Laurier celebrates Black History Month with educational and engaging virtual public events

Jan. 25, 2021

Each February, Black History Month recognizes and honours the legacy of Black experiences and celebrates the achievements of Black people. Wilfrid Laurier University invites students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to participate in a series of educational and engaging Black History Month events. Events are held virtually and open to the public unless otherwise stated.

Visit wlu.ca/news throughout February to read stories that celebrate the achievements of Laurier’s Black community members.

Fight for Freedom: Stories of African, Caribbean and Black Activists, Elders and Scholars 

Featuring Ann Marie Beals, PhD Student, Community Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University 

Join Ann Marie Beals, community psychology PhD student at Laurier, as they share stories of African, Caribbean and Black activists, Elders and scholars and their contributions to fighting for freedom and an equitable, thriving society for all within the nation-state known as Canada. 

• Feb. 4, 1 to 2:30 p.m.

The Jazz of Physics  

Featuring Stephon Solomon Alexander, Professor, Department of Physics, Brown University 

Theoretical physicist, professional jazz musician, author and current president of the National Society of Black Physicists, Professor Stephon Solomon Alexander shares his insight into the interconnection between music and the evolution of astrophysics and the laws of motion. Alexander will also discuss ways that innovations in physics have been – and can be – inspired by "improvisational logic" exemplified in jazz performance and practice.  

• Feb. 5, 1 to 2 p.m.

For Students Only: Beating the Odds Conference: Redefining Success by Exploring Passions

Organized by the Association of Black Students at Laurier

Beating the Odds is an annual, one-day conference that provides high school students of African descent with information about post-secondary options and procedures, self-development and motivation. This year's conference is virtual and open to post-secondary students and includes workshops on personal branding, financial literacy, mental health and careers in sports. 

• Feb. 5, 2:30 to 6 p.m.

Fugitive Verses: A Poetry Reading and Q&A

Featuring Afua Dadesen Cooper, Professor, Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Dalhousie University; Halifax Poet Laureate Emerita 

Join Professor Afua Dadesen Cooper as she reads poems and prose inspired by everyday Black experiences and Black history. Cooper will read from her newest book, Black Matters, and her national bestseller, The Hanging of Angélique: The Untold Story of Canadian Slavery and the Burning of Old Montreal.

• Feb. 9, 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Is It Too Late for All That Lovey-Dovey Stuff? Creating Real-Life Spaces for Black Men to Love

Featuring Richie Reseda, Abolitionist-Feminist Producer, Founder: Question Culture

Richie Reseda is an abolitionist-feminist producer and organizer who spent seven years in prison, where showing vulnerability can be life-threatening. During his talk, Reseda will cover topics including self-love and accountability for Black men. Note: This is a closed group for self-identified Black men at Laurier and Ryerson University.

• Feb. 10, 2:30 to 4 p.m.

From a Property Right to Citizenship Rights: Historicizing the Black Experience in Canada 

Featuring Barrington Walker, Associate Vice-President, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Professor, Department of History, Wilfrid Laurier University 

This introductory lecture explores the Black experience in Canada by providing an overarching view while being grounded in key moments in the contested histories of Black people in Canada from slavery to freedom. The primary analytical lens will be Black peoples’ relationship with the law over space and time. 

• Feb. 10, 7 p.m. Hosted by Laurier and the Milton Public Library as part of the Laurier Milton Lecture Series. 

The Self, The Other  

Featuring Kosisochukwu Nnebe, Nigerian-Canadian Artist 

An economist by training and policy analyst by profession, Kosisochukwu Nnebe’s artistic work engages viewers in issues both personal and structural in ways that bring awareness to their own complicity. Join Nnebe as she discusses her art and curatorial practice and how her lived experiences have helped shape and evolve her artistic development. Utilizing notions of political visibility, displacement and sense of self, Nnebe shares new ways of seeing and thinking about the world around us.  

• Feb. 12, 1 p.m.

Black Identities and Social Work

Featuring Kevin Sutton, Co-Founder: Black Lives Matter Guelph, Writer, Radio Host

Join Kevin Sutton, writer, artist, community organizer and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Guelph, for a spoken-word performance and discussion about Black identities and social work. 

• Feb. 22, noon to 1 p.m. Hosted by Laurier's Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work Equity Committee.

For Students Only: Self and Soul Care (A Closed Group for Self-identified Black Women and Non-Binary People)

Featuring Natalie Guimond, RSW, MSW, Mental Health Therapist 

Led by Laurier alumna and mental health therapist Natalie Guimond (MSW ’18), Self‌ ‌and‌ ‌Soul‌ ‌Care ‌is‌ ‌an‌ ‌interactive‌ ‌workshop‌ ‌about‌ ‌caring‌ ‌for‌ ‌ourselves‌ ‌and‌ others ‌in‌ ‌ways ‌that‌ ‌honour‌‌ the ‌whole self ‌–‌ ‌mind,‌ ‌body‌ ‌and‌ ‌soul. ‌Guimond will address current‌ ‌sources‌ ‌of‌ ‌stress and ways of coping while providing ways to learn‌ ‌from‌ ‌each‌ ‌other. Email svinfo@wlu.ca to register. 

• Feb. 22, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Hosted by Laurier’s Centre for Student Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; the Office of Dispute Resolution and Sexual Violence Support. 

Emergent Realities of Healing Justice, Misogynoir and Black Life in Canada 

Featuring Yami M., Community Organizer and Movement Practitioner

Laurier joins Ryerson University and Carleton University in welcoming Yami M., a grassroots community organizer and movement practitioner, for an engaging dialogue about the realities of healing justice, misogynoir and Black life in Canada. 

• Feb. 23, 1 to 2 p.m. Registration details forthcoming. Hosted by Laurier’s Centre for Student Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion as part of the Consent Is Not Cancelled lecture series. 

Being Black in Canada 

Featuring Ann Marie Beals, PhD Student, Community Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University; and Barrington Walker, Associate Vice-President, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Professor, Department of History, Wilfrid Laurier University 

Join Ann Marie Beals, community psychology PhD student at Laurier, and Barrington Walker, associate vice-president: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Laurier, as they discuss the current experiences of Black-Indigenous and Black people in Canada.

• Feb. 25, 11:30 a.m. Hosted by Laurier Alumni as part of the Inspiring Conversations lecture series.

Cooking Across Canada 

Featuring Chef Andrew Beckford, Owner, Gusto and Beckford Catering 

Join Chef Andrew Beckford on a savoury journey as he shares some of his favourite stories and recipes collected while travelling across Canada. Beckford will demonstrate how to make two mouth-watering dishes – along with cooking tips and tricks – while speaking about the historical significance of each dish in Black Canadian culture. 

• Feb. 26, 1 to 2 p.m.

For Students Only: Virtual Games 

Organized by the Laurier Black Student Collective 

All Laurier students are invited to participate in weekly online games organized by the Laurier Black Student Collective. Bring your enthusiasm and competitive spirit for the chance to win prizes while connecting with other Golden Hawks! 

• Games begin later in February. Follow the Laurier Black Student Collective on Facebook for more details.