Marking the start of Black History Month
Estimated reading time: 2:30 | Theimportance of Black History Monthɲoriginally posted on ݮƵ News
By: Dr. Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor
It is difficult to put into words what it is like to walk the path where enslaved people once tread as they were about to be shipped to the Americas, at the site of what was described as the “gate of no return.”
Late last year, along with a small delegation from the University of ݮƵ, we toured Cape Coast Castle on the Gold Coast of Ghana as part of a trip to Africa intended to build pan-African collaborations. The castle is one of dozens along the West African coastestablishedby European traders as part of the Atlantic slave trade. Not only did we learn about the past, but it was a powerful reminder of the on-going impact of this history on our world.
February is Black History Month. It is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities to our country. It is also an opportunity to reflect on ways to eradicate systemic racism in our institution and beyond. In collaboration with the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism, we work with our community to advance anti-racism and equity through evidence-based policies,practicesand programs.
We continue to respond to the recommendations from the President’s Anti-Racism Taskforce and make progress on programs and initiatives to support and fosteran equitableenvironment at University of ݮƵ.We put in place new student opportunity funds toeliminatesome of the financial barriers for Black and Indigenous students.Last summer, the University of ݮƵ’s Anti-racism Unit launched the Sankofa Pathways to University (SPU) program, open toCanadianBlack youth.This7-week university courseistitled “Taking B(l)ack History,”andfocuseson Blackness, Black history, and Black futures.Upon successful completion of the course, students will earn a transferable university half-credit (0.5).Ultimately, weseekto put in place the resources and systemsto ensure our Black students, faculty and staffthrive.
I would like to recognize thefor their leadership and insights in supporting this work. Christopher Stuart Taylor, Associate Vice-President, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism,and his team havealso played an integral role in making these changes a reality.Above all else, it takescollective action on the partof ourentirecommunity to make theseimportant changes.
In May,the University of ݮƵwill join Wilfrid Laurier University in hosting theݮƵ is one of 40 higher education institutions who are signatories of the Scarborough Charter.Through the Charter, we are honouring ourcommitment to making unbiased choices and being anti-racist in all aspects of our lives. We are taking coordinated actions to dismantle systems that perpetuate racial discrimination and build a more inclusive andequitablesociety.
Black History Month is only one month a year.Whileit is an opportunity to reflect on our successes in building a more inclusive andequitableinstitution,we must remember thatourcommitments to anti-racismand equity are year-round.
