A racially segregated art and mental health session was held at the University of Guelph (U of G) Wednesday as part of the school’s Black History Month programming.
This is not the first time that an event exclusive to those who “identify as Black” has been held at the Southwestern Ontario university.
The event called “Piecing it Together” featured magazine collages and a discussion on black mental health and excellence.
“Join us for an art session and discussion with Briana Alexis Studios! We will be collaging and discussing Black mental health and excellence,” reads U of G’s website.
The university notes that the event was part of their Black History Month programming. It was hosted by Cultural Diversity Services and the Guelph Black Students’ Association, and attendance was “exclusive to U of G students who identify as Black.”
The same groups held a “Restorative Yoga” class at U of G last November that was “exclusive to Black-identifying students, staff, and faculty”. The latter led to controversy online after Quillette journalist Jonathan Kay called out the event, causing U of G to issue a statement defending the racially segregated class.
“Safe spaces are created to give people from equity-deserving groups support, a sense of well-being and a chance to heal,” said the university, adding “we remain committed to providing opportunities and safe spaces for people to share, heal, learn and grow, all fundamental to improving life.”
The “anti-racist” yoga instructor for the racially segregated class, Selam Debs, told local outlet Guelph Today that the way the session was “attacked and targeted” was a form of racism and white supremacy.
As previously reported by True North, two events exclusive to black students are planned at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson) this month.
The first event called “We Heal Together Table Talk: Black Community Healing” is planned for Feb. 15 and is the launch of a journal and colouring book. The second event is called ‘Pleasure, Sex & Magic’ and will seek to answer what “sexual self-care look like after trauma, including colonialism, capitalism, and rape culture.” It will take place on Feb. 28.
The University of Guelph did not respond to True North’s request for comment in time for publication.
