Join Surabhi Veitch as she sits down with the extraordinary Selam Debs - a beacon of strength, healing and grace - for a heart-to-heart conversation about her personal journey as a Black single mother navigating the complexities of raising a Black son in a white supremacist society. Selam opens up about the struggles she faced, the power of owning her story and her journey towards healing. Together, we delve into the impact of adultification of Black children, the harm of white supremacy culture on body image and parenting, and the necessary pain and joys of waking up to the truth. We explore the transformative power of motherhood and how it has shaped Selam's healing journey and her unwavering commitment to creating a better world for future generations.

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We discuss:

—Selam growing up, from Ethiopia to so-called Canada
—Moving to Kitchener-Waterloo and facing racism
—Having her son at 21 was the greatest blessing
—Facing stereotypes as a young, Black single mother
—Selam’s journey to healing
—Raising her son to feel proud of his culture while surrounded by white supremacy
—Her Black son being targeted by teachers from a young age
—Stop adultifying Black children - see them as the children that they are
—The violent harm of white tears
—The transition and transformation in becoming a mother
—The power in owning every part of your story
—Body Image and harmful Eurocentric standards based on white supremacy
—White women co-opting Black features and traits while Black women are dehumanized for the same traits
—How parenting shifts as your child gets older
—How insidious white supremacy culture is
—The necessary pain you have to face when waking up to the truth
—The joy in Black, brown and Indigenous cultures
—How white supremacy culture and colonial violence makes people disconnected from humanity
—Things you need to teach a Black boy as a parent
—Healing practices and vision for a better future

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Selam Debs Bio

Selam is a Black Ethiopian queer woman, an antiracism educator, an anti-oppression coach, a social justice advocate, a student in dismantling anti-Black racism, an accomplice in dismantling anti-Indigenous racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and an advocate in 2SLGBTQ+ & disability rights through an intersectional lens. She is the founder of her recently closed studio, Juici Yoga, a yoga and meditation instructor, a restorative yoga teacher trainer, a holistic life coach, a reiki master, and a Lululemon Ambassador.

Selam is first and foremost, A MOTHER, a singer and a songwriter, a poet and a practitioner of self-acceptance, self-love, and radical compassion. Selam’s Antiracism work is rooted in the understanding that we must acknowledge and identify the insidiousness of white supremacy before we can dismantle colonial belief systems. The process of undoing, unlearning and re-educating is necessary for white communities to embark on, to support the healing journey for our racialized communities. Selam is also a board member of Project UP, Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASCW) and Women's Entrepreneur Centre of Laurier University.

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Links/Resources

—Follow Selam on Instagram @selamdebs
—Selam’s website and Antiracism Course: https://www.selamdebs.com/antiracism-course

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Connect with Surabhi:
—Find Surabhi on Instagram or Facebook @thepassionatephysio
—Website: https://www.thepassionatephysio.ca