It’s 2020! A New Year, a new decade is upon us! As we are celebrating this new happening, our mind prompts us to take a fresh look at our relationship with others and ourselves. It’s a reminder to retrace our path, to dig into our goals. It’s a chance to set a renewed path tobecome better humans, and positively impact our surroundings.
How to become better humans by reclaiming our inner-thoughts
Some of our VoiceOasis Thinkers discussing how to redefine good
We live in a binary world where twofold concepts, such as good and bad, evil and angel, or love and hate seem to be the recipe to explain all life’s happenings. Such accepted beliefs become normal attitude when describing our connection with the world . That is to say concepts of being good or doing good are elusive and not easy to grasp. Such excessive influence of external voices is unconsciously reshaping our inner-self and undermining our quest to better ourselves.
This sense of loss echoes in Karen‘s words:
“Whether or not every human being on earth has the ability to do good—I do not know about that. But what I do know and what I believe in is that every human being is not born bad. How can an innocent newborn baby desire destruction, or anything at all?”
How can we shine our inner light on our surroundings and become better humans in such confined spaces?
Time to reclaim our rightfully owned inner-thoughts. We need to redefine ourselves in connection with our loved-ones and our environment, in both time and space because awareness equips us with the right tools to foster real changes.
Thankfully, there is a silver lining as to how to becoming better humans
“Becoming good is not impossible, it just requires being surrounded by good people,” indicates Boubacar, a millennial from Ottawa. Ali, another Ottawan millennial also believes that it is important to “figure out who you want to be, and just keep trying to be that person. And it’s okay if you mess up along the way, as long as you keep trying.”
The same positivism resonates in Grace’s words.
“I think every human being has the ability to be good and/or bad. Everything is shaped by the influences the individual surrounded himself throughout her/his life. ” – Grace, another millennial from Ottawa
Life on Earth is also bounded by something called time. In our lifetime, everything we do depends on the right timing. How many missed opportunities have we encountered just because of the wrong timing?
Good news! The New Year is the right timing to review our path.
“We are living in interesting times when it comes to defining “good”. Perhaps because there’s a big and fast increase in population, we are witnessing major changes in the environment and in technology. And power, now more than ever, belongs to very few people and organizations. Good can be seen as the achievement of a desired result,” argues Eddie.
How much good have we done? How do we feel about ourselves, and most importantly, how are we going to ensure we keep improving ourselves?
As a result, VoiceOasis wants to promote a message of love, of true human connections, and freedom of thought. We invited a group of 15 people to join their voices in redefining concepts of ‘being good’ and opening the discussion on how to become better humans.
Through their own words, these thinkers provide eye-opening and insightful ways to approach these crucial life questions:
Do you think every human being has the ability to be good? If yes, how do you define good?
What do you think one can do to become a better human being?
Should our desire to improve ourselves be a new year’s resolution or an everyday goal?
Do you think every human being has the ability to be good? If yes, how do you define good?
Most of our thinkers genuinely believe that being good is intrinsic to human beings. This thought resonates exactly with Wasil‘s words: “Yes, I do believe every human has the ability to be good,” as opposed to John who believes that “Human beings have zero capability to be good.”
For Ruth Tania, it’s also a definite YES. “I think human being has the ability to be good. Since they are conscious of every actions they make. And if you decide to hurt others or do something bad, deep down you know what you did wasn’t right.”
The same goes for Naya, but with a slight nuance as she does believe “that every human being has the ability to be good if they want to“.
Right off the bat, Ali also confirms his belief that being good is part of the human nature. ” Yes, every human being has the ability to be good. However, for some it may be easy and feel natural, whereas for others it may be hard and uncomfortable.”
Becoming better humans is a nurtured process
Many participants conveyed in their responses that being good is a process that we develop throughout our lifetime. Similarly, your background plays an important role in your ability to be good given to your ‘upbringing’ and ‘intrinsic personality’ as pointed out by both Ali and Boubacar.
“No one is 100% pure and good. Everyone will be selfish, nasty, or otherwise unpleasant to others at some point in their life. And that’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s part of being human. It’s part of maturing and self improvement. It only becomes a problem when a person loses the ability to be good.” – Ali
Boubacar mentioned that education, cultural aspect, and personal upbringing define someone’s ‘ability to become good’. “We are not born good, we become good by the good deeds that we do on a daily basis.”
The notion of evilness is also highlighted in participant’s responses. However, it is not painted in a binary way.
Hassan sets the tone with an unambiguous statement, “No one is born evil or bigoted.” and ” Each person has the ability to fight this cancer by seeking knowledge and facing fears.” He added:
“These traits are nurtured. They need a breeding ground of hate and fear of the unknown, false assumptions and a systematic rejection of self-evaluation. Since these traits are nurtured, then human beings are innately good. Even those who have been described as evil or bad can demonstrate good traits which prove goodness is inherent and that evil is a cancerous intruder that invades the human heart.” – Hassan
In the same vein, Jackie a millennial from Chicago agrees that ‘No human is really born evil.’
“We’re all born innocent and as we grow we learn the difference between good and bad and right and wrong. It’s a choice to define yourself as a good person or a bad person, but I believe we can all be good.” says Jackie.
Life’s path has an impact on someone’s ability to be good
The impact of life’s hardship are present in two participants’ talk.
“While I believe that human are not good all time due to influences like the hardship that we endure, the ability to be good is within all of us. The act of being good involves being kind to every souls–humans and non-humans, sympathizing, doing selfless acts, and caring for others.” – Magdalande
This thought is also found in JJ‘s reasoning:
“Everyone was good once in their life, then life really hits them. So, I would say it depends on their way of living. Anybody can be good, but staying good is another question,” argues JJ.
What do you think one can do to become a better human being?
Becoming a better human being involves self-improvement
It’s about being ‘your best self everyday’, trying ‘to be kind to others’ and treating ‘everyone like you’d want to be treated’ says Jackie. To Magdalande, becoming a better human is about ‘reflecting on whether their actions made a good impact or bad impact, and thinking of ways they could help others especially those in need.’
For Jennifer, it means having “self-discipline, such as regular exercise, healthy diet; using dialectical thinking to see the positive side of anything; regulating your behavior and being considerate of others.” – Yu (Jennifer)
Self-improvement is the willingness to go the extra mile by ‘doing what’s right’ and “act in a way to be able to live with everyone”, affirms Ruth Tania.
To Diana, it is also about working ‘on oneself’. “Never quit the process of learning, wondering, and fixing the vicious habits. “Better” comes along with improvement.”
Bettering yourself calls for consistency
“There’s no specific way for someone to be a better human being, but if they keep trying to always make the right choice even when it’s not easy I call it being good”, says Naya
JJ also reasons that consistency is key. She says: “To become a better person, quitting is not an option”.
Others believe that faith is the solution to become better humans
On this note, Wasil believes ‘that we are the better version of ourselves when we act in good faith’. And, John argues that we can ‘only’ improve ourselves ‘through believing in Jesus’.
Bettering ourselves is inherently connected to our sense of community
Boubacar says that one can reach such goal “by being surrounded by good people because humans live in society and society (the environment) plays on our behaviour.” Ali also points out that you should “Treat others as you you’d want to be treated”. Furthermore, ‘humility and empathy’ are key.
On the same note, Eddie explains:
“It’s not only what we can do, but it must be an obligation for humans to understand and search to understand the system we living in. Humans who wants to see multiple communities living in harmony MUST be aware of the system that was normalized to us by the people from the 20th century and before, and reject it from their lives. This is so we can finally understand what being a human really is in its nature.” – Eddie.
Karen affirms that ‘people are capable of change’, and ‘the past has the information to theorize a future’, but cannot define it.’
“A genuine change of heart with strength that lasts more than a day or two is powerful enough to change the direction of a person’s “theorized” future; the kind of future that data, an non-living entity that I value so much as a Software Developer, can predict.” – Karen
Should our desire to improve ourselves be a new year’s resolution or an everyday goal?
An anonymous response: Improving ourselves should be an everyday goal
In response to the appropriate time to improve ourselves, all our 15 thinkers agree that ‘it should be an every day goal’. It can be something as simple as “trying to minimize your carbon footprint or simply smiling and being kind to everyone you meet during the day”, declares Grace. As JJ points out, “you should live for the moment and not the future”. How do you reach such important goal? By starting ‘small’ and working ‘your way up’, to paraphrase Ali.
This endeavour should also affect positively ‘the people around you’. And, “it should be a goal for a person before every decision is made”, says Karen. Ultimately, “people should not wait until a new year to set up goals for themselves”, explains Magdalande. In the end , we need to “set goals for ourselves every year, and achieve them day by day”, adds Jennifer.
New Year’s resolutions: elusive concepts?
Some participants do not believe New Year’s resolutions are useful. “I don’t let these type of “western” concepts regulate my daily vision of reality. What is a new year’s resolution in reality?”, argues Eddie.
“At this point in time, one must constantly seek the truth from history and understand the system where we are living so we can be part of a collectiveness and have one common goal: to stop “the few that have the power” from controlling our lives, from brainwashing and dividing the masses and destroying our planet,” says Eddie.
New Year’s resolutions bear reminders and a sense of a new beginning
However, some opinions carry an open door to the importance of New Year resolutions. In that respect, Diana considers a New Year’s resolution as a necessary ‘reboot’ and a ‘sense of a new beginning’.
“The ‘New Year’s Resolution’ is the perfect ‘excuse’ to reconsider why, what and who is important and what should be left behind. The desire to improve ourselves should be an everyday goal, but we also need the sense of a new beginning. It “should be a restart on the desire to become better on a daily pace”, adds Diana.
To Jackie a New Year’s resolution, “is just a reminder to get us back on track from a busy and possibly not so good year”.
A Last Note on New Year’s Resolutions
“Whatever it is, everyday you should try to exceed from the previous day. Now it’s not always easy and that’s why new year’s resolution are there to remind you that you can have a new beginning and decide to change things.” Grace
Going Forward
To sum up, the effort to become better humans and improve our surroundings is an ongoing quest as pointed out by most participants. However, defining good and applying such good in one’s life is not easy. This is the aim of this whole brainstorming exercise. I am grateful to witness such important gathering of thoughts on the beginning of the year. Together, we can continue opening our inner-thoughts and our hearts to become, each and everyone of us, an agent of change for our surroundings.
Happy New Year to All! May 2020 be a voiceful year filled with blessings.
Please join your voices to our outspoken thinkers. Voice your opinion in the Comment section below. You can also contact us or subscribe to receive more uplifting and inspiring messages right in your inbox.
Understanding indigenous arts matters because they are of a different kind and make you journey through time. They tell stories and educate. Native arts take you on a journey painted of human struggle, but of beauty. Their ingenuity depicts a path filled with sadness, but with pride and resilience. Ultimately, they uphold a sacred legacy to preserve. Get on a a journey towards understanding indigenous arts. Read through to discover these insightful native voices
We are Resilient by Tara-Lynn Kozma-Perrin – Photo by Paul Gino Ulysse Photography
I had the chance to attend two Native gatherings in Montreal, Quebec, and in Ottawa, Ontario. Both times, I felt a surge of emotions since guests were taken on the path of aboriginal history.
The Montreal workshop provided the audience with an insightful window into indigenous life in Canada. We learned about their struggle, their pride, their courage, and their pledge for ultimate peace.
Shifting of Energies by Cedar-Eve Peters – Photo by Paul Gino Ulysse Photography
We also tasted delicious indigenous dishes and admired captivating pieces of native arts.
The Ottawa’s gathering was an intense workshop with role plays that took every participant to relive an indigenous personal experience through time in the Canadian landscape.
They say seeing in believing. I’d say feeling is believing to a greater extent, feeling is understanding. I think it is from such beliefs that this indigenous group invites Canadians of all backgrounds to participate in an exercise to walk a mile in an indigenous person’s shoes.
Through emotional role plays, participants learned about Native history in Canada. After the story was unfolded, we got to touch the feather of peace and was able to feel this deep human connection. There was a call to stop fighting one another, to forgive, and instead to start building together. One thing I learned during these meetings was the importance of learning and acknowledging the truth because this will free your soul. You will then be free to forgive, to understand, and accept others. You will be free to love, freed of fear.
In my recent blog and long piece, From the Princess and the Frog to Black Panther: Paving the way for black female representation, I wrote even before the release of the movie why representation in Black Panther is so important. Now I am telling the story from a fans perspective. This is a compilation of some of the most expressive YouTube videos and tweets of fans about the Marvel/ Disney franchised movie Black Panther. An attempt at explaining why Black Panther is more than a movie, but a political and social movement.
Check out these videos to find out why fans are saying that Black Panther matters.
Black Panther fans in Baltimore
To fans Black Panther's a 'game changer'
"Black Panther will make history" - A comic book fan's word
Wakanda in style!
Fans in Nashville are posing before watching Black Panther
To some fans, Black panther is a ‘cultural event’, 'the Promised land’
Black Panther Rocks the continent of Africa. Fans are feeling proud and celebrating the first black African superhero in a Hollywood Blockbuster movie
From ABC - Black Panther is "said to shatter stereotypes of the African continent and its people
According to fans, "Black Panther is a time of celebration" - (Washington Post)
Ultimate Black Panther fans coming out of the theather in this video by World Of Africa
Black Panther fans in Baltimore
To fans Black Panther's a 'game changer'
"Black Panther will make history" - A comic book fan's word
Wakanda in style!
Fans in Nashville are posing before watching Black Panther
To some fans, Black panther is a ‘cultural event’, 'the Promised land’
Black Panther Rocks the continent of Africa. Fans are feeling proud and celebrating the first black African superhero in a Hollywood Blockbuster movie
From ABC - Black Panther is "said to shatter stereotypes of the African continent and its people
According to fans, "Black Panther is a time of celebration" - (Washington Post)
Ultimate Black Panther fans coming out of the theather in this video by World Of Africa
Display of African cultural attires, flash mobs, and Wakandan sketches are just some of the ways fans have chosen to express their joy over the release of Black Panther. Wakanda may not be real, but the emotions it triggers, particularly among black people is real. The meaning of Black Panther is as real as its inspirational and motivational potential, its capacity of reminding black people of the inner greatness that lies within them, its ability in instilling in black minds powerful dreams to help them believe in their potential and reach for the stars.
Black Panther has been released for only two weeks and it has got the whole world on its toes. From fans who watch the movie several times to others who dressed up in traditional African clothing, the celebration has known no bounds. I’ve actually seen the movie twice and plan on watching it a third time because I also feel connected in a way I’ve never felt with any superhero movie before. I understand the importance of a different portrayal of people who look like you in the big screen.
These tweets are saying it all!
Ok. So I’ve seen #BlackPanther 5 times in the theater. I loved it! My only issue is that I had to watch it several times to see the opening fight scenes. It was too dark. I could see it better in 3D but that was the 3rd watch. I knew where to look. Everything else, fantastic.
For #Wakanda! Man #BlackPanther was one hell of a movie and I would watch it several times over! A good 10/10 Marvel movie, I laughed when everyone left as soon as the visual credits came on. pic.twitter.com/g7VIh7wEnW
Years of slavery and continued racism have undermined Black people’s confidence. As a black woman raised in the Caribbean where racism towards Black people is almost inherent, I know something about it. Indeed, your upbringing can play a major role in how you interact with the world, in your confidence to face others, to stand up for yourself.
In less than two days, the Disney/ Marvel movie Black Panther is set to hit the big screen and the anticipation has already reached the roof! Just picture a Marvel Superhero movie with a mainly black cast. Better yet with a black African Superhero and king, surrounding by an army of skilled back female (the Dora Milaje), on a mission to secure his kingdom (Wakanda) and save the world.
This movie has the potential of reaching into the Black community and strikes the positive cord (at least of those who have the chance to watch movies like that) reminding them that, despite racism and every day injustice towards them, they too have within them the power to reach for the stars to change the world, to paraphrase Harriet Tubman.
Now, let’s pause, right. We are talking about a movie, a Disney/Marvel superhero movie. However, aside from being entertaining Black Panther already promises to be more than just a movie. Black Panther has already set sail to become a legend, to mark an era and hopefully to be a token of change and foster more movies like this.
A Political, but Entertaining Hollywood Blockbuster
The purpose of any superhero movie is to entertain first and foremost. And Black Panther promises to do that and more, in a diverse and revolutionary way. The anticipation is high and tickets’ presale has already starting to break records. With a predominantly black cast, black lead role and antagonist, directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther has set a precedent. No wonder the idea of doing such a movie has strained almost three decades since 1992 until it’s finally ready for the big screen.
Representation matters and this is why Black Panther is so meaningful for black children.
When I was a kid I was desperately looking for role models that actually look like me, that fit the little black girl with big dream that I was. Wherever I looked, in media, books, or religions the actors, superheroes, prophets were all either white and/or from foreign cultures.
I remember how much I was full of dreams as a kid to finally drop most of them one by one as I was growing up. Reality eventually catches up with me. So dreams, little black girl dreams of mine started on TV and fairy tale books. I guess just like many other little girls around the world who grew up watching Disney movies or reading fairy tales books, I dreamed of being a princess. A beautiful princess with a daddy king and a mommy Queen and later on, as I was growing up, a queen. Unfortunately, there was no black princesses nor black queens in those fairy tales.
Tiana, the first black female character in Disney Princess appeared in 2009, a pale copy of the original story, the Frog Prince in which the princess was at least royalty. Tiana on the contrary needed more than kissing a frog to realize her dream. Actually, Tiana, a black girl from poor upbringing who grew up in the United States during the segregation era became a waitress with chattered dreams after losing her father. Her dad had thought her the value of hard work and she fought to fulfill the dream of opening her own restaurant someday, a dream she had shared with her father. However, without the help of her “white-savior” friend (Charlotte) and far-away Prince Naveen, Tiana would have never been able to realize her dream and finally be elevated to a high social rank.
Does hard work not enough in the American Dream country? The question is why going away from the original story to only come up with a needy black girl whose everyday fights didn’t really amount much. Was Disney saying that black people could not be royalty? Why not imagine an African princess, for example like Yennenga the Svelte of today-known Burkina Faso, a skilled warrior who went miles to find true love, inspired many and become a legendary queen?
Kids everywhere need more than mere everyday struggle as fairy tales, but stories that can develop their imagination and allow them to reach for the sky and beyond. Black girls need stories with powerful black princesses, queens, warriors and female black superheroes they can identify to.
Luckily, Black Panther is looming in the horizon just like a light at the end of a tunnel. Yet another Disney movie, but with the touch of Marvel genius, Black Panther is a refreshing note in the ocean of dominated white hero movies. And just in time for the celebration of Black History Month this February.
Set in Africa, in the imaginary city of Wakanda, world’s most technologically advanced nation, prince T’Challa returns home after his father’s death to be crowed as the new king. However, coming back home isn’t without its share of troubles. Wakanda is the golden nation or to be more accurate the Vibranium nation, the ‘Eldorado’ that European vile conquerors have wrongly been searching for in Latin America. Therefore, Wakanda’s people have gone miles to protect and conceal their nation’s treasure mainly most sought metal Vibranium from the rest of world.
A preponderant role for women, for black females in particular
Black Panther has set the course for a change, for a new direction in superhero movies and to restore an erroneous image of black people in the silver screen. The idea of seeing every African nation as “third world countries” to paraphrase C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross in the movie or black people as second class citizens.
Faced to old domestic enemies and a foreign thirsty smuggler determined to steal Wakanda’s vibranium to take over the world, T’Challa suits up as Blank Panther in an epic hollywood blockbuster that promises to keep the audience spellbound. Uprising, treachery, and chaos has forced our hero to call upon Wakanda’s special forces, the Dora Milaje (the “Adored Ones”).
The Dora Milaje inspired by real life African Warriors
When Wakanda’s powerful weapon is at risk of falling into the wrong hands and the fate of the whole world in balance, the Dora Milaje women do what they do best, protect their beloved kingdom. The ferocious female warriors will go to the end of the world to restore balance.
This is the greatest part of the upcoming movie. Wakanda’s protectors are all women, members of the Dora Milaje, the kingdom’s special forces. Dora Milaje is inspired from real African warriors, the Amazon of Dahomey also called Mino Warriors. These women from today’s Benin were ferocious warriors whose movement has spanned over several centuries since 1692, making their kingdom into one of the greatest.
These women were strategists, ferocious and skilled enough to win many victories against the French army. It is said that no man wanted to be in the wrong turns with these ladies. Bringing these characters in the Black Panther movie – under the Dora Milaje label – is one of the best things for black girl confidence. Finally, black girls can relate to these women, can see their future selves as females in command and capable of protecting themselves. Here is one big chance to witness powerful female excellence on the silver screen. Girls and women everywhere can look up to these women in the fight for women’s rights, and understand that they can shape their own destiny.
Celebration of female geniuses: Meet the Brilliant Princess Shuri
Princess Shuri of Wakanda – Marvel/Disney Black Panther
Not only the kingdom relies on the Dora Milaje forces for its protection, but the king relies completely on his sister, Princess Shuri to help win this war. Shuri is an inventor, a strategist and the leader of the Wakandan design group. With her master in Engineering and savvy understanding of advanced technology such as artificial intelligence, Shuri is one of the smartest people in the world. Her genius and sharp mind, her know-how in AI and design as well as her sense of humor makes her a vital partner and a good friend.
Indeed, movies like Black Panther that bring black excellence to the big screen will resonate within black communities wherever these movies are displayed. Moreover, by portraying an image of an advanced African country and skilled African women and men that you don’t get to see very often in the Media, Black Panther is reaching into the very core of black excellence.
You have to be a black person to understand the black experience, to understand what it is to be considered as lower citizen, to not be deserving of second chance, to be more than everyone else the object of racism and injustice, to feel like your skin color is a handicap.
Of course, one movie cannot change all this, one superhero movie cannot change the world. However, this is a good start. It’s an attempt at reconciling Black people with the rest of the world and with themselves, a boost to black confidence. We need more of such movies that portray decent images of other races and of dark skin people in particular.
It’s a good start until there could be movies about black female superheroes just like Wonder Woman. Let’s hope that Black Panther will inspire more movies that focus on true excellence, on diversity and not only on one side of the story.
Do not miss the chance to enjoy a movie that promises to be full of actions, full of special effects and awesome superhero versus villains fights. A movie that will entertain, make fans proud and set a precedent for black superhero movies while opening a window on the brilliance, skills, and importance of black female superheroes in the comics universe and in the new world we live in.
I don’t usually write about super hero movies although I am a fan of many Marvel and DC Comics super heroes. However, after watching Spider-Man: Homecoming I knew I had to write about it. This movie brings a refreshing note of diversity that is worth talking about. Homecoming also stands out by the depth of its narrative, which paints a rare and realistic portrait of the world. On top of it, it remains a fun movie for the whole family. on our story
