That reggae man is me
Gentrification
Metrolinks is the remorseless, juggernaut coming through Eglinton West, big and bold, right in front of our eyes and no one speaks of them
You have the fleas and gnats running about, talking about those who are seeking grants and news stories and committees and the smell of urine and Randy’s Patty closing suddenly and NEVER investing in any black culture but to earn dem patty money and Reggae Lane and cultural misappropriation and an antagonistic relationship with the BIA in the area and loads of drama. Truly dramatically concocted stories but nothing to shine the spotlight on Metrolinks abuse of a community
Metrolinks have zero fuks to give about any of the above
No amount of abuse they deliver is actionable because they are above the authority of this government. This piece of the corporation goes about its business with zero interest in the sideshow of black people scrambling for acknowledgement of black contribution as well as seeking a piece of profitability in “the new Eglinton West / Little Jamaica”
Metrolinks laughs
So much drama
I got involved with the Reggae Lane project enthuastically as soon as I heard about it
REGGAE
Reggae Lane
Historically I knew that it would be the first roadway in the world named after reggae music. This was an honor for me to know that I did reggae things on the actual Reggae Lane when IBADAN, the reggae band I once managed, rehearsed in a space at the back of one of the stores. We would go there from time to time while Ruffins owned the space
Yah man, I felt honored
I wanted to be on any committee that was immediate reggae history. Reggae Lane represents a truly positive thought for me
I then met Josh and Mike Colle
Josh, the son, was the Councillor for the area as well as Chair for the TTC at the time. In hindsight, considering the area, was this appointment as Chair, a conflict of interest? Was the role to gloss over the gentrification of the area with a bright and shiny smile and to commission a mural glorifying the contributions of the reggae community while truly working with Metrolinks for the gentrification process... smoothing things out with the unsuspecting locals as well as us on the Reggae Lane Committee? This it what it feels like to me as I truly know nothing
Reggae Lane Committee
I once asked Josh why the members of the committee weren’t even being paid some kind of honorarium for our time, hours of travel, expertise and efforts, and he told me it is because, “we have no budget”. It did not occur to this brother that pimping a black man was somehow unacceptable. My eyes opened pretty wide then as if they could treat me like this, what were they doing with the businesses over the years? I realized something did not feel right with the Colle boys... to me anyway. Other folks will probably tell you how much they treated them well over the years
Mike, the father, does not represent me or my thoughts as it pertains to reggae music and his constant wearing of the red, gold and green colors in that scarf, I find condescending, offensive as well as disrespectful. I DO NOT CARE WHICH BLACK WOMAN GAVE IT TO HIM! He is completely nose blind to any of my culture and I have no interest in trying to educate a dude his age
I once suggested that we merchandise Reggae Lane product in order to grow its fame as well as to attempt to pay for performances and concerts as well as paying the Committee. Initially there was no interest. I contacted Mike, told him that I had not heard from Josh who I emailed about it, and then we had a lunch date to discuss this merchandising idea. He seemed to really like the idea
A few days went by and he did not return any of my correspondences
Cool
I took the print that I got designed by a friend and put it on a t-shirt and posted it on social media. Old boy Mike didn’t like that. He created a site telling folks that they could buy my design from him {on his site}. I ovastood then who and what I was working with
I then received an email from Josh saying that it would be ok for me to market the brand if I wished, or more accurately create a market for the product cause he didn’t mind, effectively covers his pops backside {or attempt to}
I promptly resigned from the Reggae Lane Committee
Their focus wasn’t mine and I wasn’t about to contribute any further to their direction, whatever it was
My focus is Reggae Lane
Reggae has a rough ride in a colonial society yet it is a multi-billion dollar global industry where the artists and many are pimped and make no money. Someone else makes the money as we continue to do the work, make the beats, make the music, inspire humans, make them dance and speak of love
That’s my reggae
Babylon will always find love and peace offensive
When some politician comes into reggae, receives grants on behalf of black culture, tells the businesses to “hang in there”, brings abusive energy, “reggae” a go find him out or more accurately, bring these misdeeds to the surface
Here is something Jason MacLean of Toronto Reggae www.torontoreggae.ca brought to my attention in Wikipedia about Mike Colle
“He was criticized for his role in giving out $32 million in government grants to immigrant and cultural groups without official applications or formal statements of purpose. In one case that the auditor general highlighted, the Ontario Cricket Association received $1 million when it asked for $150,000.[5] Premier McGuinty agreed to commission a special report on the matter, to be released in July 2007.[6] Colle was to appear before the Standing Committee on Estimates before the Legislature was prorogued by the premier. Some believe this was arranged to prevent his testimony from going public.[7] On July 26, 2007, Colle resigned as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Gerry Phillips was sworn in as the new Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, in addition to his responsibilities as Minister of Government Services.[8]”
“Immigrant and cultural groups”
People who won’t complain if they receive $150,000 free dollars. What boggles my mind is; what happened to the rest of the $850,000” from that million? Can anyone since 2007 tell me why a politician, using grant programs for black people profit so heavily WITHOUT PROPER INVESTIGATION?
Interesting to I man, is how Colle can allegedly misappropriate funds in the millions but they cannot appropriate funds to those of us doing reggae. I’m not mad at them. I used to be angry and frustrated all of the time about how dismissive this system is of me and mine. Like MANY of us haven’t given pride in reggae music in this country as well as globally
There is no system to pay us
No system to pay me to do my reggae works
Oh well... We are still doing it anyway. We are a part of our own problem because some of us won’t ever stop this work. Why pay for it if it is going to happen anyway?
There is a system to misappropriate funds... allegedly
I do not like the way it is treated currently nor do I like the abusive energy coming from many in the reggae and black communities towards it
As much as I love Reggae Lane, others pretty much hate it
I hear many of their points and do not agree with any of the “haters”. My belief is that it is called “reggae” and for that reason, we reggae souljahs MUST set things right
REGGAE
Reggae is not a hate ting
I feel a responsibility as a reggae souljah to treat Reggae Lane with the respect it is due. It is a global appointment, being “the first Laneway in history to be named from reggae music”. A beacon to the whole Reggae World!
I feel like we who love reggae need to show the truth and respect to Reggae Lane as “reggae” deserves
I need to remove the toxic energy that stifles what should be a shared global energy, coming from Toronto, Canada
Reggae music will define Reggae Lane... not me, not some allegedly corrupt politician
Reggae music will
#ReggaeForLife #reggaelane
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