Black changemaker shares poem, calls for positive change in New Brunswick

Thandiwe Jelani McCarthy is very proud of hispoem Changemakers, especially since it didn't come easily, and he"wrestled with it like an alligator."

The Fredericton-based spoken-word poet, writerand community organizerwas named a CBC Black Changemaker, and said he wrote the poem to mark that occasion.

"I was nominated by other people and chosen by a jury of my own peers," he said. "The poem was me grappling with that concept of how we bring change."

McCarthy said he immediately thought of positive changeand the small things we can all do.

"Call up a loved one or a friend and share a laugh with them. You can change someone's whole day with just 15 seconds of yours."

WATCH | Thandiwe Jelani McCarthy reads Changemakers:

Fredericton poet on how to make change

2 years ago

Duration 2:38

Thandiwe Jelani McCarthy has been named a CBC Black Changemaker, a project to highlight Black leaders, teachers, movers and shakers across Atlantic Canada.

He considers this poem one of his strongest performance pieces.

"A lot of my poems are directed at the universe throwing my thoughts to the stars," he said. "But this one I was speaking to New Brunswickers. I was curating the specific message that we all have the power to brighten each other's days."

McCarthy believes everyonemust learn to"love the people we can't be close to," and "respect the people we don't like."

"If we can just do that to smile at those who hurt usand work beside those who hate us then everything awful and impossible becomes interesting and fun."

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.