Vanier College is pleased to announce some of the events taking place during Black History Month 2025 - a month to fight Anti-Black racism and advance efforts to decolonize the school environment. The goal is to change the narrative inherited from the colonial approach that portrayed Blacks negatively, and assert the rights of Blacks to self-representation and to voicing their amazing inheritance built through victory over slavery, discrimination and other obstacles.
Different activities at Vanier in February, will offer a brighter perspective that instills knowledge of self, pride and a sense of urgency to reframe the Black experience and thus lay the foundation to build a safe space that nurtures respect, constructive discussion and inclusion.
Throughout the month, a public display at Vanier will feature the works of James Baldwin, children's books written by Latoya Belfon, a Vanier alumna whose works aim at offering positive role models for Black Children, and books written by Mélodie Joseph who will also be speaking on Afrofuturism and do a reading from one of her books on February 18th.
Other events during the month will feature:
- Vanier teacher Danielle Altidor speaking about racial oppression. Feb. 7, A-001H, 8:30 - 9:30 am
- A presentation entitled "Racisme antinoir et éducation antiraciste: Défis et pistes de transformation en milieu collégial", given by Bénédict Nguiagain-Launière, a researcher with the Quebec Black Communities Observatory. Feb. 14, A-001H, 10 am- 11:15 am
- Mélodie Joseph speaking on Afrofuturism and Afro feminism, and reading from one of her books. Feb. 18, F-300, 10 am - 11:15 am (Sponsored by the Vanier College Book Reading Series)
- A workshop, "How might trauma-informed practices be used as a method of care in education spaces", given by Maurice Riley Case, Anuska Martins and Danielle Altidor. Feb. 19, F-216, 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
- Quebec author, photographer and filmmaker, Valérie Bah, who will speak with students about her pathway and her book of short stories "Les enragé.e.s" February 25, D-541, 10 am -11 am
- Book sale: "Noirs invisibles. L'école et la suite d'une oppression" by Danielle Altidor.
See the full program for details: https://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/events/black-history-month-2025
Black History Month Fashion Show
Vanier students will also hold a Black History Month Fashion Show: celebrating Black fashion and excellence. The show will cover attire from headwear, streetwear, formal, to traditional and cultural. It will also include student models, dancers, spoken word artists and singers. Open to the Vanier community and the general public, on Friday, February 28, 6:30-9:30pm, in Jake's Mall.
