Western University to offer minor in Black Studies

The minor in Black studies program will offer an array of local, national and international 'disciplinary perspectives' centred around Black culture, history and heritage.

Western University in London, Ont., is set to offer a new minor in Black Studies, according to the institution.

Through the department of gender, sexuality, and women’s studies, the program will offer an array of local, national and international “disciplinary perspectives” centred around Black culture, history and heritage.

“Black students, staff and faculty have different experiences of Western, and indeed of London, than do others — including others who are also racially minoritized but not Black,” said W.G. Pearson, chair of the department of gender, sexuality, and women’s studies.

“It is obviously important to address racism and inequity on campus in practical and material ways, but in a university, it is also important to address these same issues from a scholarly perspective.”

According to Western officials, the minor ties in with the university’s commitments to “creating an inclusive campus and the priorities of the office of equity, diversity and inclusion.”

Launching this month, the program was also a collaborative effort between the faculties of arts and humanities, social science and information, media studies faculty and students on the Black Studies organizing committee.

Cornel Grey, a new professor in the department of gender, sexuality, and women’s studies and is developing a course for the upcoming minor.

Titled Blood, Breath, and the Black Body, Grey said his course will uncover how anti-Black racism negatively affects the health outcomes for Black people.