A Seat At The Table | Shadows of Racism: Voices Unheard
A transmission from the future is received, broadcast from 98.6 FM, The Adoopowinaak! in Eabametoong First Nation, witness the celebration of the epochal Great Event of 2052 - the moment that reshaped humanity's destiny.
From the depths of history emerges a relic--a vinyl record, a masterpiece crafted in 2023 by Unionville High School students. Hear the resonating voices of the youth as they share their immigrant experiences of journeying to and adapting to life in Canada. These recordings help ignite the flame of change, advocating fairness and inclusivity, seeking the warm embrace of equity.
This transmission is a living testament to the progress and desire for change. Let poetry and music guide our journey, as we embark on a path towards an illuminated and limitless future full of boundless potential…
SIDE A
Track 1: Morning Show - Intro
Track 2: CBC (Chinese Born Canadian) - Intro
Track 3: CBC (Chinese Born Canadian) - Song
Track 4: Migration - Intro
Track 5: Migration - Song
Track 6: Waiting Where You Left Me - Intro
Track 7: Waiting Where You Left Me - Song
Track 8: Mixed Realities - Intro
Track 9: Mixed Realities - Song
Track 10: Morning Show – Sign Off
SIDE B
Track 1: Evening Show - Intro
Track 2: Home - Intro
Track 3: Home - Song
Track 4: Hushed - Intro
Track 5: Hushed - Song
Track 6: Assimilation ABC’s - Intro
Track 7: Assimilation ABC’s - Song
Track 8: Evening Show – Sign Off
Track 9: G.O.D.’s Patch Fix
SIDE C (Bonus Material)
Track 1: Okay - Intro
Track 2: Okay - Song
Track 3: Conflict of Opinion - Intro
Track 4: Conflict of Opinion - Song
Track 5: I Am Human Too - Poem
Artist Statement Track 5
The poem "I am Human Too" is the creation of Janae Layne, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student enrolled in the Arts Unionville voice program at Unionville High School. Several factors served as inspiration for Janae in crafting this poem.
"I drew inspiration from my teachers at Randall Public School. In eighth grade, my teacher introduced me to the 'Many Faces of Markham' contest, recognizing my passion for activism. Encouraged by a friend who admired my poetry, I decided to participate in the contest and emerged as the winner. This success motivated me to participate again in 2023, where I secured victory once more. I now proudly hold three awards, each signed by the mayor: two for poetry and one for community service."
Janae is a dedicated youth activist who has been a member of Black York Region Youth (BYR Youth) since 2021. This organization actively addresses issues such as anti-Black racism, systemic racism, anti-Indigenous hate, and all forms of discrimination within York Region and the Greater Toronto Area.
Janae's award-winning poem claimed the first place in the 2021 "Many Faces of Markham: Working Together to Confront Anti-Black Racism" writing competition. Her poem, along with her tireless anti-racist efforts, has garnered recognition from the Mayor and Members of City Council in the City of Markham.
----
Album Cover Artworks
Each album cover was inspired by one of the album's soundtracks. The cover art connects to the theme, A Seat at the Table, by depicting various dishes. 100 vinyl records with corresponding sleeves and inserts were created and distributed to project stakeholders and community members as a means to share our student’s lived experiences and to inspire anti-racist work. To quote Toni Cade Bambara, an American writer and activist "make the revolution irresistible." In and through the arts Unionville High School students and staff attempt to do just that.
This transmission was made possible through Alpha Education's initiative, "Shadows of Racism: Voices Unheard," and by a Ministry of Education Community-Connected Experience Learning (CCEL) grant. Special thanks are extended to Unionville High School’s Community Classroom, History, Music, and Visual Arts departments for their contributions to the project. A heartfelt acknowledgment is also extended to Jacqueline Teh, an award-winning Juno songwriter, musician, and educator, for her guidance and mentorship as a consulting guest artist.
The "Shadows of Racism: Voices Unheard" project culminates in a group exhibition involving students from across the GTA. The exhibition, entitled "A Seat at the Table," will be hosted at the Ontario Science Centre on October 20th, 2023.
----
Credits:
Art Director: Ryan Liu
Sound Designer: Starry Mark
Voice Actors & Script Writers: Joshua Camara, Bianca Chan, Anastasia Wong, Anna Zhou & Kaitlyn Lee
Graphic Designers:
Joanna Liu + Ava Peng (album cover #1)
Vivian Fang + Cathy Zhang (album cover #2)
Cindy Feng (album cover #3)
Ryan Liu (album cover #4)
Cynthia Liu (album cover #5)