The Black Action Defence Committee (BADC) is seeking mini- autobiographies from community members for literary work on all the issues with which BADC dealt.
The stories should be in themes of situations with Police, Immigration, Institutions of Learning, Occupation, etc. The intent is to make a compilation of a classical document, and for it to be in the people’s voice.
The stories should be authentic, truthful, and instructive. These experiences (good or bad) could be a gift to the community. This is for people who didn’t only had negative experiences in the system.
The expression of inquiry will be: “What did BADC do for me?”
The following ten reasons were identified as incentives for carrying this work forward.
1. BADC’s Narratives could be a record of the role BADC played in Canadian history. BADC has done something unique in North America. Through persistently advocating for the creation of a particular body that investigates civilian death in police custody, the SIU (Special Investigative Unit) was formed. This carries historical importance because it was the first in the British Common-wealth.
2. BADC’s Narratives could be an open door or lens for seeing issues that are affecting community.
3. BADC’s Narratives could be a written legacy for research.
4. BADC’s Narratives could form a basis from which struggle could be done.
5. BADC’s Narratives could be an ongoing document;
6. BADC’s Narratives could be a document from which plays could be written.
7. BADC’s Narratives could reinforce young people
8. BADC’s Narratives could be a statement against racism.
9. BADC’s Narratives could be a document of linkage to bind the First Nation and our people.
10. BADC’s Narrative could be a key or password in opening a vault.
The underlying foundation that supports the idea of BADC’s Narratives should be, to increase the community’s sense of taking action, and increase their awareness that taking part in activities that are intended to achieve political or social change is something of value.
Our young people need Rights of Passage that will invest in them, meaningfulness of responsibility for the decisions that set the course of their future.
Recommendations for BADC narratives
• Each storyteller is responsible for at least one story, plus.
• These stories or narratives must be unique, or individual and not be repeated.
• These stories are based on actual experiences. They are history and will give us a picture of the texture of life as various members of the community within the establishment experienced it.
• The experiences where possible, and where the speaker recalls, and is willing to use their name; could be allowable.
• Narratives, however, could refer to time, place, individual but do not necessarily have to be so.
• Each person must take responsibility for getting at least one other story from someone else, plus.
• Stories could be personal, or what occurred to the storyteller.
• Stories could be impersonal, or refer to someone else of whom the narrator knew.
• Stories could be positive or negative.
Submit your stories to BLACK ACTION DEFENSE COMMITTEE 944A St.Clair Avenue West Toronto Ontario M6C 1C8 T: 416-656-2232 F: 416-656-2252
Email: blackactionstories@gmail.com innercityconflict@bellnet.ca