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Vancouver Island teen releases BԪַdevastatingBԪַ exploration of local hatred

Comox Valley student creates project addressing intolerance and bigotry in our community
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Mackai Sharp knows first-hand about intolerance.

He has experienced it, and seen others suffer through acts of hatred, right there in his Comox Valley backyard.

The lack of tangible action being taken by community leaders to put an end to intolerance and bigotry has been frustrating for Sharp and others to endure. His latest project challenges people to take a deeper look within, and he is hopeful it is the catalyst to real change.

The project was launched on his website Dec. 14, and at the Comox Valley Art Gallery on Dec. 17. The response has been overwhelmingly positive.

BԪַThe project was launched a couple of days ago, and itBԪַs made its way not only across the Valley, but across the Island,BԪַ he said. BԪַIBԪַm surprised by the amount of support itBԪַs received.BԪַ

Mackai Sharp's project addressing intolerance and bigotry will premier at the Comox Valley Art Gallery on Dec. 17. Photo supplied

SharpBԪַs project is entitled BԪַKill YourselfBԪַ and done with the help of his photographer friend, Nula Power. It is a photo essay, as well as a written document.

The photo captions offer comments and slurs that have been directed at him personally due to his sexual orientation. Sharp, who is bisexual, said the project is not about his sexuality, or the LGBTQ community in particular, but rather about the larger picture of intolerance and bigotry within the community.

BԪַI am utilizing my experiences as a vehicle to highlight how this intolerance isnBԪַt just for people like me; itBԪַs for a variety of different people in the Comox Valley, and how it is affecting all of them in a very similar manner,BԪַ he said. BԪַItBԪַs not just about sexual orientation. ItBԪַs about gender identity, people of colour, and anyone whose [similar experiences] have affected their quality of life in this community.

BԪַItBԪַs a way of showcasing that this is happening to a lot of different people.BԪַ

Sharp said his personal motivation for taking on this project was frustration due to a lack of acknowledgment from community leaders that such a problem exists in the Comox Valley.

The catalyst was a verbal racial attack launched against two women at a Courtenay restaurant earlier this year.

Sharp, the victims, and a few other witnesses met with government officials in the wake of the incident in an attempt to affect change and have been disappointed with the aftermath, starting with the local school district and working its way higher.

BԪַItBԪַs been five months now. There have been promises that have been made for acknowledgment, for changes in policy, and there has been nothing - not a single acknowledgment.

BԪַIt really instilled this frustration and disgust within myself. I was like, if these people, who experienced outright bigotry, couldnBԪַt get any actionBԪַ it made me feel hopeless. I was so disappointed in my community and its stance on this issue. It brought back a lot of emotions from when I was dealing with the same sort of intolerance. So to deal with that, I used this creative outlet.BԪַ

Sharp explains in his written document that the incessant bullying and bigotry he endured in high school eventually made him turn to home-schooling to complete his high school education. (He is in Grade 12 this year.)

Local politicians react

Sharp said the launch of his project on the website has already prompted some response from community leaders, including North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney, who reached out to him after seeing it.

BԪַI think it is powerful and very brave,BԪַ Blaney said to The Record, when asked her impressions of the project. BԪַThe language Mackai has experienced is absolutely heartbreaking. Part of building strong communities is creating an environment of belonging. To be told you do not belong is an injustice that needs to be addressed and Mackai is doing that.BԪַ

BԪַItBԪַs devastating to hear, but also I am very proud of him for being able to voice what we know is happening in our community that we never give voice to,BԪַ added Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard, when contacted by The Record. BԪַItBԪַs very impressive, and very brave of him.BԪַ

Comox Valley Regional District director Arzeena Hamir was also moved by SharpBԪַs project.

BԪַI fully understand that MackaiBԪַs story isnBԪַt just a single story,BԪַ she said. BԪַIBԪַve heard it repeated so many times, be it a young woman dealing with sexual assault, a person of colour dealing with a racial slur. I myself have been a target so I know racism is present in the Valley. Our community does not do a great job dealing with difficult situations like this.

BԪַI would love to see the day come for us to say, as a community, if you are a bigot, you are not welcome in the Comox Valley.BԪַ

It is reactions like these Sharp was hoping for when he set out to do the project.

BԪַI hope it just, if anything, starts a conversation,BԪַ he said. BԪַThe concern to me is that we are allowing complacency to become the new normal. We are normalizing silence. I really just want the community to reassess its values.BԪַ

What can be done?

Blaney recognizes the need to be more proactive when it comes to intolerance.

BԪַAll too often we avoid what scares us. It is important to practise being an ally, because itBԪַs not easy and it doesnBԪַt come naturally to everyone. We all need to be prepared to speak out against discrimination when we see it. There is no perfect reaction and every scenario is different, but inaction can be a matter of life and death, so we need to practise in order to be prepared.BԪַ

Leonard pointed to the re-implementation of a BC human rights commissioner as one important step towards making communities safer from acts of intolerance and hatred. BCBԪַs Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, started her five-year term in September of 2019. (It had been dismantled in 2002.)

She also referred to the governmentBԪַs work on reforming the Police Act. A special committee was formed in July to examine the current Police Act and bring its recommendations forward.

Sharp is particularly interested in seeing change at the school level, which, according to his project essay is where much of the intolerance is experienced. Sharp says itBԪַs not just students being intolerant towards others, but the authority figures turning a blind eye to acts of hatred.

BԪַI want them to present new options, new change in the district,BԪַ he said. BԪַI donBԪַt expect them to do that alone. I am more than happy to meet with them. I know a lot of other students that would be very happy to meet with them. We want the conversation to be positive.BԪַ

***

On Dec. 17, School District 71 sent out a statement regarding SharpBԪַs project.

BԪַWe are always concerned to learn that a student felt mistreated or not supported in our schools,BԪַ the statement read.

BԪַWe must continue to make changes necessary until all our students feel welcomed and cared for. Every child deserves an education free from discrimination, bullying, harassment, intimidation and violence. BԪַ

Mackai SharpBԪַs project can be seen at his website, (Readers should understand the project is graphic in nature, with bigoted language in the captions.)



Terry Farrell

About the Author: Terry Farrell

Terry returned to Black Press in 2014, after seven years at a daily publication in Alberta. He brings 24 years of editorial experience to Comox Valley Record...
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