News Americas, Toronto, Canada, Weds. Dec. 13, 2023: Dr. Amara Pope, a second-generation Canadian-Trinidadian scholar, has achieved remarkable academic success, earning her PhD, MA, and Joint Honors BA while working multiple jobs to fund her education. Her latest achievement, a PhD dissertation titled “Canadians Redefining R&B: The Online Marketing of Drake, Justin Bieber, and Jessie Reyez,” sheds light on the impact of music on her life and the previously overlooked history of Canadian R&B.

Dr. Amara Pope is a second generation Canadian-Trinidadian woman. Under thirty, Pope has completed her PhD., MA and Joint Honors BA all while working at several jobs to pay for her education.

Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, music played a significant role in Pope’s life. Her research explores the missing history of Canadian R&B, which was often excluded from Canadian media. Pope’s dissertation features stories of artists like Crack of Dawn, Oscar Peterson, Jackie Shane, and Eleanor Collins. Through interviews with music professionals and marketing executives, she critiques how music has been organized along racial and national lines.

Pope argues that R&B exemplifies a multicultural Canadian identity. She examines how artists like Drake, Justin Bieber, and Jessie Reyez broke into the music industry, representing a diverse range of Canadian R&B artists. Her research also delves into the growing popularity of Canadian R&B in the digital era, analyzing these artists’ performances during the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, Pope explores the rise of Canadian hip-hop and R&B, focusing on the struggles of racialized and immigrant Canadian artists. She highlights their collaborations with U.S. artists, creating what she terms “Canadian R&B music,” a fusion of R&B, hip-hop, pop, soca, reggae, and various immigrant influences.

The dissertation examines how Drake, Justin Bieber, and Jessie Reyez reinforce, complicate, or challenge prevailing notions of “Canadian-ness” and “R&B-ness.”

Pope’s journey began in Scarborough, ON, where she experienced diversity, but she later moved to Elmira, ON, where her family was the only “brown” family in the neighborhood. Pope’s Trinidadian heritage became a source of strength and empowerment. Canadian media, however, predominantly reflected a “white” Canada. It was during her post-secondary studies that she questioned this representation.

Her research showed how artists like Bieber, Drake, and Reyez resonated with her, allowing her to embrace different facets of her identity. The project became deeply personal, as Pope realized its impact on her and others. It revealed her profound interest in how musical artists create experiences that connect with listeners, fostering a sense of being “Canadian” and providing a space for self-reflection on identity.

Pope’s research ultimately showcases her pride in her complex Canadian-Trini identity, shaped in part by Canadian R&B. Follow Dr. Amara Pope: Instagram

News Americas, New York, NY, Dec. 11, 2023: Renowned Caribbean immigrant actor and playwright, David Heron, has earned a nomination for the 2023 Broadway World Rhode Island Award in the Best Supporting Performer category for his remarkable portrayal of Caliban in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

The Colonial Theatre of Rhode Island presented this critically acclaimed production as part of their annual Shakespeare in The Park Festival, captivating audiences from July through August at Wilcox Park in Westerly, Rhode Island.

The winners of the 2023 awards will be determined by an online public vote, which is currently open and will continue until December 31 on Broadway World’s website. The announcement of the winners is expected in early January.

Among the nominees for this production are eight other talented actors, including Lee Fitzpatrick, Dylan Bowden, Charles Meier, Jason Guy, Matt Arnold, Peter Tedeschi, Lindsey Rodriguez, and Nicholas Byers. In total, The Tempest has received seventeen nominations, encompassing categories such as Best Play, Best Director (Marion Markham), Best Acting Ensemble, Best Choreography (by director Markham), as well as recognition for Lighting, Sound, Scenic, and Costume Design. The Colonial Theatre is also in contention for the Best Theatre for Young Audiences and Favorite Theatre of Rhode Island awards.

David Heron, r., as Caliban and Lee Fitzpatrick as Prospera in The Tempest. Photo Credit- Bridget Huss

Heron, originally from Jamaica and an award-winning playwright known for plays like “Against His Will,” “Ecstasy,” and “Intermission,” expressed his feelings about the nomination, which came as a surprise given his initial hesitation in accepting the role.

In Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the character of Caliban is portrayed as a colonized slave, living on an island that has been taken over by Prospero, a sorcerer. Caliban’s character has often been played by actors of color in contrast to Prospero and other characters frequently portrayed by Caucasian actors. Heron’s concern for the role’s portrayal and themes was amplified by these factors.

However, when director Marion Markham offered Heron the opportunity to audition for both Prospero and Caliban and assured him of her willingness to address any concerns about the script, Heron accepted the role. Ultimately, Lee Fitzpatrick, a talented actress, was cast as Prospera, further enriching the dynamics of the play.

Heron’s interpretation of Caliban presented a unique perspective, portraying him as a “fallen prince, colonized but unconquered, uneducated but highly intelligent.” His performance received critical acclaim, with critics describing it as “magnificent” and “a standout performance.”

While Heron acknowledges the tough competition in the gender-neutral category, he is grateful for the nomination and is content with the recognition his work has received. He also mentioned his involvement in the new television series “From Yard” and the staged reading presentation of his award-winning play “Against His Will” alongside actor-producer Malik Yoba.

The Broadway World Awards are a prestigious recognition of theatrical excellence presented annually by Broadwayworld.com, a respected website covering theatre worldwide.

For more information and to cast your vote for Heron and the awards, visit: https://www.broadwayworld.com/rhode-island/voteregion.cfm