Janaya Khan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Janaya Khan
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Khan in 2018
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Other names | Future |
| Alma mater | York University |
| Occupation | Activist, model, organizer, public speaker |
| Known for | Black Lives Matter in Canada |
Janaya Khan is an activist from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They helped start Black Lives Matter Toronto. They also work as an international ambassador for the Black Lives Matter Network. Janaya is non-binary, which means they do not identify as only male or female. Their work often looks at how different parts of a person's identity, like being Black and non-binary, can affect their experiences. They focus on topics like the Black Lives Matter movement and how to organize protests.
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About Janaya Khan
Early Life and Education
Janaya Khan grew up in Toronto, Ontario. Their father was from Trinidad and their mother was from British Jamaica. Both of their parents moved to Canada.
Janaya went to York University and earned a degree in English language and literature. As of 2020, Janaya lives in Los Angeles.
Why Janaya Khan Became an Activist
Janaya believes that police forces do not always keep people safe. They have said they would prefer to have "rapid response justice teams" instead of police.
In 2016, Janaya talked about the challenges of growing up with different parts of their identity in a society that didn't always understand. They shared how experiences like police stopping people for checks led them to become an activist. These experiences also inspired them to help start Black Lives Matter Toronto.
Janaya Khan's Activism Work
Starting Black Lives Matter Toronto
In October 2014, Janaya Khan and Sandy Hudson organized a protest. This protest was to show support after Jermaine Carby, a 33-year-old man, was shot and killed by police during a traffic stop. This happened in Brampton, Ontario. It was about a month after Michael Brown was shot in the United States.
After they announced the protest, about 4,000 people gathered outside the US Consulate in Toronto. Janaya and Sandy wanted to keep this energy going. They met with Patrisse Cullors, who was one of the founders of the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States. This meeting helped Black Lives Matter become a movement that spread beyond just the United States.
In November 2014, Janaya Khan, along with Sandy Hudson and Yusra Khogali, founded the Toronto chapter of Black Lives Matter. This was the first chapter to be started in Canada.
Leading Protests and Events
Janaya Khan has led many protests and events in Toronto. These events often focused on instances of police brutality in both the United States and Canada.
In July 2016, Janaya helped organize a sit-in during Pride Toronto. Protesters at this event had a list of demands. These demands included more representation for minority groups and no uniformed police officers at Pride events.
Public Speaking and Recognition
Giving Talks and Lectures
Janaya Khan has given talks at many universities in Canada, including the University of Toronto and York University. They have also spoken at campuses in the United States, such as Bryn Mawr College and Emerson College. In 2016, Janaya spoke at Smith College's "When and Where I Enter" symposium. They were joined by Black Lives Matter co-founder Opal Tometi at this event.
Awards and Achievements
Janaya Khan has received several awards for their work. In 2015, they received the Bromley Armstrong Human Rights Award from the Toronto & York Region Labour Council. In 2016, Toronto Life magazine named them one of "Toronto's Most Influential" people.
Janaya has also written articles for different publications. These include The Root, Al Jazeera, and the Huffington Post.
