This year marks the 30th anniversary of Black History Month (BHM) in Canada and the ninth annual celebration at McGill.
Black students, faculty and staff have long helped shape McGill and continue to define its present. Each year, the University recognizes this role during Black History Month through a series of in-person and online events. These events offer opportunities to learn, reconnect and celebrate Black communities’ contributions to education and research.
As Suzanne Morton notes in Black McGill, the University’s connection to Black history reflects both a legacy of racial discrimination and colonialism, as well as a tradition of solidarity and activism.
A brief timeline of Black History Month
Black History Month began in the United States. In February 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson established “Negro History Week” to honour and celebrate the achievements of Black people and the richness of Black heritage, aligning the commemoration with the birthdays of abolitionists Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Fifty years later, in 1976, it was expanded to a full month. By then, celebrations had spread to Canada, where Black History Month was officially recognized by the federal government in 1995.
Today, BHM offers an opportunity to reflect on how anti-Black racism has shaped both past and present; to learn about and celebrate the achievements of Black individuals and communities; and to create space for a multiplicity of Black stories, experiences and legacies.
This year’s programming
This year’s keynote, organized by the Equity Office and the Desautels Faculty of Management, will be delivered by business strategist and entrepreneur Sabaa Quao on Feb. 12. The evening begins with a catered reception from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by Quao’s talk, One Step Back. Two Steps Forward., which will explore disruption as a catalyst for meaningful progress.
Kanga I, 2023
Screenprint on Black Legion Stonehenge Paper. Purchased thanks to the Provost Office’s Anti-Black Racism Fund in collaboration with of the students of Projections: Sankofa, the McGill Visual Arts Collection, and the Faculty of Engineering. McGill Visual Arts Collection. © Shanna Strauss
On Feb. 2, the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada presents a lecture by Cecil Foster, a leading author, journalist, public intellectual and professor at the University of Buffalo. His talk is titled “Determining new international and domestic orders: reflections on Modern Canada’s endurance and more so resilience as Black and West Indian.” The lecture will be followed by a Q&A and reception. This event is free and open to public; registration is required via Eventbrite.
The Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism (CHRLP) in the Faculty of Law will host Justin Hansford, Professor at the Howard University School of Law, for the annual McNaughton Lecture on Feb. 9. Hansford will draw on his experience as a leading scholar, community-based legal advocate and human rights activist for his talk, “Movement Lawyering for Black Lives.”
At the School of Social Work, a panel discussion is planned for Feb. 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event, “Different Shades of Black: Honouring Diverse Black Perspectives in Social Work and Beyond,” takes places at 550 Sherbrooke St. West, Suite 100.
McGill Libraries will host a book launch for Genius Unbroken: The Life and Legacy of Dr. Charles R. Drew on Feb. 16 at the Osler Library of the History of Medicine. The book celebrates the life and impact of the renowned civil rights advocate and McGill alumnus, widely known as the “Father of Blood Banking” for revolutionizing blood plasma storage. Drew is honoured by McGill for his excellence in both medicine and athletics, including his leadership in large-scale blood drives during the Second World War.
A Black History Month book display will also be featured in the Redpath Library Building, with additional highlights shared on the Library blog.
The Faculty of Arts will host a reading of new work by Ricardo Wilson, the Department of English‘s Mordecai Richler Writer-in-Residence (2025-2026). Wilson is a creative writer, scholar and Associate Professor of English at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. He is also the founder and executive director of the Outpost Foundation, a residency and arts advocacy organization for writers of colour from the United States and Latin America. All are welcome at the reading, which takes place on Feb. 18, at 5:30 p.m., in Arts 160.
Several events are organized within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. On Feb. 26, the Department of Family Medicine will host “From Stigma to Support: Changing the Conversation on Black Mental Health,” featuring Associate Professor of Psychiatry Myrna Lashley. The event is a collaboration between the department’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Concordia University’s Black Perspectives Office and will examine both best practices and the biases that shape clinical care for Black patients.
Student-run events
Student groups, including the Caribbean Students Society (CSS), the McGill African Students’ Society (MASS) and the Black Students’ Network (BSN), have organized a wide range of programming throughout the month. Here are some highlights:
The CSS X TWINS LOUNGE hair workshop will explore the rich history of Black hair and its cultural roots on Feb. 11. The event features live braiding demos, texture education (3B-4C), product information and refreshments. On Feb. 18, the Black Beauty Day and Marketplace will take place in the SSMU Ballroom, showcasing local Black-owned businesses and offering hair-care services for students.
The annual Africa Speaks Conference, organized by MASS, takes place Feb. 21. This year’s theme, “Beyond Borders: The Diaspora’s Hand in Africa’s Future,” focuses on the transformative role of the diaspora. Three panels will provide a venue to explore how global Africans can leverage their expertise, networks and influence to drive change through entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer, mentorship, advocacy and technology.
Early February also marks the launch of MASS’s new podcast, which creates space for sustained conversations reflecting the academic journeys, community experiences and institutional interactions of Black and African students. Episodes feature structured discussions with MASS executives, students and members of the campus community.
A new digital art exhibition will be on display in the Trottier Mezzanine, with an opening reception and roundtable discussion about the artworks set for Feb. 23. The installation features pieces by mixed media artist, printmaker and McGill alum Shanna Strauss. The event is the first in celebration of Projections II: SANKOFA, which centres African and Caribbean cultural heritages through contemporary artistic expression. The project is led by Black students across McGill in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering and the McGill Visual Arts Collection.
The Black Students’ Network will soon share a centralized calendar with all events, including all those hosted by Black clubs.
For a full list of community events and registration details for the keynote address, visit the Equity Office website.
Learn more about Black Inclusion, Success and Strategic Initiatives at McGill.