The poster for this year was designed by local artist Danielle Murrell Cox.
Black History Month at McGill is an annual celebration co-organized by the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), the Black Students' Network of McGill (BSN) and the McGill African Students' Society (MASS). The theme for this year's 5th annual celebration of Black History Month at McGill is: Healing Forward. Shanice Yarde is the Senior Advisor, Anti-Racism and Equity Education, and a key organizer of the Black History Month activities. She shared with the MHW newsletter editorial team that in many ways, this year’s theme is an invitation to imagine what our future can look like with healing at the centre.
Events thus far have brought together over 600 McGill students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members highlighting topics such as:
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Black Health, Racism & the Pursuit of Wellbeing presented by Dr. Onye Nnorom.
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Hidden Histories, a teach-in on local Black history featuring Rito Joseph and McGill alumna Melissa J. Nelson.
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Black Mental Health Matters, an event held in collaboration with the Social Accountability and Community Engagement Office (SACE) in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences which included speakers such as:
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Maureen Owino, who discussed the history of racism in Canada, transgenerational trauma, and the way in which anti-Black racism impacts mental health.
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Khan Bouba-Dalambaye, counsellor and consultant at McGill, Melissa Cobbler, a mental health clinician and Local Wellness Advisor in the McGill Student Wellness Hub, and Aishah Seivwright of Black Mental Health Connections who participated in a panel discussion.
As Black History Month draws to a close, let us take the learnings from all of the activities, and from event coordinator Shanice Yarde, who says “to both heal and move forward, we need to have an understanding of and reckoning with the history that shaped our past and continues to inform our present”.
We invite you to contribute to healing forward together and to continue learning about Black History and how to support Black communities:
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View Dr. Onye Nnorom’s Podcast: Race, Health & Happiness
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Access the Race, Health & Happiness podcast
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Read Khan Bouba-Dalambaye’s article on how the pandemic, combined with a racial reckoning, weighs heavily on Black mens’ mental health
Visit the Black History month webpage for more information about Black History Month at McGill. Check out the full schedule of 2021 events at, and beyond, McGill. The closing event SPEAK B(L)ACK takes place Friday, February 26th at 6 PM EST. Learn more and register here.
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To support or get involved with Black History Month at McGill, contact Shanice Yarde, Senior Advisor, Anti-Racism and Equity Education, at shanice.yarde [at] mcgill.ca.