Black Studies
Curious about Black histories, cultures and lived experiences in Canada and beyond? Black Studies at Concordia invites you to explore Black life through an interdisciplinary lens, connecting history, culture, politics, art and social justice.
What are Black Studies?
Grounded in both local and global perspectives, the programs invite students to think critically about race, identity and power while developing tools to better understand the world and their place within it.
Black Studies is a holistic, interdisciplinary field that draws on sociology, history, philosophy, literature, media, the arts, geography and related disciplines to examine the sociopolitical and economic structures shaping Black lives, including the legacies of colonialism.
Through this interdisciplinary approach, the programs explore Black histories, cultures and lived experiences, while highlighting Black contributions to knowledge, creativity and humanity by bringing together students, faculty and staff across multiple fields of study.
Why study Black and African Diaspora Studies in the Canadian Context?
Black histories in Canada have long been underrepresented in school curricula, despite the significant presence and contributions of people of African descent for more than four centuries. The programs in Black and African Diaspora Studies in the Canadian Context address this gap by introducing students to the historical and contemporary realities of Black life in Canada, including experiences of racial injustice, resistance and resilience. Through an exploration of social, cultural, and historical perspectives, the programs also situate Black Canadian experiences within broader global Black and African diasporic contexts.
It’s a huge deal, especially for Black students. It’s about time. For me, it’s about being able to have my culture in an academic setting and have people know that there’s a need for that, and it’s important.
Key themes
The field of Black Studies is grounded in a range of key themes, concepts and theories including:
- Principles of social justice and in/equality
- Intersectional approaches to Black experiences of gender, class, power and race
- Centering Black voices and perspectives
- Methodologies and approaches include qualitative and quantitative research methods, historical and cultural analysis, and community-based research
Our programs
Engage with Black Studies through a 24-credit minor or a 30-credit certificate in Black and African Diaspora Studies in the Canadian Context. The minor can be taken alongside your major program of study. The newly introduced certificate program can be taken as a stand-alone certificate or in conjunction with your existing program of study.
Program committee (faculty)
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Christiana Abraham- Program Director, Black and African Diaspora Studies in the Canadian context: Minor/Certificate, Interdisciplinary Studies
- Senior Lecturer, Communication Studies
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Oceane Jasor
- Assistant Professor, Sociology and Anthropology
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Joana Joachim- Undergraduate Program Director, Art History
- Deputy Director, Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Institute for Studies in Canadian Art
- Assistant Professor, Art History
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Françoise Naudillon- Full Professor, Études françaises
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Angélique Willkie
- Associate Professor, Contemporary Dance
- Artist in Residence, USINE C | Centre de création et de diffusion
- Fellow, Royal Society of Canada
- Chair of the Concordia University Task Force on Anti-Black Racism
- Special Advisor to the Provost, Black Integration & Knowledges
- Concordia University Research Chair in Ecologies of B/black Performance
Black community stories
Contact us
For more information about the program, please contact:
Andrea Jakob
Program Assistant, Black and African Diaspora Studies in the Canadian Context
blstcc.assistant@concordia.ca
Christiana Abraham
Program Director, Black and African Diaspora Studies in the Canadian Context
Senior Lecturer, Communication Studies
blstcc.director@concordia.ca
Marlihan Lopez
Program Academic Advisor, Black and African Diaspora Studies in the Canadian Context
blstcc.advising@concordia.ca
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