尤物视频

On February 6, 尤物视频 (SFU) hosted Black Futures in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape: a powerful and thought-provoking event to commemorate Black History Month 2025.

Held at the Segal Building (Vancouver campus), the evening brought together scholars, students, administrators and community members to reflect on the past and future of Black communities in Canada. Moderated by SFU Vice-President People, Equity and Inclusion Dr. Yabome Gilpin-Jackson, the event featured esteemed political scientist , an Associate Professor at McGill University who holds the Canada Research Chair in Racial Inequality in Democratic Societies.

Setting the Stage: Territorial Acknowledgement and Cultural Reflection

The evening kicked off with the soulful, captivating violin sounds of鈥�, a local musician, singer and instrumentalist. His Afrobeat and other genre-defying sounds set a vibrant tone, creating a rich cultural atmosphere. As the music faded, SFU Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion鈥�Dr. Jennifer Kandjii鈥痙elivered opening remarks that set the stage for the evening's deep conversation.

Naomi Narcisse, SFU鈥檚 Director of Indigenous Initiatives, led a powerful territorial acknowledgment, performing a song from the St鈥櫭鈥檌mc Nation on her pum谩ka7 (drum). This moment of reflection was followed by Chris (Syeta'xtn) Lewis, SFU鈥檚 inaugural Indigenous Executive Lead, who shared a thoughtful reflection on the deep, historical connections between Black and Indigenous peoples, highlighting the shared struggles of these communities and the importance of solidarity.

With the stage set for a journey through history, Dr. Gilpin-Jackson began the evening鈥檚 deeper exploration by sharing a personal reflection. She spoke of her ancestral roots in Sierra Leone and how her name --Yabome Gilpin-Jackson-- carries the weight of a complex history shaped by forced migration, colonialism, the transatlantic slave trade, and segregation. Dr. Gilpin-Jackson connected her story to the Black Loyalists from Nova Scotia, whose migration to Sierra Leone after the War of Independence mirrored the same struggles for freedom. 鈥淢y name is a reminder of that painful history,鈥� she shared, inviting the audience to join her in navigating the layered history of Black people. Her personal reflection set a powerful tone for Dr. Thompson鈥檚 forthcoming address, grounding the evening in lived experiences and shared history.

Dr. Debra Thompson鈥檚 Keynote: Confronting History and Building Futures

Dr. Thompson discussed the importance of Black History Month in addressing the historical erasure of Black people, particularly in the Canadian context. She highlighted that many Canadians are unaware of the country's 200+ years of slavery and the significant role Black Canadians have played in shaping the nation鈥檚 history. 鈥淭he core of Black History Month is this tension,鈥� she noted. 鈥淥n one hand, it鈥檚 about writing Black Canada into a history that largely ignores us鈥� it鈥檚 an opportunity to bring Black experiences into the larger narrative.鈥�

She explained that Black History Month serves a dual purpose: not only to correct omissions in Canada鈥檚 history, but also to confront the ongoing struggles of systemic Anti-Black racism. While the month celebrates Black resilience, it also challenges society to confront the injustices that still affect Black communities today.

Dr. Thompson also spoke about the growing backlash against racial progress, including attacks on critical race theory and denial of systemic racism. She emphasized the tension between celebrating Black resilience and critiquing the injustices that persist in a Canadian society that often downplays its own racist history.

One of the most powerful moments in her talk came when Dr. Thompson spoke about the joy and kinship of being Black. Despite the struggles and hardships faced by Black people, including the trauma of racism, she expressed deep pride in her identity, revealing the shared understanding of kinship, culture, and joy within the Black community. 鈥淚 have a hard time describing to non-Black people how awesome it is to be Black,鈥� she said, explaining the special, unspoken connection shared among Black individuals. However, she also acknowledged the challenges that come with this identity, including police violence, health disparities, and what she called the 鈥減unishment system鈥� of the criminal justice system.

To provoke further thought, Dr. Thompson posed three questions to the audience:

1. What does contemporary Black Canada look like?

1. How does racism manifest in the Canadian context, and how is it different from what we often think of as racism?

1. How do we make sense of the moment we are in right now?

Dr. Thompson explored key moments in Black migration history, beginning with the Black Loyalists of the 18th century, who fought for the British in the American Revolution but faced unfulfilled promises in Nova Scotia, leading many to migrate to Sierra Leone. She remarked, "Most Canadians don鈥檛 know that slavery existed in this country for over 200 years," highlighting a little-known historical reality. Dr. Thompson explained that the original Underground Railroad didn鈥檛 lead northward to Canada as commonly believed. "In fact, it followed not the North Star, but the Southern Cross," she clarified. "Initially, it was designed to smuggle enslaved people out of Canada and into the free northern U.S. states. It wasn鈥檛 until the first Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 that the route changed direction, guiding freedom seekers northward into Canada." This revelation reshaped the popular narrative of the Underground Railroad and shed light on Canada's complex relationship with both slavery and freedom.

Dr. Thompson also shared her family's story, noting the migration of 10,000 to 40,000 Black people to Canada via the Underground Railroad. She then discussed Canada's "white-only" immigration policy, which lasted until 1967, preventing Black farmers from settling in the early 20th century. After policy changes, Black migration to Canada grew significantly, from 34,000 in 1971 to over 1.5 million by 2021. This shift created a more diverse Black Canadian community, with African and Caribbean immigrants now forming the majority.

Despite these strides, Dr. Thompson also addressed the deep racial inequalities that persist in Canadian society, particularly within the criminal justice system. Black Canadians are disproportionately represented in both arrests and the prison system, despite making up just 4.3% of the national population. She pointed out a common misconception in Canada鈥攖hat racism is only a problem in the U.S. "Systemic racism persists here as well," she emphasized, urging the audience to recognize and confront these ongoing challenges.

A key theme of Dr. Thompson鈥檚 talk was the concept of "linked fate." She explained how Black people, more than any other racial group, feel a deep, personal connection to the struggles of others who look like them. Tragedies like the killings of Trayvon Martin and Breonna Taylor are not only painful as individual events, but because of the collective fear that 鈥渢his could happen to any of us.鈥�

Vision for the Future and Collective Commitment to Black Flourishing

In a thought-provoking dialogue with Dr. Gilpin-Jackson, the conversation shifted to envisioning Black futures within a changing geopolitical landscape. Dr. Thompson shared her vision of a world where Black people are liberated from the constant pressure to strive for perfection. In this future, Black individuals could simply exist鈥攆ree from the weight of historical oppression and the societal expectation of exceptionalism. She expressed a deep longing for a world where Black people could embrace their humanity and simply 鈥渂e鈥� without the burden of systemic racism, even if that meant being 鈥渕ediocre鈥� if they so desired.

In a moving moment, Dr. Gilpin-Jackson asked Dr. Thompson for advice for emerging Black scholars and activists, especially those navigating academic and social justice spaces that may lack support. Dr. Thompson emphasized the importance of collaboration and mentorship. She shared her experience of receiving support and stressed the need to create networks of solidarity for the benefit of all.

The conversation also touched on SFU鈥檚 commitment to Black flourishing, with Dr. Thompson advocating for transparent, measurable, and concrete data to track progress on the commitments of the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion.鈥�

The event concluded on an optimistic note, with Dr. Thompson sharing a touching story about her son, Theo, who had asked about the emergency exit on the bus. She explained that in moments of uncertainty, it鈥檚 crucial to 鈥渓ook for the helpers鈥濃�攖hose willing to support and assist in times of crisis. Her message of hope, solidarity, and resilience resonated deeply with the audience.

The event wrapped up with a rapid-fire Q&A session, allowing the audience to engage directly with Dr. Thompson and Dr. Gilpin-Jackson. Attendees left the evening with a deeper understanding of the complexities of Black history, the ongoing struggles for justice, and the possibilities for Black futures in Canada and beyond. The evening reaffirmed that Black History Month is not just about honoring the past鈥攊t is about challenging the present and shaping a more equitable future.

You can watch the full event recordings using the links below: