Orville Lloyd Douglas facts for kids

Orville Lloyd Douglas (born September 26, 1976) is a Canadian essayist, poet, and writer. He is known for his thoughtful articles and poems that explore important social topics.

About Orville Lloyd Douglas

Orville Lloyd Douglas was born in Toronto, Ontario. His parents came from Jamaica. He studied at York University, where he earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees. .....

His Writing Work

Douglas's writing often looks at how different parts of our lives connect. He writes about topics like fairness, identity, and how people are treated based on their background. He has written for many well-known publications in Canada and around the world. These include CBC News, The Hill, The Guardian, The Toronto Star, and The Philadelphia Inquirer.

His Poetry

Orville Lloyd Douglas's poems have appeared in various literary magazines. Some of these include The Maple Tree Supplement and Pedestal Magazine. His poetry was also part of Seminal (2007), which was an important collection of Canadian poetry.

His first book of poems, You Don't Know Me, was published by TSAR Publications. This book explored many challenging social issues. His second poetry book, Under My Skin, was released by Guernica Editions in May 2014.

Discussing Media Portrayals

In 2006, Douglas wrote an article called "TV Still Stereotyping black women" for The Philadelphia Inquirer. In it, he discussed how some TV characters might show unfair or old-fashioned ideas about Black women. He also talked about how certain talk shows might accidentally support these ideas.

In 2007, Douglas created a fifteen-minute radio documentary called The Good Son. It was broadcast across Canada on CBC Radio One. The documentary shared his poetry and conversations with his father. It also included his thoughts on personal challenges and understanding different communities.

Douglas has also written about how Hollywood movies choose actors. In an essay for The New Zealand Herald, he discussed the casting for the film A Mighty Heart. He suggested that actors with similar backgrounds to the real-life people they play should be chosen. He continued these thoughts in The Georgia Straight with an article called "Is White the New Black?".

He also wrote about tennis champion Serena Williams in The Guardian. In "The Slighting of Serena Williams", he argued that some of the criticism she faced was unfair. He believed it was connected to her being a Black woman who was very successful in a sport that was traditionally seen as white.

In November 2013, Douglas wrote an article for TheRoot.com titled "White Privilege Keeps Crack Smoking Mayor in Office". This piece looked at how the Canadian media discussed a political scandal involving the mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford. Douglas explored how issues of fairness and background might have played a role in the public discussion.

Exploring Fairness and Identity

In 2009, Douglas wrote an essay called "Is Madea A Drag Queen?" for ColorLines. In this piece, he shared his ideas about how some movies by Tyler Perry might show certain groups of people in ways that reinforce old ideas.

His article "Same Sex Marriage's Colour Bar" in The Guardian discussed the idea that different groups of people should be treated fairly. He argued that it's important for all communities to be welcoming to everyone, regardless of their background.

In September 2013, Douglas's essay "Why I won't be watching The Butler & 12 Years A Slave" was published in The Guardian. He shared his thoughts on how Hollywood often makes movies about historical events. He suggested that filmmakers could be more creative and include stories from all kinds of people. This essay led to a discussion within the African American community, and another writer, Michael Arceneaux, wrote a response.

In November 2013, Douglas's article "Why I Hate Being A Black Man" appeared in The Guardian. This piece explored his personal feelings about identity and how Black men are sometimes seen in Canada. He was interviewed about this article by CNN host Don Lemon.

In February 2014, Douglas wrote for The Hill. He discussed how Black History Month celebrations could include more stories from all parts of the Black community. He believed it was important to recognize everyone's contributions to history.

In March 2017, Douglas wrote an article for Film International. He discussed how some films that receive awards often focus on difficult topics like hardship and poverty. He suggested that films about Black families often need to show struggles to gain critical attention.

In June 2017, Douglas wrote an essay for CBC News titled "I'm black and gay. Black Lives Matter Toronto doesn't speak for me". In this piece, he shared his views on Black Lives Matter Toronto (BLMTO). He discussed their actions at the Toronto Pride Parade in 2016. He also talked about his personal experiences and his hope for all communities to be inclusive.

Radio Documentaries

• "The Good Son" – CBC Radio – 2007