My name’s Faisal. I’m second year. Program: sociology, psychology.
My name’s Sunday - like the day. I am a first year social justice and peace studies
major.
My name is Keren. I’m a third year student in sociology and French studies.
My name’s Ilham. I’m a fourth year student in health science and women’s studies.
How have you found your community here, if you have?
Communities like the BSA and the ASA have also helped me find a lot of people who are
like going through the same experiences as I am.
As I’ve gone through the years here at Western, I’ve been able to join clubs again like
the Black Students’ Association, the Women’s Studies Student Collective, where - and the
Somali Student Association - where I’ve been able to find more people who have the
same values as me, more people who look like me. And uh, it’s helped me find a place
to belong too.
I’d say BSA is the best community, you know? Catering to black experience, you know, and
excellence - obviously. Um if it wasn’t for BSA, it would be a lot harder to fit in,
to integrate myself into the system, and you know just day to day stuff, if you know what
I mean.
But like with BSA, you’re able to find friends right off the go: some in your year, some
older - a lot of people who are willing to talk about issues that are kind of hard to
talk to if you’re just with your friends.
What was your first impressions coming to Western, community-wise?
Uh, my first impression in coming to Western was realizing very quickly that I was, if
not, one of only two black people in all of my classes.
It wasn’t surprising in the fact that I knew I was going to be like, one of the very
few black people.
Mhmm.
But as I started getting like involved in stuff, as in BSA, I’m like, “Well there’s
a lot more people like me!” And it - it’s really a good time. Western is a really diverse
school to be honest, compared to others. So ya.
What does being black mean to you?
Being black is not really something that I’ve ever like taken out like or seen as different.
Mhmm.
Like it’s always just -
It’s not monolithic.
Exactly
Being black means to me that you are unapologetically yourself.
Umm, I feel like - to me - being black is like sometimes you’re going to be underestimated,
going to be looked down upon, you know for no reason. Um people, for black guys I feel
like it’s sometimes hard, people might be scared of you from the get go -
Mhm ya - you know what I mean
You see it alot more in this area of like Western, like this community kind of
What black person dead or alive do you look up to?
Artistically I look up to Whitney Houston, just because of the number of barriers she
broke as a black woman.
What is your favourite moment in black culture this year?
Woo! My favourite moment in black culture this year would have to be when Beyoncé headlined
Coachella - correction, “Beychella”.
What is the one thing you’d like to achieve before leaving Western?
I set some pretty high goals for myself, and I think at some point I’d like to become
USC president.
I hope - I hope that happens for you
Thank you, thank you.
Definitely a leadership position in like the black community, so maybe the BSA or the ASA.
It can be difficult but you can make it and you can flourish in this society and this
kind of environment - being a black girl.
Creating a space for black students to feel comfortable and to be represented. Just being
able to interact with other black students, it’s something that I’m really passionate
about.
What’s the transition been like from first year till fourth year for you?
I didn’t do my best in first year but I find, fourth year I feel like I’ve gotten
the hang of it. I feel better about things, you know? First year was a trying time for
me, but I think it’s good now.
What is one thing that you wish non-black people could understand?
The hair - the hair is a really, very touchy subject I feel like. So like,
So like people don’t understand that like randomly touching your hair, right, without
like asking or doing any permission first. The beginning is kind of just weird, and like
just like frowned upon in the black community.
You cannot say the n-word in any shape, way or form, period point-blank. A second thing
is, don’t touch our hair, don’t ask if you can touch it.
Has there ever been a time where you felt isolated or felt like your race was the reason
you weren’t getting to where you wanted socially or academically?
Definitely both. I feel like, uh, not that anyone is outwardly racist. Academically,
I take a lot of politically driven classes like history and political science, and sometimes,
especially in smaller groups like tutorials, once you start bringing up different perspectives
and opinions a lot of people start to get really annoyed or triggered especially when
it’s not what they’ve believed their whole life. And people start to get personal with
their attacks.
Like last week a white guy in my class called me uneducated, just because I presented an
opinion that was different from his -
-Oh that would have been a problem -
And so I was just there like, um I didn’t want to respond, like, harshly because then
I’d be exactly what he expects me to be.
Why do you think we need a Black History Month?
I think we need a Black History Month because during the twelve months of the year there’s
not really a certain time other than February where black people are the focus and emphasized
in a positive way.
During Black History Month, it’s a month that allows us to celebrate our excellence,
celebrate all the accomplishments and positive things that black people all over the world
have done for the liberation of us.
And ya, I think we’re done!
Good luck!
Thank you Thank you, that was great.