Thandiwe McCarthy

I was honoured when UNB Alumni asked me to share my experiences of being an alumni. Here's a piece of that essay. "So to my other pandemic graduates: use the knowledge you learned to fuel other things you love. I am so blessed to have been able to accomplish all these things but do not let me mislead you. I had help, I’ve messaged professors more times than they’ll admit and I have built a community of friends and family that loves, respects and supports all the accomplishme...nts made by anyone in the group. I would have never written the book without my amazing writing coach and editor Kayla Geitzler and writer friends who helped lift me up (especially Kim and Pat! Yah Great!). Would have never performed at the Frye Festival if my mother wasn’t there to support me. Could never have the courage to stand up to the Fredericton city council if our poet laureate Jenna Lyn Albert wasn’t right there with me. The New Brunswick Black Artists Alliance would just be a dream without David Woods driving four hours from Halifax..." Read more here: https://bit.ly/3aziDGx Love and Respect

I'm just thankful that this book is back in circulation. Because I know it will find the right people who will build on its information and reveal more about Black history in New Brunswick. I know I personally have a few project ideas in mind.

This has been such a wild year. Globally and personally. Honestly it feels like I've lived months Between each day that passed. I've graduated from university.... My cat passed away I was awarded an arts grant The world caught on fire with corona I cofounded a Black artist organization My constant struggles with depression I found love again This has been such a wild year Yet the moment I hold onto most. The experience that holds me together Is performing in Atlantic Canadan's largest literary festival While my mom looks at me with tears of pride in her eyes As her introverted son with social anxiety Speaks true to who he is. I still think of it as a dream. But I suppose should finally accept I've worked hard to change my reality and next year I look forward to enjoying Living in it. Happy New Year everyone Love and Respect

This is a reading of my response I had to the Fredericton city council voting to remove hearing poetry at the start of their meetings because some poems shared by the poet laureate were deemed ‘too controversial’. Once again, the city council is attacking our poet laureate, In the city nationally known as ‘The poets' corner of Canada’ for sharing poetry about issues affecting the lives of Fredericton citizens. Which is why last Monday December 14th I was invited to a digi...tal protest put together with poets from across Canada. We all shared poems ‘too political’ or ‘too controversial’ then send the recording of our readings to the Fredericton city council. This is my protest piece I was inspired to write. It seems the council voted to move the vote back to January. I assume this was done in hopes that we'll forget to be angry the next time they attack our city’s proud culture and traditions. Hope everyone and their loved ones are staying safe and well, Love an respect to all.

Announcing the New Brunswick Black Artists Alliance! A Not for profit organization that seeks: "To highlight and showcase the artistic and creative talent of the Black diaspora by creating a platform to nurture and develop Black artists in the province of New Brunswick. " I am blessed to be around all the great people supporting this vision. If you know any Black artists interested in joining please send them our way and spread the word. ... This February, New Brunswick is going to celebrate Black history like never before. My Heart is filled with pride Determination and love

Thank you to the Gallery on Queen for allowing me to use their space to record this reading of my poem "Say her name". I'm thankful for all the friends I'm making on my artistic journey and the support they've offered me. Because of that, I am working with other Black artists to start something amazing. I hope you all enjoy this video Thanks to Weekes Photography for directing and producing this poetry reading. Couldn't ask for a better person behind the camera than Gary

I had such a great time doing my digital performance for the FLOURISH Festival this September. It was a busy month but this digital performance and especially the live one defiantly stand out as highlights. I want to thank everyone involved with FLOURISH and give a big shout out to the people at shiftwork and everyone in the studio!

Last week I had the pleasure of being able to ask our party leaders what they were willing to do about the homeschooling situation in New Brunswick. Homeschooling has similar outcomes to public schooling (some research shows better) and that other provinces actually pay the families that choose to homeschool their children. Currently, New Brunswick Department of Education states: "Neither schools nor school districts are required to supply... resources or services for the educational programming of children being homeschooled. " This is wild when you find out that families get paid MORE money in other provinces if they allow teachers to help guide them through the curriculum when they register for homeschooling. With our current increase in families requesting homeschool in our province I'm just glad I got to raise awareness and reduce anxiety around the fact that homeschooling is a real option. That our families can be safer and better prepared for the future the more we invest in them to pass on their experience and wisdom. It's time to invest in families. If you didn't catch the debates an want some more information on important issues before you vote Monday. Heres the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mw7E0s_nC8&t=1449s

This Thursday I will be helping to launch the Fredericton FLOURISH Festival by performing some poetry alongside the launch of their zine! It'll be at the capital, masks are encouraged, seating will be limited and social distancing protocols will be in place. Hope to see some friendly masked faces there.

It was a real pleasure being able to work with the Gallery on Queen and Weekes Photography with this Community support initiative. As a graduate of the University of New Brunswicks Community Wellness program, I know how important both non-profits and art are to the health of a community. Non-profits are tasked with providing services to help reduce the impact of critical issues in our community. Artists constantly strive to creatively raise awareness on these issues. When... it comes to vulnerable populations like Black and Indigenous lives, both of these pieces are important in ensuring community wellness. Now, with the help of cooperating artists and the Gallery on Queen, you can purchase one of these pieces of art and 100% of the funds are divided between two organizations that support both these vulnerable populations in our community.

Looking forward to being a part of the FLOURISH Festival this year! Can always count on the Fredericton art community to come up with innovative ways to deliver amazing moments to the community!

It's so surprising the things we can be and yet understand so little. Maybe its the journey of understanding these things that reward us with a stronger grounding in life. Regardless, I know I'm proud of my Blackness now. I look forward to spending the rest of my life becoming better friends with it.

I had a fantastic time during my interview with Woven Cultures. Glad New Brunswick has an organization dedicated to promoting an educating how wonderful our differences are. ... I look forward to working with them in the future. See more

Catch me chatting about art and performing a few poems with Woven cultures this evening at 5:30pm! Jump in on the Zoom call!

Here is the CBC article of the events happening around my poetry. I have never written a single poem with the intent to hurt or threaten people. My poetry is just a reflection of my thoughts and emotions. An observation of events put to verse. I appreciate the promotion of my art and am humbled by all who support it but can honestly say it was never my intent to cause all of this. ... I just really love words and enjoy sharing my personal expression of them. My thanks go out to everyone who's supported me and supported poetry throughout all this.

It's time to do more than just raise our voices. Now its time to go to work. Building systems of accountability and education. Of empathy and cultural respect.... A new system that tells the historical tales of New Brunswick with inclusive accuracy and painful precision. Because all citizens deserve to grow old, learning. Knowing exactly why, here in New Brunswick Black Lives Matter Who's ready to go to work with me?

My 5th spoken word poem. Titled: Enough This summer I'm working on putting on some Poetry for mental health workshops for a limited amount of interested people. and also investing in the equipment I'd need to record and produce better quality videos/host quality digital workshops. ... If you like my art an would like to support a Black artist you can donate to my PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/sekoway Every little bit helps me closer to my dream of making a living sharing my story and teaching others to do the same. Thank you to everyone who's supported me in getting to this point. Much love and respect

One of my poems was featured by elm + ampersand for their national poetry month event. Every day they are selecting one poem to share from New Brunswick poets. I've been writing a lot of poetry lately. using it as a tool to explore the anxiety and emotions I've been experiencing during all this wildness. Accepting the full spectrum of what I feel as okay and who I am. ... In facing the many thoughts that haunt my mind I gain the power to realize that this can be a time of great personal discovery. A time when I can learn to love aspects of myself I've long struggled to consider, let alone articulate. The roses may be blue, and things might seem insane. But that means any act of love in times like this has grown in power 1000x. Any day you spend loving your self counts 1000x. any conversation with friends and family that counts 1000x. Now is the easiest time to forge an unbreakable sense of self-love because it is the hardest time to feel love. Everything you do now matters more than it ever has, for better or worse. You are writing entire chapters of your life every month that passes. Write something honest.

" It ain't about how hard you hit, its about how hard you can get hit an keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward, that's how winning is done" Rocky Balboa I will never forget.... That my first paid performance I messed up and had to restart. I will never forget. That afterwards when I was talking to people in the crowd they mentioned that was their favorite part. Because it showed strength, character, and how passionate I am for my my art. People asked for hugs, some had tears in their eyes. I will never forget. That tonight, surrounded by local heros, the parts of me I'm ashamed of spilled out into the room and that vulnerability was welcomed as a cherished part of who I am and... I will never forget.

On Februray 10th the wonderful Poet Laureate of Fredericton Jenna Lyn, asked me to perform one of my poems at Fredericton city hall. It was a magical moment and not at all what I imagined I would be doing with the poem when I wrote it one year ago. I feel blessed to be offered these opportuinties where I get to express my art. My performance is half-way into the video after Mayor Mike o Brien says a few words about Black history. Thank you Fredericton for supporting local poets of all backgrounds.

One year later in my Poetry journey I decided to come back to where I started. Open mic at the Muse Cafe on my birthday. Here's me trying out two new poems i've been working on. Enjoy and let me know what you think!