The opening ceremony for Black Histories and Futures Month (BHFM) brought to light the past, present, and future of Black experiences at Queen’s.
Hosted jointly by the Queen’s Black Clubs Caucus (QBCC) and the Human Rights & Equity Office (HREO), the ceremony kicked off BHFM on Feb. 3 in the Rose Innovation Hub at Mitchell Hall. The two-hour long ceremony’s theme was “Threads: Weaving Black Joy & Experiences at Queen’s.”
In a statement to The Journal, QBCC detailed the significance of the ceremony in highlighting the resilience, creativity, and brilliance of Black students, faculty, staff, and community members.
“The QBCC is proud to stand as a coalition of Black student led organizations, united in our commitment to fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for Black students at Queen’s University,” QBACC wrote.
QBCC also emphasized their commitment to fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for Black students, a commitment rooted in the Scarborough Charter, fighting anti-Black racism, and advocating for inclusion of Black students in Canadian higher education.
The Scarborough Charter was created following the 2020 National Dialogues and Action for Inclusive Higher Education and Communities, which established a key framework for institutional accountability and community-led progress. Queen’s became a signatory in 2021.
After a land acknowledgment, the event began with a live performance from the African & Caribbean Students’ Association (ACSA) dance team detailing the story of Oshun—according to the dance team’s description, Oshun is the most powerful river Orisha, or goddess in the Yoruba religion. According to QBCC, the dance showcased the richness of Black artistic expression.
A panel discussion called “The Method to the Magic of Black Joy at Queen’s” followed, incorporating voices across an array of students, staff, and faculty to discuss methods of fostering joy and community for Black students.
The five members of the panel included Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at the Yellow House Student Centre for Equity and Inclusion, Tiana Edwards, team lead for Queen’s Black Youth in STEM Cressana Williams Massey, Black Undergraduate Coalition conference chair Samuel
Lowe, QBCC co-lead Ruth Osunde, and ACSA dance team captain Sephora Djomo, HealthSci ’25.
Discussing their favourite initiatives and events they’ve been part of at Queen’s and beyond, panelists detailed the work of initiatives like this year’s first ever Black Orientation, spearheaded by QBCC. Speakers highlighted the importance of people and collaboration between various students communities as key elements in creating these initiatives.
Panelists were asked by HREO’s Inclusion and Anti-Racism Advisor Jermaine Marshall about what Black experiences at Queen’s they thought went unspoken.
This prompted discussion on student experiences of being the only Black individual in classes, the feeling of needing to minimize and prove oneself for respect, and the importance of fostering connections with community members, staff, and faculty.
In their statement to The Journal, QBCC expressed how the panel brought together a range of voices to explore the intentionality behind cultivating Black joy in academic and social spaces.
As QBCC remains dedicated to recognizing and uplifting Black student leadership, culture, and experiences year-round, they encourage all students, staff, and faculty to engage with BHFM programming and support their efforts in advancing the mission of the Scarborough Charter.
Tags
BHM, BHM 2025, black history month, Queen’s Black Clubs Caucus
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