Finding Motivation Within Myself

When multimedia storyteller Robert Young asked me to be a part of his Unmask Fear Canada public art installation at Harbourfront Centre, I was flattered, humbled and excited. But I didn’t really grasp what this really meant or the impact it would have on the public - and on me.

My face is now on the window of the main building of Harbourfront, my name and company on the accompanying display below. Wow! The official launch was last month, but with all the excitement of meeting the other participants, attending one of my first in-person social events during this pandemic, and my duties as a publicist, I didn’t really have an opportunity to take in this powerful installation - until now.

I decided to use part of my Selfcare-Sunday routine to celebrate me and go down and take in this inspiring display of 13 phenomenal Black Canadians. Standing on Queens Quay, looking up at my eyes looking back at me was a little strange at first. What was she thinking? Who is she? What is she about? We have gotten so used to walking around with masks on - physical ones or the invisible ones we wear for the world - that it’s a person’s eyes that will tell you the truth.

For the past two years, we have learned to communicate with our eyes. However, that leaves a lot of assumptions about the rest of one’s face. Did you know I was smiling under my mask. That I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. That I’m a successful businesswoman with two degrees. That I’m the mother of two adult children. That I’m a homeowner. That I’m a former national news producer that would help set the news agenda for the country every morning for seven years. That I’m a 2020 100 Accomplished Black Women recipient. That I serve on two Boards and I mentor half a dozen young people. And that my guilty pleasure is watching Girlfriends over and over and over again. To be honest, I find it hard to talk about myself, even writing that list was uncomfortable.

But what’s even more uncomfortable is that when I walk down the street, I doubt any of those accolades I listed crosses the minds of passersby who see me. We need to unmask the fear that consistently happens to Black Canadians. The presumptions, assumptions and looks of disbelief when the truth is revealed. I am proud to be part of the change narrative in the Unmask Fear Canada campaign. My community is doing great things, always has been, they’ve always been my motivation - yesterday I looked up and got new motivation…from me.