The More You Read: Recent Episodes
Clark Backo
Weekly readings hosted by Clark Backo with special guests from the Film and TV industry. Each reading will be an excerpt from a book dealing with the Black experience. The goal is to help educate our communities and provide a safe space to talk about race.
After a much needed personal break, I am back withe episode 7 of TMYR. On this week's episode, I had the honor of hosting a conversation with actor/director Helen Shaver and actor/writer Pamela Sinha. We discuss our film Happy Place -- touring Canadian film festivals now -- we talk about trauma, 'recovery', and being women in the film/tv industry.
This week's episode is with special guest, Britt Robertson.
I've been asking myself often these days, "What -- and who -- is a true ally?" I don't think 'ally' is a word any of us should be throwing around, and we need to be careful not to treat it as a badge of honor. Allyship is a way of life. It's waking up everyday and facing yourself and your inherent role in white supremacy; it's challenging your beliefs and those closest to you; it's understanding that BLM isn't an attack or the exclusion of an other but rather the simple acknowledgement that... Black. Lives. Matter. PERIOD.
@brittlrobertson is someone who understands that although any efforts of bigger change within the systems that benefit her will begin with her individual work, the fight is not ABOUT her.
So thank you, Britt, for sitting down and chatting it out. You're a real one.
Xx your new best friend Clark
Reading: Black Skin, White Masks by Frantz Fanon
On this week's episode, my dear friend and true inspiration, Mouna Traore joined us to read from one of her favorite books. To anyone who knows Mouna, it is clear that her energy in this episode is very heavy. This episode is a true example of how exhausting and trying this fight for justice can be for the Black community; and in this case, specifically Mouna.
Thank you Mouna for coming on -- despite your pain -- to talk dreams, internalized racism, and cancel culture.
Reading: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
This week I had the pleasure of chatting with my friend and co-writer/co-creator Nadine Bhabha. Nadine shares her experience as a non-Black WOC in our industry, dating woes as a WOC, and growing up with the "white wish". Thank you, Nadine , for giving your time and energy to the betterment of Black lives and for always being a positive light in all the darkness!
Reading: Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
In this week's episode, I had the absolute privilege of (virtually) sitting down with the talented Sasha Compere. She opens up about her experience specifically as a dark-skinned black woman in the world and within the Film and TV industry; humanizing black narratives; and the importance of education.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Sasha, for breaking it down so eloquently, we don't deserve you!
Reading: The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus-Nasa
On this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of having my best friend Karena Evans on to read an excerpt from one of her favorite novels. Karena opens up about being 'the Black best friend' in Hollywood, saying "no", and mental health.
Thank you, Karena, for being so open and vulnerable. You are truly a magical human being and an exceptional storyteller.
Reading: So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
This one is very close to my heart. I am mixed Cameroonian and White Canadian. Not only did this passage offer me validation of my Blackness, it made me feel seen and heard as a human being.
As I’ve continued to read the book, it has also allowed me to deepen my understanding of my privilege as a light-skinned Black woman. I urge everyone to consistently check their own privilege (not only related to race). Are you cis? Straight? Able-bodied? Are you middle-class or above? Is college an option? These are all questions to ask ourselves because if the answer is YES to any of these, that is at least one sector of society where you can make a difference. We cannot ask the oppressed to do the work. It is the job of the privileged to make change.