Humble the Poet feels most proud to be Canadian… when he's not here
Canada 2017 | Posted: March 21, 2017 11:00 AM | Last Updated: March 21, 2017
"When they're rejecting immigrants or refugees, we're responding by opening our doors."
Throughout 2017, we're asking Canadians, "What's your story?"
When we sat down with MC and spoken-word artist Humble the Poet, who's defending André Alexis's Fifteen Dogs on this year's Canada Reads, we also got to ask some of our favourite rapid-fire questions about the country: What historical moment would you go back and witness? What emoji best represents Canada? And what cheesy Canadian song do you secretly love?
He also told us about the times he felt most proud to be Canadian: "With our neighbours to the south, I feel very proud that we're not following their lead," he said. "When they're rejecting immigrants or refugees, we're responding by opening our doors."
That pride comes with balance, he says. "When I'm least proud to be Canadian is when I think about the times in our history when we didn't have that in our practice."
The Canada Reads debates take place March 27 to 30 and you can catch them on air on CBC Radio One at 11 a.m., live streamed on CBCbooks.ca at 11 a.m. and broadcast on CBC Television at 4 p.m.
What's your story?
What defines Canada for you? Is there a time that you were proud to be Canadian, or perhaps a time you felt disappointed? Is there a place, person, or event in your life that sums up what being Canadian is to you? Visit cbc.ca/whatsyourstory.
What defines Canada for you? Is there a time that you were proud to be Canadian, or perhaps a time you felt disappointed? Is there a place, person, or event in your life that sums up what being Canadian is to you? Visit cbc.ca/whatsyourstory.