Angela Bowden
Author, Speaker & Activist
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Angela Bowden is an author, TEDx speaker, and activist born and raised in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. She is the proud mother of three biological sons and one son by love. Bringing her lived experiences as an African Nova Scotian woman and mother, Bowden speaks and writes extensively about social justice and the emotional experiences of her people. She has delivered many speeches and performed poetry and spoken word at community, social justice and women focused events. She has published many articles and poetry reflecting African Nova Scotians' experiences and pain. Bowden is passionate about the anti-racism activism she is involved in and has organized and participated in many events that challenge the injustices in our communities and systems.
Angela Bowden’s first published book, Unspoken Truth: Unmuted and Unfiltered is a bold collection of poetry released on March 31, 2021. Her work pays homage to the African ancestors and elders; highlighting the generational pain of Africans living in the diaspora. Through her poems, Bowden creates a panoramic view of the terror they endured for centuries. Deliberately and with dignity she brings the trauma stories of African Nova Scotians told around kitchen tables for generations to the hearts and homes of many readers; restoring a sense of humanity and royalty robbed from the African journey. Despite the odds they were able to preserve their lineages; leaning into the strength and resilience passed down intergenerationally they passed along the remnants of our culture, pride, strength and freedom legacy.
Bowden was one of the talented writers selected for the Alistair MacLeod Mentorship Program in 2020, offered by the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia under the mentorship of Sue Goyette. Her unique and vital voice is critical to these times and was respected and printed frequently by Robert Devet, owner and editor of the Nova Scotia Advocate up until his recent passing.
Currently, Angela is a graduate student in the joint Women and Gendered Studies program offered at Saint Mary’s University and Mount Saint Vincent University. She recently signed her second book contract, a children's book, with Nimbus publishing, with an estimated release in January 2023.
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What moments are you most proud of professionally? And why?
Three of the most proud moments of my professional life would have to be the release of my first published book- UnSpoken Truth: Unmuted and Unfiltered on March 31, 2021. My second moment would be delivering a TedxTalk in December of 2019 and finally the honourable mention Governext award I received in 2016 which honoured my leadership, daily commitment and work ethic. These accomplishments are my go to moments , where I draw strength from because writing and publishing a book has been a childhood dream of mine and I completed it during some pretty challenging times; COVId 19 began, my mom was sick in the hospital and I was in a recovering and healing period in my life. Accomplishing anything in these pandemic times is worthy to pause and celebrate.
Secondly, I always had this desire to inspire through speaking and sometime in my twenties I saw one of Les Brown’s motivational VHS tapes and I instantly began visioning myself being a motivational speaker; delivering the TedxTalk brought that vision in focus.
Lastly, receiving the Governext award marks the end of a successful career path of having worked with youth in trauma for decades and finishing this path with the provincial government of Nova Scotia. I am proud of that accomplishment, I served the youth in many capacities throughout my work history.
What’s your vision for Atlantic Canada in 10 years? What’s our biggest opportunity now?
What a wish list you have given me. My vision for Atlantic Canada in ten years is that we keep doing what we’re doing and stop doing what we’re doing. I envision a collective of today’s youth continuing the legacy of initiating change as young adults through policy, legislation, education, Justice, healthcare, housing, environmental issues, while continuing the legacy of fighting for equity and standing up for those who need a voice the most - our vulnerable and marginalized populations. Our biggest opportunity right now is to harness the social problems that are so blatantly harming our citizens and develop strong Intergenerational teams who can identify, center and dismantle the harms and build change and equity in our systems. Our biggest opportunity right now is the opportunity to build a government with effective leadership that is committed to building an Atlantic Canada that allows diversity to enter and flourish without harm while reconciling the historical harms that have strong footholds in today’s Canada.
What was your greatest stage of growth? What made it a shift for you?
Growth is continuous and each stage of my life was filled with important and necessary growth. The greatest stage of growth however came when I found a therapist and began the daunting task of peeling back the multiple layers of trauma that I had accumulated and normalized over time. The shift came when I committed to put in the work to heal the oozing traumas I inherited and was carrying; that confrontation was the shift that has made all the difference. This stage of my life taught me that it’s ok to be a human being with feelings and to give myself permission to heal. Humanizing myself also humanizes other Black women challenging the superwoman model normalized and passed down. Continuing with this toxic Black femininity model that was
understandably an adaptive safety mechanism in its time was outdated; undoing this way of being and creating one where I accepted myself in all forms with generosity and love was the biggest flex. Embracing worthiness and to know I was deserving to heal without judgements was a game changer.
What’s your favourite or most read book or podcast? Now or at each of your greatest stages of growth?
My favourite and most read book since 1998 has been Acts of Faith by Iyanla Vanzant. I’m still reading it! These daily meditations for people of colour have provided me with healthy and validating morsels of truth and faith during the growing pains of the various stages of my life. Currently I am reading and growing with the late bell hooks and enjoying the works of Dionne Brand and Mikki Kendall. But I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that Lonesome Road by the late Dr. Carrie Best. The legacy, history and encouragement she gifted Nova Scotia stays with me and is a companion of mine.
What’s your deepest learning from this past year? How did/will you apply it?
My deepest learning was embracing the notion that I am first: in help, in healing and in love. Often we give of ourselves but not to ourselves. Learning to give to myself first was the deepest learning; learning how to receive that love reflected back to me was equally valuable. It’s not a selfish behaviour it is indeed a very inclusive behaviour to include yourself in the love and time you give out; for Black women this is an act of resistance and self love.
To embody this new way of being requires intention and is a daily goal. I am enough. I am love. I am strength. I am brilliance and resilience; worthy to give, receive and overcome. I embrace every piece of my destiny. This past year these messages have been my mantras and part of my daily positive self talk and consequently they are healing my soul and creating my authentic being. As I begin the new chapter of being an author and a graduate student I am learning to live in and love from my true and authentic self; reminding myself daily of the deepest lessons that evolved through some of the deepest pain. Knowing the answers are already buried deep inside of my soul gave me courage to dig deep on the days I felt defeated. Applying this knowledge is the part that takes the most work as I grow into my purpose as sometimes the derailment of old messages can threaten to seep in and throw me back into a pit of lies and insecurity. I learned This too is part of the healing process, it is a lifelong journey and I remember that without judgement. It takes practice to master any new skill and learning to love and be gentle with yourself takes daily practice. I apply what I learned by staying committed to the practice, daily and non-judgmentally.
Who’s inspired you, directly or indirectly? How have they inspired you?
My mother and grandmother hands down! My greatest teachers, inspiration and mentors are my mom, Cora Elizabeth and my grandmother Dorothy Mae (Rest in peace). These women have inspired me and encouraged me to be the best me. Their life has taught me and continues to teach me so much about the challenges, strength and hope of a Black mother and woman. Whenever I was faced with adversity I could always depend on these women to inject wisdom
even when I didn’t like it or the delivery - mama always knew best! As I grow to learn more of their life and sacrifices I begin to understand the lessons and methods deeply and intimately and her resilience, strength, protection and unconditional love for her children, grandchildren,
siblings, family and community inspire me to be in the same ways. Nanny was the glue and foundation that nurtured her children who in turn nurtured all of us. Mom was a committed daughter to my grandparents and I watched her my entire life be selfless and giving. Now that I am able to contextualize her journey and realize the sum total of her accomplishments, a daughter who graduated from high school into a mother who worked inside and outside the home during the harsh realities and consequences of Jim Crow anti-Black racism, she like many other women are simply our unsung heroes. These women are my greatest inspiration- hands down!
What would you have done differently?
Not a thing! Each step in my journey led me to this place and I'm not sure I would be who I am today without the development stages I have gone through. That’s not to say I enjoyed the growing pains but they were great teachers. Life is about the journey and you don’t know what you would do differently because each decision in your life is made based on what you know and have to work with at the time. “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better do better” - Maya Angelou’s quote reminds us all that doing different comes from knowing different and doing the best you can until you know different is life long learning. Learning, knowing and doing better is the goal.
What motivated you to make the choices you’ve made?
Tomorrow. Tomorrow motivates me to make choices today that will impact the future generations of our children and hopefully create pathways like my foremothers and footsteps for them to follow and to be seen.
I strive to live by the “live and let live” principle. My mom and my grandmother taught. They were firm teachers of the principles I live by today.
1) Do not judge - anyone. You have no idea what others are carrying nor are you perfect so don’t judge a person or you may walk in their shoes someday.
2) Give. When you give of yourself you open your heart up to receive all the love that you put out in the universe to come back to you, give with compassion and purity.
3) Gratitude. Always give thanks for the blessings you receive big and small. Being grateful initiates the law of abundance . If you're grateful for what you have, more is on the way.
4) Faith. You don’t need to know all the answers, God does. Do not judge, give, count your blessings and wait on him. Timing is everything. When you do your best he will do the rest!
And lastly number 5 is a quote by my mom that is embedded in my heart, mind and soul; “Don’t ever let anyone else’s behaviour change who you are”. Mom insisted we be intentional and authentic in our lives and to stay true to you, you are accountable for and to you. Stay focused, eyes front and Be You!
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Author, Poet, Activist, Healer, Motivational Speaker, Community Developer, Foodie, Mom, Nana, Bibi