Black Tea

Dalton and Mel speak to Ghanaian-Canadian animator Gyimah Gariba. Mel is convinced Big Sean has to unionize. Links from this episode:Huda Hassan CBC Arts article: How Gyimah Gariba is using caricature to push for a more empathetic worldMel on TwitterDalton on Twitter

Mel and Dalton talk to professor, author and public intellectual Rinaldo Walcott about the state of Black life, history and how to imagine and create a better world. 

Dalton and Mel chat with 2021 Polaris Music Prize winner Cadence Weapon about politics, storytelling and social justice.Cadence Weapon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cadenceweaponCadence Weapon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cadenceweaponMel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelaynaWilliamsDalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/daltonhiggins5

Mel and Dalton talk to media trailblazer Brandon Gonez about doing media his way, real representation and connecting to communities through authentic storytelling.

Jamaican-Canadian legend Stacey McKenzie spills tea on modelling, work ethic, diversifying her talent and how much has changed in the industry. Mel wishes Dave Chappelle would stop.Stacey McKenzie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealstaceymckenzieDalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/daltonhiggins5Mel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelaynaWilliams

Mel and Dalton sit down with media maven Tracy Moore to talk about her daytime talk show, entrepreneurism, family life, social media and being a boss.Links from the show:Tracy Moore on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetracymoore/Tracy Moore's clothing line: https://www.instagram.com/tracymoorexfredasDalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/daltonhiggins5Mel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelaynaWilliams 

Dalton and Mel speak to two people involved in CBC legal drama Diggstown: star of the series, Vinessa Antoine and journalist, playwright, film and theatre director, Juanita Peters–who is directing an episode of the show this season. They talk about how the show raises Black Canadian issues, its importance in the Canadian TV landscape, Nova Scotia, and even Diddy.Then Dalton has some hopeful words for the Fugees tour.Links from the show:Diggstown on CBC Gem: https://gem.cbc.ca/media/diggstown/s03b01?cmp=DM_SEM_diggstowns3The story of Africville: https://humanrights.ca/story/the-story-of-africvilleDalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/daltonhiggins5Mel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelaynaWilliams 

Dalton and Mel sit down with Jamaican/Canadian legend, Producer/ Development executive and author Princess Banton-Lofters, founder of the Bravo hit show The Real Housewives of Atlanta and CEO of Loft 22 Entertainment. They chat about all things career, strength, perseverance, and how to tell authentic  Black stories. Princess also spills the tea on what it was like to discover reality superstar Nene Leakes, and work with the infamous housewives.Links from the show:Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/daltonhiggins5Mel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelaynaWilliamsPrincess on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/producerprincess/

B(l)ack by popular demand, Melayna Williams and Dalton Higgins won't be holding back when they spill the tea. This season, we will get into Black art, creativity, politics, fashion and more. Prepare to learn, laugh, and get uncomfortable as Mel and Dalton guide you through necessary conversations surrounding race. Listen to season 3 on September 27th.

We talk to one of Canada’s most popular food Influencers Ryan Hinkson (Eat Famous) about hot culinary trends, the relationship between food and race,  food photography, and customer service stereotypes.

We talk to Polaris Prize winning singer/songwriter and visual artist Lido Pimienta about her music and artistic process, Black and Indigenous identity in Colombia, motherhood and more.

Art is supposed to reflect the times– so what is the responsibility of artists who document the Black community? We are always having an unending discussion on Black music and how much we own, can claim and who profits. Guests: Kardinal Offishall English Transcript

Her journey into becoming one of the most visible Black influencers in Canada is such a fascinating one. Today we talk to Sasha Exeter about how her education, experiences with competitive sports and career shaped her into crafting a career from scratch, before the term “influencer” was at the tip of everyone’s tongue. And for … Continue reading "Influencer Culture"

Comedy and satire continue to serve as excellent mediums for political discourse and critique. What responsibilities do the comedians have to the communities they joke about? If this is a form of allyship, and what role does representation have? Guest: Ryan McMahon English Trancript Version Française 

Our political landscape is missing a myriad of voices, including Black women. How has this impacted the news cycle, or affected the minds and ideologies of voters? GUEST: Celina Caesar-Chavannes English Transcript Version Française 

We are in an unprecedented moment and sports is not immune to the major shifts in consciousness occurring at this time. The theme of accountability is constantly being applied, and racism in sports has come to the forefront. The infrastructure around the business of sports continues to contain gatekeepers and barriers affected by racism. We … Continue reading "The Politics of Sports"

There has been a lot of whistleblowing about anti-Black racism in the workplace in almost every profession. Unspoken issues at work ranging from micro-aggressions to outright racism are being recounted, and countless companies are being held accountable. What is this moment going to produce? What kind of future are we building? GUEST: Kathleen Newman-Bremang English … Continue reading "Black Women in Media: Truth, Accountability"

B(l)ack by popular demand, Black Tea season 2 is bringing the same unapologetically Black content, unfiltered raw opinions and dope guests. We'll be getting into all things Black, and much tea will get spilled. We are going to explore art, politics, pop culture, sports, economics and more beyond a single story or simple representation.

The Black community often replicates the harmful and oppressive structures of white supremacy on it's queer members. What are some ways we can build stronger ties between the broader Black community and LGBTQ+ people? Guest: Kim Katrin Milan, Human Rights Educator and Writer

This week, Melayna, Andray and A.Harmony break down this year's best (and worst) moments in Blackness by spilling as much tea as possible.  Guest: Writer and Hip-hop artist, A.Harmony

Yes, diversity is a buzzword, but it also represents essential strides in the film and television industry related to viewership and box office returns. For some reason, that shift hasn’t resonated in Canada. How can we change that? Guest: Amanda Parris, Television and Radio Host, Writer.

Growing up, the athlete was portrayed as shallow, unintelligent, and unconcerned with the affairs of the world. This has never been the case with Black athletes, so why are white sports fans continually surprised? We talk to Donnovan Bennett from Sportsnet about the implications and stakes surrounding the activist athlete. Guest: Donnovan Bennet, Sportsnet Host, Writer

Why do Black artists in this country have to leave home to find their fame? And why are we only happy to claim them after they’ve already made it somewhere else? How can we offer better support to our artists early on and what can we do to help our Canadian artists stay in Canada and still find global success? Guest: Dalton Higgins, Author

Most Black people show up differently depending on the world they’re in—from life at work to with friends to at home, there’s often code-switching at play. And, since Canada is so multicultural, young Black people are commonly subjected to a simple two-letter phrase: “white-washed.” On the surface, this seems trivial but deep down, to be “white-washed” means something much bigger than simply seeming white. What does this phrase really mean and how does respectability play a role in daily Black life?   Guest: Sajae Elder

Is the legalization of cannabis actually good for Canada’s Black community? And how is it that public officials—the same ones who were wholly against legalization while Black people were being imprisoned at alarming rates—are now profiting from the industry? The director of the Cannabis Amnesty campaign joins us in the studio to drop some knowledge. Guest: Annamaria Enenajor

Black culture has become pop culture, and it’s clearly for sale—but who’s benefitting? Inside jokes on Black Twitter, the use of AAVE (African American Vernacular English) and other things that originate in the Black community are used on the daily by other people, and it’s time to give credit where credit is due.

Canada's Black communities deserve insightful and uncomfortable conversations about the issues that matter to them. Join writers Andray Domise and Melayna Williams as they discuss these issues with friends and experts.