Celebrating Black history through art

Born and raised in Kitchener-Waterloo, Kemahee Baker (BA’ 17) is a multi-talented artist and dancer, whose creative output is heavily influenced by her culture, music and her personal commitment to celebrating the achievements of Black people.

Following a car accident that left her with debilitating chronic pain, Baker sought psychotherapy to aid her recovery. As a form of art therapy, she began to explore painting, which gave her an outlet for self-expression and helped her to cope during her recouperation. It was through this experience that she was inspired to launch her own business, the online art store Every Good n’ Perfect Gift, while completing her post-graduate studies.

Kemahee Baker poses with a painting of a butterfly “My art emphasizes the importance of honoring Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latino and other Black, Indigenous and racialized communities,” she says. “My work exemplifies the beauty and vibrancy of these cultures and peoples, commemorating not only their excellence, but their very existence.”

In February 2023, Baker debuted her latest collection Exhale, which is being showcased in the University of Waterloo’s Modern Languages building and Spanish Lounge. Additionally, her works are featured in Sweet Dreams Teashop in Waterloo, Stride Design Collective in Cambridge, Serranía Publishing Firm in Holguin Cuba and on Urban Planet’s Instagram page.

Fostering a spirit of community

During her studies at the University of Waterloo, Baker flourished academically, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Latin American Literatures and Cultures with a minor in Psychology. She was also recognized as a dean’s list scholar and received several awards of merit.

Baker demonstrated a strong commitment to community building while pursuing her degree. She was a part of numerous campus organizations, including the University of Waterloo Black Association for Student Expression (UW BASE), the Latin American Student Association (LASA), UW Hip Hop, Cuban Salsa and the Mambo Club, among others.

She has continued in this spirit of community development. Along with her husband, Kamau Baker, they both collaborate with educational institutions in the area to curate workshops for Black History Month. These sessions recognize and honor the noteworthy accomplishments and celebrate the innumerable contributions that Black people have made to society in areas, such as inventions, arts and culture.

Asked her thoughts about anti-Black racism and how she could contribute to building an anti-racist society, Baker says the process of unlearning racism is not an easy one, but it is necessary for creating a more equitable and just society.

“Unlearning racism within our community begins with acknowledging and confronting our own biases,” she says. “It can be difficult to admit that we hold biases, but it's important to be honest with ourselves and recognize where we might have prejudices that we need to work on.”

The Waterloo alum also says that it’s important to become educated about the historic struggles that Black people have overcome, despite facing significant obstacles and systemic barriers to success. She encourages listening to marginalized voices as their lived experience and perspectives can help us better understand how to confront and dismantle racism.