#emancipation

#emancipation

Thousands of musicians, dancers and elaborate costumes filled Lakeshore Boulevard on Saturday for the Grande Parade of the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival. The parade is the highlight of the weeks-long festival, which is hosting a few more events this month.

"It was just everywhere. It was every headline I read about myself, like, grown people writing articles about me saying how I looked terrible or pregnant or like a fat slut."

As a child, I befriended Michael Meldrum, a local troubadour. He brought me around to his gigs and coffee houses. That was a cool, unique way to grow up, beside this alcoholic artist who hopped from girlfriend to girlfriend's house.