Media releases

• Ahead of Emancipation Day, Brock and FirstOntario PAC host screenings of It Takes a Riot

  Wednesday, July 29, 2020 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 27 July 2020 – R0118

  A weekend of Emancipation Day events online and in downtown St. Catharines will include two screenings and a panel discussion of an acclaimed documentary of the 1992 Yonge Street Uprising.

  Brock University and the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre are joining together for a community event to present It Takes A Riot: Race, Rebellion, Reform on Friday, July 31.

  Simon Black, Assistant Professor in Brock University’s Department of Labour Studies, co-wrote and co-produced the film in 2017 with co-writer/director Howard Grandison and co-producer Idil Abdillahi, Assistant Professor of Social Work at Ryerson University. It tells the story of the May 4, 1992 protest-turned-riot in Toronto following the Rodney King verdict in Los Angeles and the shooting death of a young Black man, Raymond Lawrence, by Toronto police.

  “The film documents an important moment in the fight against anti-Black racism in Canada,” says Black. “Yet it’s a moment too often ignored in our history books and seldom taught in our schools. While Emancipation Day marks an important moment in the history of the Black freedom struggle in Canada, by sharing this film with the Niagara community in the context of police killings of Black people and a resurgent Black Lives Matter movement, we hope the community will see that this freedom struggle is not simply history, but ongoing.”

  Brock has a long history of community engagement and this film screening and panel discussion is one of the ways the University is partnering with the community for important events such as Emancipation Day. Brock is committed to supporting Niagara’s social and economic development and building a culture of engagement with the community.

  “The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre is committed to amplifying and supporting the work of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour artists, businesses and organizations through action,” says Colleen Smith, Executive Director of the FirstOntario PAC. “We are committed to prioritizing the eradication of racism with specific actions through partnerships like this, that promote inclusivity, equity, accessibility and that foster and celebrate diversity.”

  The first screening will take place at 7 p.m. through the PAC’s Facebook and YouTube channels. When the 27-minute film concludes, the broadcast will continue with a panel discussion featuring co-producers Black and Abdillahi (co-producer), as well as:

  • Brock Professor of Education Dolana Mogadime, who has been actively involved in advancing human rights at Brock and the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela
  • Retired teacher Lennox Farrell, a founding member of Black Action Defense Committee who appears in the documentary.
  • Brock Professor of Language Jean Ntakirutimana, founding member of the Brock African Heritage Recognition Committee.
  • Brock University President Gervan Fearon, recently named Co-Chair of the Education Committee of the Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism.

  The panel discussion will be moderated by Kattawe Henry, Human Rights and Anti-Racism Advisor at Brock University.

  At 9 p.m., the event will move outdoors as the PAC screens It Takes a Riot in the Mann Raceway Plaza (PAC backyard), an outdoor film and entertainment venue which is reopening this week now that Niagara has entered Stage 3 in the COVID-19 recovery.

  It Takes a Riot will be followed by a screening of Wilma, a 74-minute film that celebrates the life of Brock University honorary doctorate recipient Wilma Morrison, who was regarded as the custodian of Black History in Niagara. The film will be introduced by director Ayo Adewumi.

  The outdoor space is located in the Mann Raceway Plaza located directly behind the PAC. Physical distancing circles will be place, so capacity is limited. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets for seating. Visit the PAC website for more information on health and safety protocols in place.

   

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock to launch Minor in Africana Studies this fall

  Monday, July 27, 2020 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 27 July 2020 – R0117

  Brock University students will have the opportunity to pursue a Minor in Africana Studies in addition to their degrees starting this September.

  The new program, housed in the Faculty of Social Science’s Department of Sociology, is spearheaded by Associate Professor of Sociology Tamari Kitossa, Associate Professor of Modern Languages, Literature and Culture (MLLC) Jean Ntakirutimana and MMLC Lecturer Richard Ndayizigamiye.

  Kitossa says the term ‘Africana’ is a representation of Africans from the continent of Africa as well as the African diaspora in Canada, the U.S., the Caribbean, Latin America, and elsewhere in the world.

  “The program will bring a new and broad perspective in understanding the challenges faced by People of African descent in the diaspora and on the continent, in the aftermath of the transatlantic slavery of Africans in the Americas, as well as the ruthless colonialism and neo-colonial exploitation of Africa by European powers,” says Kitossa.

  The program encompasses three mandatory courses in Sociology in addition to two credits from a broad array of courses offered in various departments and programs.

  Ntakirutimana says the program is being launched at a moment of ongoing historic and global movement for Black lives and transformative social justice.

  “We hope that current broad-spectrum sociopolitical discussions about anti-Blackness will inspire many students — from Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) and from mainstream ethnic groups — to enroll in the program to better understand the issues at stake,” he says.

  The team notes that through the new Canada Caribbean Institute (CCI), Brock has strengthened its international ties with academic institutions from the Caribbean, starting with the University of the West Indies (UWI). It is anticipated that the Minor in Africana Studies and related programs in the Caribbean will enable collaborative projects and learning, such as student exchanges and faculty mobility for teaching and research connected with the CCI.

  Kate Bezanson, Associate Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology, says she’s thrilled the Faculty is “able to provide the home for this overdue specialization.”

  “When the proposal for this new minor came together, I was enthusiastic and delighted to play a small role in facilitating the formal academic planning to put in place the hard work and vision of Drs. Kitossa, Ntakirutimana and Ndyazigamiye,” she says.

  Bezanson adds that the course of study “will equip students with the tools to richly understand the broad and dynamic field of Africana Studies from cultural, historical, theoretical, linguistic, social and policy perspectives, among others.”

  The idea for the minor first ignited nearly a decade ago by a group of faculty and staff, including Kitossa, Ntakirutimana, Ndayizigamiye, retired Director of International Services and Programs Abroad John Kaethler and retired Education Professor Sybil Wilson.

  The program was developed in consultation with other members of the Black community at Brock and in the Niagara region, as well as the Council of Black Organizations in Niagara.

  “Brock University, given its central location in a region that played an extremely important role in the Underground Railroad – also recognized as a World UNESCO site – is well-positioned to play a significant role in reflecting on, teaching and studying the rich contributions of People of African descent,” said Ndayizigamiye.

  The team hopes to add a certificate to the program tailored to activists, advocates and community members, as well as a range of professionals serving BIPOC communities. This would open non-traditional and inclusive opportunities for the community at large to critically analyze and theorize the breadth and depth of the Africana experience in the Niagara region and beyond.

  A long-term goal to help meet the needs of students and the community, says  Ndayizigamiye, is to eventually establish a full Africana Studies program and the endowment of a permanent Chair in Africana Studies.

  “We sincerely hope the new program will thrive and showcase the inter and multidisciplinary nature of our courses and programs, attract more Black students to Brock, enhance opportunities for educational enrichment for current students and the broader community, and, finally, to contribute to a vibrant culture of racial diversity,” says Kitossa.

   

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases