about dating, school and work. An avid hobbyist western astrologist, I provide gift suggestions that reject cisnormativity based on the twelve zodiac signs.
December barrels into our lives with a suitcase filled with less daylight, the pressure of gift-giving, familial obligations and, of course, exam stress. December throws that suitcase at you as if you are a bellhop, expecting you to carry it for all 31 days — plus an extended vacation into the new year.
I look back on my middle-school self with a mixture of derisive amusement and pity. The kid who was so out of the loop, he didn’t even try to fit in, the kid who thought playing Minecraft at lunch and breaking the school beep test record twice in two days would do anything but alienate me from the general population. I had friends, but I couldn’t really be myself around them. The primal human instinct to gravitate towards other people was completely lost on me.
While attending high school, I learned about Terry Fox’s stride across stolen land to raise money for cancer research, but when it came to acquiring knowledge about queer and Indigenous changemakers, I was on my own. These people’s stories are part of our history and their impact lives on today through activists, abolitionists and those brave enough to mobilize their rage to work towards dismantling the structures of oppression.
In the 1960s, Dr. Klaus created the infamous 1460 Doc Martens with air-cushioned soles. He showcased the prototype to a friend from university, and production began shortly after using surplus military supplies. Once released to the public, the clunky boot was adopted by older women who had a knack for sensible footwear. Doc Martens gained popularity in the 70s among members of counterculture circles, activists, punks and the queer community. A big factor in their adoption by those on the margins of society was their price tag, accessibility and availability in secondhand shops.