Students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members are warmly invited to join the fifth celebration of Black History Month at McGill University this February. The theme this year is Healing Forward, and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is grateful to be a partner in the opening ceremony.
Here are some events and workshops to participate in:
Monday, February 1
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. (EST)
The evening will feature a keynote address by McGill alumni Dr. Onye Nnorom, Assistant Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health of University of Toronto, a Q&A period and a performance by West-Can Folk Performing Company. The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is taking part in the opening ceremony.
Organized by the Social Accountability and Community Engagement (SACE) Office
February 1-3, all day
Register for film access
Take advantage of 3 days of free access to the new 80-minute documentary, Black Men in White Coats. “This documentary dissects the systemic barriers preventing Black men from becoming medical doctors and the consequences on society at large. Less Black men applied to medical school in 2014 than in 1978, and Black men have the lowest life expectancy in the United States. With only 2% of American doctors being Black men, this comes as no surprise. What if we had a medical workforce that actually reflected our patient population? What challenges do our Black boys face? Who are their role models? Why is it easier to visualize a Black man in an orange jumpsuit than it is in a white coat?”
Organized by the SACE Office and Supporting Young Black Students (SYBS)
Wednesday, February 3
7:00 – 8:00 p.m. (EST)
Join for a Q&A with the executive producer of the documentary, Black Men in White Coats. Get a chance to ask your questions about the movie! An extract from Dr. Dale Okorodudu: “I’m a Black male doctor. I’ve sat in class while my professor used the ‘N’ word. I’ve been mistaken for hospital transport rather than the doctor that I am. I’ve been approached by police so they could search my friend’s trunk unwarranted. I’ve been told that I dress funny, speak poorly, and would never be successful. If these things happen to me as a doctor, what happens to other Black men? What will happen to my sons? This is why I started Black Men in White Coats and why I decided to produce the film Black Men in White Coats.”
Organized by SYBS, the SACE Office and the Office of the Provost
Wednesday, February 10
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (EST)
This event will explore how the increased rate of mental health concerns in Black communities is related to the lack of access to appropriate mental health care, prejudice and racism, and historical trauma enacted on the Black community by the medical field.
Organized by the SACE Office, the Indigenous Health Professions Program and the Office of the Provost
Monday, February 15
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (EST)
This online Allyship workshop will provide new ways to foster critical conversations about interpersonal racism. The information provided is timely and relevant given the current context and many calls to action in solidarity with Black communities through the Black Lives Matter movement and in solidarity with Indigenous communities through the Joyce’s Principle motion. The training provides both space for self-reflection as well as concrete, actionable tools to empower faculty, staff and students to advocate for themselves and others. This workshop is open to any member of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, be they students, faculty members or staff.
Events are taking place at McGill and across Montreal including:
– The Great White North: Race and Reckoning in Canada
– Africa Speaks: Africa Beyond the Motherland, McGill African Students Society
– Vision Celebration Gala: Black Theatre Workshop
– Colonial Violence with Dr. Afua Cooper
– Disability Justice 101
– African Heritage in Quebec with Webster
– The Impact of the Pandemic with Dr. Alicia Boatswain-Kyte & Thierry Lindor
– The Impact of the Pandemic on Young Black Canadians with Bout du Monde
– Montreal Steppers Showcase
Sincerely,
Dr. Saleem Razack
Director, Social Accountability and Community Engagement Office
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
January 27, 2021