The Scarborough Charter and Black History Month events and commitments
In a world where inequalities and biases significantly inhibit the progress of people, ongoing efforts must be made to combat the systematic exclusion of marginalised groups and to foster diverse, supportive, and productive societies. Victoria College officially pursues its pledge to create a strong, inclusive community by endorsing the Scarborough Charter and through the subsequent celebration of Black History Month, supporting and recognising the lived experiences of the Black community.
The Scarborough Charter proclaims the importance of fostering inclusion in higher education while recalling the history and legacy of Black people in Canada, proposing principles and institutional actions to redress anti-Black racism and to advance equitable practices. Endorsing the Scarborough Charter is a critical step towards the University’s development. It addresses the challenge of racism against Black people and upholds the University’s goal of fostering a safe space where meaningful interactions, inclusion, and curiosity may influence teaching and learning processes. Subcommittees have been and will continue to be established to plan, monitor, and execute strategies and activities for accomplishing the aims of the Scarborough Charter in alignment with the ethos of Victoria College. The “Vic Black Excellence and Inclusion Committee,” composed of Black-identifying staff, alumni, and students, has organised the launch of the first official Black History Month celebration, followed by a series of events, which inspire the excellence, flourishing, and joy of Black people.
The celebration commences with the endorsement of the Scarborough Charter and Black History Month Launch event scheduled for Friday, February 2, from 4 pm to 6 pm at Victoria College. Other events include a cultural food event entitled “Diaspora Bites: a celebration of Caribbean and African Gastronomy” on February 9 at 4 pm at the Goldring Student Centre; a screening of Beyond Their Years: The Incredible Legacies of Herb Carnegie and Buck O’Neil—Canada’s first Black baseball and hockey players—on February 16 at 4 pm at the Isabel Bader Theatre; and the Black Futures Networking Event planned for March 1. For more details on these events, visit the Victoria College Events webpage.
Event Coordination Co-chair, Joël Ndongmi was overjoyed by the opportunity to increase the visibility of Black students and Black-Canadian history on campus. He hopes that the food event gives students the chance to learn about the culinary traditions of the Black diaspora, and he envisions that the adoption of the Scarborough Charter would invigorate “honest discussions about anti-Black racism and the type of atmosphere Victoria College [aims] to embody.”
Also eager about the opportunity to collectively advocate for Black inclusion at such a historic moment, UofT alum Michelle McFarlane serves as the external advisor on the Vic Black Excellence and Inclusion Committee. McFarlane acknowledges Victoria College’s “commitment to redressing anti-Black racism and the fostering of Black inclusion” through a sustainable and foundational embedding of Scarborough Charter principles at the University to benefit future generations representing the Black community within higher education. For McFarlane, conversations surrounding Black inclusion must be shifted to focus on transforming institutional structures to subsequently increase opportunities for Black students and faculty to experience feelings of belonging within the higher education setting.
Such prominent levels of commitment and engagement from both the student and alumni communities may be an additional mechanism of accountability as Victoria College continues to embark on a journey towards increasing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility on campus to vivify the educational experience.
