The month began with a Pan-African Flag raising and continues with events organized by the Caribbean Students Association and other student groups.
As Black History Month gets under way at Mount Allison University, student groups are marking the month with a mix of celebration, education, and community-building.
This year’s national theme marks 30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations – From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries, signifying 30 years of the month being formally recognized in Canada on a federal level.
Celebrations on campus began last Friday with the raising of the Pan-African Flag next to the Owens Art Gallery. The flag-raising officially marked the start of Black History Month at Mount Allison.
Creating a home away from home
One of the student groups involved in organizing events throughout the month is the Caribbean Students Association, known as the CSA. The group supports students from across the Caribbean who are studying in Sackville.
Jaylen Minnis, co-president of the Caribbean Students Association, and Makyle Paul, the group’s social media manager, say the CSA’s focus has remained consistent even as leadership and membership change from year to year.
“So what we try to do as the Caribbean Student Association is provide a safe place for all Caribbean students on campus,” Paul said.
Paul estimates the CSA currently has about 30 to 40 active members. Minnis says the number of Caribbean students on campus fluctuates year to year, in part due to changes in international enrollment and migration policies.
“Every year it gets lower and lower, but this year we had more new students than last year. I think it was about 10 new students,” Minnis said.
Both say the CSA prioritizes community over numbers.
Supporting students through connection
Much of the CSA’s work happens through informal gatherings rather than formal meetings. The group regularly hosts potlucks and game nights that are designed to feel relaxed and familiar.
“We just try to provide a very safe place and something that can remind them of home,” Paul said. “Being far from home is very hard. We play games like Uno and dominoes, and we have Caribbean music and Caribbean food.”
Minnis says the adjustment to life in Canada can be challenging, especially for first-year students.
“The culture shock – I’m not going to lie, it was a bit of an adjustment. But I got lucky because my brother was here.”
Navigating cultural differences
In addition to social support, the CSA also helps new students understand cultural differences they may encounter after arriving in Canada.
“One of the first conversations we have is about pronouns,” Paul said. “Pronouns are very big in Canada now, and they’re not in most Caribbean countries. We have to respect how things operate here.”
Paul says those conversations then move into discussions around consent, particularly in social and party settings.
“In Canada, you have to get verbal confirmation. Consent is very big, and I think it’s very important.”
Minnis adds that expectations around social interaction can be very different from what students may be used to back home.
“The party culture is very different.” Minnis said.
Events planned throughout February
As part of Black History Month, the Caribbean Students Association is organizing several events on campus. A Valentine’s-adjacent Caribbean music party is scheduled for February 13 at Ducky’s, with a second Afro-Island themed party planned later in the month.
The group is also working to organize a community potluck during February that would be open beyond the student body, though a date and location have not yet been finalized.
Other Black History Month programming on campus includes a student bystander intervention session scheduled for February 23. The session will be led by Matthew Green from Black Lives Matter New Brunswick and will focus on strategies to address racism and promote inclusivity.
The month will conclude with a Black Excellence Gala organized by the Black Students’ Union.
For more information about Black History Month events at Mount Allison, students are encouraged to follow campus student organizations on social media.
Instagram: @csa.mta
Clinton Davis is a community journalist and audio producer covering the people, events, and ideas shaping the Tantramar region.
