Jams for Justice: Advocating Fair Representation Through Music

Combining a passion for music with advocacy for fair representation in the music industry, grade 12 students Kieran H and Neil V share their story behind Jams for Justice.

Grade 12 students Neil V and Kieran H created Jams for Justice, an initiative to showcase the rich diversity in music through a three-day Instagram live concert that featured a curated playlist celebrating musicians of colour. Neil and Kieran tell us what inspired them and why they felt compelled to stand up for fair representation in the music industry.

What was the inspiration behind Jams for Justice?

Kieran: We knew we wanted to do something surrounding music and racial justice for our CAS project. We are both musicians and come from countries — United States and South Africa — where the discussion of race is gaining more and more traction. We thought about it a lot and felt that this angle was where we could inspire the most change in our community.

Neil: We considered that representation in music was somewhere we could actually make a difference, even if on a small scale. The fundraising route wouldn’t be as hands-on and we might be detached from the results, so the Jams for Justice concept came to us as somewhere we really think we could incite change, and be close enough to witness it.

What are your thoughts about the current state of representation in the music industry?

Neil: I think historically music has been among the more diverse areas of society — we have seen representation of many cultures and ethnicities even within the western music industry which is great. Most people don’t just listen to music from artists of one race. However, I think that most people don’t recognise the influences behind music. For example, we celebrate an artist like Ed Sheeran, without recognising that a lot of his current music is drawn from Latin styles like reggaeton. Can we really say that has nothing to do with the disenfranchisement of Latin artists?

How do you hope to inspire other CIS students through this project?

Kieran: Jams for Justice was a project that we came up with to show how talented the often unknown and overlooked musicians of colour are. Putting on a show that gives a taste of what lies within this super diverse community of musicians. We feel like there is a lot of cool music that just flies under the radar as a result of a lack of representation, and we wanted to make as much of a difference as we could, even if it wasn’t on a super big world stage.

Within the world of social media, we have access to an audience, and if we can organise our arguments, present them well and use the tools at our disposal, I believe we are all capable of making a difference

If any students at CIS were to take anything away from this little project, it should be that you shouldn’t worry about the magnitude of your potential impact, just care about the fact that you’re passionate enough to try and make a difference in the world.

Take a look at the Jams for Justice account.

Ask the Dentist: Q. My child has a loose tooth. Should I DIY the extraction at home?

Losing the first baby tooth is an exciting milestone for many families! This may happen around 6 years old, with the lower central incisors generally the first to make the transition. Did you know that permanent teeth begin in the jaws as early as at birth! As these teeth gradually move from within the bone up to the surface, they cause the roots of baby teeth to dissolve resulting in a wobbly baby tooth.

At this juncture, many parents are tempted to pull the tooth out at home. DIY extractions have been performed in many homes but may risk excessive bleeding, damage to gums or infection. It is worth mentioning that not all loose teeth can be easily removed – leading to a potentially painful situation after a failed attempt at extraction.

Some parents believe that extracting loose baby teeth will help aid in better alignment of the incoming adult teeth. This is a myth. Instead, factors like genetics, teeth and jaw sizes or habits like thumb-sucking play a more important role in determining the final position of the teeth.

Loose baby teeth often fall out naturally without intervention if given sufficient time. This can take between 4-6 months on average. Using a clean finger to wiggle the shaky baby tooth daily can help hasten the process. Here are some scenarios where a dental extraction may be required:

1. Over-retained baby tooth. When an adult tooth is well erupted and the corresponding baby tooth remains quite firm in the jaw, a dentist may need to remove the over-retained baby tooth.

2. Some children are bothered by wobbly teeth. They may eat poorly or refuse to brush their teeth. Removal of the wobbly teeth will return them to comfort again.

If in doubt, please bring your child in for a dental check-up. Your child’s dental specialist or dentist will examine the teeth and recommend accordingly.

Dr Tabitha Chng is a Dental Specialist in Paedodontics (Children’s Dentistry) with Specialist Dental Group®. She received her specialty training in Paedodontics from University of Toronto, Canada. She is currently the only Paediatric dentist to be dually certified by both the American Board of Paediatric Dentistry and the Royal College of Dentists of Canada. Dr Chng loves to see children smile and constantly strives to create a safe and relaxed environment for kids to enjoy their visits. Besides fighting cavities, she has a special interest in paediatric sleep medicine (eg. tooth grinding, snoring) and early management of crooked teeth without braces.

(65) 6733 7883 | www.specialistdentalgroup.com

Specialist Dental Group® is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). CAS members enjoy a special rate for dental services.