Black In The Maritimes Podcast Wants To Amplify Unheard Voices
MONCTON – The Black in the Maritimes podcast wants to bring more undocumented voices to the forefront. In order to fund the new equipment needed, they started a gofundme campaign with a goal of raising $2,000.
“We are raising the money because we want to amplify the voices of people that are unheard, not just Black people – Indigenous communities, immigrants, LGBTQ,” Fidel Franco, 36-year old Black in the Maritimes co-host, said.
“We want to be the voice of the people that are unheard.”
Since July of 2016, the podcast has provided a platform for the voices and lived experiences of black people and other visible minorities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island.
The men behind Black in the Maritimes are hoping to purchase two cameras, lights, a computer, microphones, and ads so they can reach a larger crowd. Franco said if they are able to get their new equipment, it’ll make it easier to involve more contributors into the podcast.
“We’re just using little $10-$20 mics,” said fellow co-host Clinton Davis.
Davis joined the podcast team after Franco had him in for an interview on the show. Davis told Franco he would love to work with him on the show.
This is the first time Marcus Marcial, Davis, and Franco have asked for donations after four years of a completely self-made and self-funded podcast.
They want to be able to take the podcast on the road, do outside media work, produce a video format, and bring more voices of people of colour to the podcast.
“I know there are many people of colour from multiple backgrounds in the Maritimes, but I don’t feel their voices have ever been properly represented,” Davis said.
With the Black Lives Matter movement gaining steam in the last few weeks, the podcasters want to build their platform in order to help even more people of colour.
Franco wants others to see people of colour as more than the colour of their skin. He wants them to be seen for their experiences and their differences.
“We’re different. We’re totally different people,” Franco is originally from the Dominican Republic but has been living in Canada for 10 years.
“I get treated like I’m from Africa … I don’t even know French.”
By getting the donations they need, the co-hosts will be able to welcome new contributors who want to share their stories.
In the future, Davis said he’d like to see the podcast to grow into a much bigger thing.
“I would hopefully see ourselves growing into sort of a larger niche, independent media network,” Davis said.
“We could have multiple podcasts and shows representing different groups of people who may not have a strong voice.”
HUDDLE PODCAST: Shauna Cole On Black Lives Matter