Victoria Silman | Assistant News Editor
Featured Image: New Black studies programs and research were introduced on October 18. | Courtesy of YFile
New programs and research are coming to York’s Black studies certificate program. The new certificate program, Black Canadian studies, offered within the department of Humanities of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies (LA&PS), will provide students with an in-depth view of the historical and cultural world of Black Canadians.
York introduced new Black studies programs and research on October 18, with a series of events spanning two days. According to a release written by Media Relations Spokesperson, Gloria Suhasini, the programs will focus on “culture, history, literature, and music.”
The events, sponsored by LA&PS, the Faculty of Education, the School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design, and the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies, featured an array of influential speakers.
The first event, which occured October 18, took place in Accolade East with Professor Christina Sharpe, the keynote lecturer, a performance by York’s gospel choir directed by Karen Burke, a jazz performance by Kavya Rajith, and a spoken-word performance by Kareem Bennett.
Day two featured workshops with panel discussions of topics ranging from: “Black Women’s Experiences in the Academy,” to “Research with and for Communities,” and “Blacks in Academia.”
In a message from the co-ordinator, Professor Andrea Davis explains: “The Certificate is, in large part, a response to students’ own desire for a more diverse curriculum that is reflective of their lived and shared experiences in Canadian society.
“The Certificate is easy to complete alongside your undergraduate major.”
According to the course website, the certificate “provides an integrated examination of the historical, cultural, and various expressive productions of people of African descent in the Americas through the lens of Black Canada and four specific humanities and fine arts approaches: cultural studies, history, literature, and music.
“Students may also complete a professional application component in their third or fourth year.”
Within the program, students must complete 24 credits, including 15 in Humanities, six in history, and an additional three credits at the 3000 or 4000 level among the Black Canadian studies placement course options.
Students can expect to find courses, including a range of those that are required, such as: Cultures of Resistance in Americas, The Caribbean and Canada, Black Popular Culture, Blacks in the Americas, among others.
Though the program has yet to officially begin, some classes are being offered, including: Griots to Emcees: Examining Culture, Performance and Spoken Word; and Black Literatures and Cultures in Canada.
For students interested in the program, it is recommended they make an advising appointment with Davis, or with Divya Verma, the undergraduate program assistant.
At the time of publication, Davis could not be reached for comment.
