The first time I heard an excerpt of Malcom X’s “Who Taught You to Hate Yourself” speech was on Beyonce’s 2016 album Lemonade. An album that was very much for Black womxn and one that resonated with me deeply. As per Malcom X “The most disrespected woman in America, is the black woman. The most[…]
A Black Womxn’s Reality
By Tiana Knight Advocacy, Blog Series Sep 30, 2020
Is My Natural Hair Unprofessional?
By Jaiscelle Aristorenas Advocacy, Blog Series Aug 30, 2020
As I prepare for the OCI recruitment process, I am constantly hearing my fellow Black law students ask questions about whether or not they should wear their natural hair for their interviews, and at large, within the workplace and firms. In her 2017 article, “Black on Bay Street”, Hadiya Roderique describes an interaction she had[…]
Canada’s Angel Complex
By Chris Osei-Kusi Advocacy, Blog Series Jul 06, 2020
“That doesn’t happen here,” “We’re not like them,” or “I’m so happy we live in Canada”: these are common phrases you hear people in Canada utter when the issue of race and racism are “trending topics”. The Canadian belief is that while racism does exist, it is nothing like what it is in America. America’s[…]
À cette époque-ci de l’année, comme il est de coutume, notre communauté dans sa plus grande diversité s’arroge un moment de célébration et de commémoration : célébration d’acquis et d’avancées obtenus au terme de luttes rondement menées, et commémoration de toutes celles et ceux qui, parfois au prix de leur vie, ont été les figures de[…]
Dispelling the Monolithic Myth: The Nuances of Black Law Students – Nigel Masenda
By admin Blog Series Feb 20, 2019
Celebrating black pioneers and visionaries is what Black History Month is rooted in. However, another part of what makes the month so special is it provides a great opportunity for us to learn about the contributions black students are making. This black history month we decided to highlight the different faces that comprise BLSA Queen’s.[…]
My Thoughts on My Place in This Space: Reflections on Representation – Debbie Yeboah
By admin Blog Series Feb 20, 2019
If I’m being honest, I’m used to being the only black person in the room. I did my undergraduate degree in Victoria, British Columbia, and then I lived in Germany for two years; these are not places that are known for having a plethora of black people. So, when I first came to law school,[…]
“Wow! You’re in law school?” “You must be really smart, huh?” “Are you a basketball player?” These questions symbolize balancing limited societal expectations of Black men with barely accessible avenues for academic achievement. As a result, many Black men in law school and the legal profession are relegated to encourage an unlearning and re-education of[…]
As we enter into Black History Month, our focus should be on the future: supporting and mentoring the next generation of black men and women entering the legal profession. There is no doubt that black faces are a rarity in the legal field, making it more important than ever for us to lead by example.[…]