Understanding social issues

This So Awoke segment of our Virtual Sojourn to celebrate our 3rd year anniversary, #sojannelle3 – consists of 3 interviews that cover current #socialissues of LGBTQIA+, Black Lives Matter, and Mental Health.

In the first part, we meet Angel Bonilla – the first transgender contestant in The Voice. As she broke this ceiling, this has also opened doors for her to travel the US to speak about LGBTQIA+ issues.

Prior to having a successful career in music, she was in the medical field where she sang to her patients to provide a welcome distraction to them. During the pandemic, she went back into the medical field since all her music “gigs” were cancelled. This is her way of giving back to the community and a great way to sustain financial stability.

In this interview, recalls a vivid incident where she encountered gender discrimination – She auditioned for a part in a major cruise line show where she actually got the role. However, when they found out that she’s a transwoman, they decided to change her character from a fairy into a wolf. “It’s because they said the wolf has no gender!” she exclaims. As a result, she turned down the offer and said “Peace out”.

She asserts that regardless of gender, “when you follow your heart with persistence, everything is possible.” Having a strong spirit, a strong personality and a very supportive family unit helped her a lot in her journey.

In the second interview, we Strategy for Black Lives founded by friends Frantzy Luzincourt, Patrick Reyes and Timothy Hunter to fight systemic injustice and combat racial discrimination and inequality. Frantzy notes that it has been an ongoing issue long before he was born and it is becoming more and more prevalent. When asked by a random passer-by at a BLM rally “Black lives matter to whom?” Timothy recognised that a lot will still be stuck in their ways. Patrick, who isn’t black but is a person of colour (Filipino American), has seen things over the years that have prompted him to fight for the African community.

They started the movement after witnessing George Floyd’s death and hearing the words “I can’t breathe”. In 2014, Frantzy and Patrick experienced their first demonstration in the streets of Washington Square Park where the same words were being uttered by demonstrators to honour Eric Garner’s life. The Strategy for Black Lives was built in order to organise and engage communities, and to also bring awareness to America’s historical mistreatment of marginalised population.

There are 3 ways for people to support the movement: It is important to educate people on different ways racism presents itself and then start a discussion on how changes can be brought to the society in order to battle racism. Local communities should participate and hold everyone accountable to make the change. Donate time, resources or efforts.

Lastly, we have Dr Consuelo Cagande who is the Division Chief of Community Care and Wellness, and Senior Associate Program Director in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. This part of the segment delves into mental health and how we (and our children) can cope during this crisis.

Dr Cagande lists self-care as the primary way to cope. She explains the Oxygen Mask Theory where you must put your oxygen mask first before you can help others with theirs. This means that you have to take care of yourself first and your mindset before you can help others. Don’t forget to take care of your basic needs such as, nutrition, hydration, sufficient sleep and exercise. Mindfulness and meditation along with the pillar of acceptance helps a lot. Accept that we cannot control others nor the environment but we can control ourselves and how we can keep ourselves safe.

In terms of guiding children during this pandemic, Dr Cagande suggests to ask how they are doing. Allow them to express their emotions and really listen to what they are saying. Try and limit the screen time i.e. no too much social media. Also, try and keep the normalcy at home as much as possible by having a structured schedule. Be aware of any warning signs from children to prevent further mental health issues from arising.

When asked how we can stay calm, she suggests to take media breaks because having immediate access to news and social media has rewired us to feel more sensitive. Connecting with someone and self-compassion also help. “Connect with each other not with gadgets.”