Written by Catherine Marcotte
Did you know that Queen鈥檚 launched a Black Studies Program last October? Since it's an interdisciplinary field, you may already have encountered the work of Black Studies scholars in your research or coursework. Spanning art, activism, global health, political thought, and religion (just to name a few), Black Studies may be more relevant to your work, research, and daily life than you may have thought. As their webpage tells us, Black Studies courses at Queen鈥檚 introduce students to work by and about Black people, approaching the study of liberation from multiple lenses and vantage points (including those that supersede the university context).
In a Predominantly White Institution, a plurality of voices in and beyond the classroom is not always a given. It is crucial to recognize that we all have a role to play in our university culture as it continues its work to recognize diverse perspectives and pedagogies. As an incoming graduate student, I recently completed the Anti-Black Racism training module, as I am sure many of you did, too. While it is a good place to start, opportunities for continued (un)learning are happening on campus (and beyond). We should give them our attention.
While Black Studies generously added to the September events calendar with alternative frosh activities and compelling talks, their Speaker Series continues in November. Though the details are still being worked out, 鈥淏lack Physics, Black Feminism: Two Conversations with Chanda Prescod-Weinstein鈥 is scheduled for November 9th, offering insight to students across the sciences and humanities. A professor of physics and astronomy, Dr. Prescod-Weinstein foregrounds feminist philosophies of science, technology, and social studies in her work.
The Agnes Etherington Art Centre will also welcome students, faculty, and community members on November 9th from 6:30-8pm for 鈥淎 Celebration of Three Beautiful Books, moderated by Kingston鈥檚 Poet Laureate Sadiqa de Meijer.鈥 Centering Britta Badour, aka Britta B, with Wires That Sputter, DM Bradford with Bottom Rail on Top, and our university鈥檚 very own Juliane Okot Bitek with Song and Dread, this event is for readers, writers, and curious listeners alike. As an English student, I will certainly be in attendance and hope to see many of you there.
The Black Studies Speaker Series will then come to a close (for now!) with Black Health Matters with Ingrid Waldron on November 23rd from 2:30-5:30pm in room 448 of Sutherland Hall. Dr. Waldron鈥檚 interdisciplinary work speaks to the research and realities of students in health studies and beyond. Take a look at the links below for more information on Black Studies at Queen鈥檚 and how you can get involved.
For updated information on upcoming Black Studies events, visit their webpage.
Want to learn more about the program? Watch the short film conceived by the Black Studies Program Group and produced by Katherine McKittrick.