[Editor’s note: In the previous issue of The Ontarion, published on Jan. 21, 2016, the Black Liberation Collective was erroneously misnamed. The Ontarion regrets this error and would like to extend an apology for any confusion this misprint may have caused.]
Energy was in the air inside Peter Clark Hall on Monday, Jan. 18 , 2016, as students, faculty, and members of public gathered for an anti-racism teach-in. The event was brought to campus by the Black Liberation Collective (BLC) of Guelph.
An energy of change, understanding, and coalition could be felt at the teach-in. All those who attended the event’s workshops left with a strong understanding of what anti-black racism was and how it effects them.
The morning began with opening statements from Rajean Hoilett—a member of the Black Liberation Collective at Ryerson University and chairperson of CFS Ontario. Rajean’s opening statements shed light on the events that occurred at many university campuses over the last year, regarding the treatment and under-representation of black students and staff. Rajean also outlined a list of general and campus-specific demands being made by the BLC and urged that students push for reform from the administration at the University of Guelph.
After the opening statements, Janaya Khan—an activist and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto—delivered a workshop on what anti-black racism meant and how it connected to all of us. Khan dived into several topics with intensity, ferocity, and charm. A particularly powerful moment connected with the crowd when Khan asked members of the audience why they chose to attend the event. One woman stated that she wanted to know why her mixed children were being racially bullied at school. Khan’s closing statements urged those present to choose “justice over order” and to stop waiting for change to happen. Khan captured the audience with her brutal honesty and advocacy.
The final workshop of the day, Allyship, was facilitated by Pascale Diverlus. Diverlus coordinated a discussion on the subject of allies, and what they can do for the anti-racism movement.
The teach-in followed on the heels of the solidarity rally that took place on Nov. 18, 2015, in response to events at the University of Yale and the University of Missouri where black students advocated against racism.
In response to the events at Yale and Missouri, groups like the Black Liberation Collective were formed at many universities across the country, including Guelph. Savannah Clarke, of the Black Liberation Collective at Guelph, stated that the issues at Guelph are more pressing than at other universities like, the University of Toronto, because of the sheer lack of black students on Guelph’s campus.
This lack of representation was also brought up during the rally on Nov. 18, 2015.
In a Nov. 18, 2015 interview with 570 News, one Guelph student claimed that “a typical day at this campus is literally being stared at … like you’re an animal at a zoo.”
Hoilett claims that university administration are avoiding the conversation. In response to concerns among black students on campus, the BLC set out a list of demands from the University of Guelph, including increasing the percentage of black faculty and staff for the 2017-2018 school year, increasing funding and support options available specifically for black students. These demands were set out to address the specific needs of black students at the University of Guelph.
The teach-in undoubtedly also shed light on issues in dire of need of address at the University of Guelph’s. For members of the BLC and students part of the university-at-large, change is needed if Guelph is to be seen as a welcoming place for prospective black students, current black students, and the black community in general.