Meet 3 Black Londoners building a stronger future for the community
CBC News spoke to Londoners from the business and academic sectors
As February marks Black History Month, communities across London, Ont., are celebrating and honouring the contributions and pursuits of justice and equity by Black Londoners.
CBC News spoke to three Black Londoners from the business and academic sectors to learn more about each of their projects and how they hope to help build a stronger future for the community.
Jasmine Uboma, founder of Beyond Math
Growing up in Ontario cities like Kitchener and Milton, Jasmine Uboma noticed she was the only Black student in her math or science classes.
That pattern has remained the same for her even as a now second-year Statistics student at Western University. She still sees a lack of Black students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs, she said.
To tackle this, she started Beyond Math, a tutoring service to help kids cultivate analytical and critical thinking skills, specifically with math. When it first began in 2020, the program would use books to get elementary and high school-aged kids to learn about analytical reasoning.
"Black students are told they're better off as athletes instead of academics, or there's not enough resources around that help cultivate that," she said, adding that if there are resources out there, the message isn't getting out to those who need it.
"It's one thing for it to be there, and it's another for people to know about it, and we need to let people know that there are these support systems that want to see you do better and help you succeed."
Cornel Grey, assistant professor at Western University
When Cornel Grey was asked to help develop the new minor in Black studies at Western University, his answer was an immediate yes, he said. The program, which is still in its early stages, already has 87 students of diverse backgrounds signed up.
"This is a pretty big deal for us. From what I've heard, it's the largest enrolment we've had for a course that's being offered for the first time," he said.
"It really indicates that there is interest and an audience [for this] at Western."
Grey's own research focuses on the health of queer Black men, specifically the impacts of physical touch and contact, along with the ways they've been treated by the medical system, he said.
For Grey, Black History Month presents an opportunity to reflect on not just the struggles of Black people but to celebrate the strengths, culture, and various forms of production they've created over the generations, he said.
"Some people have shifted to talking about 'Black Future Month, ' which I think is great. It's there for us to re-center and think about what kind of communities we want to live in as we move forward."
Jelisa Wickham, owner of Crafted Crown
Jelisa Wickham started her printed apparel company, Crafted Crown, in November 2021 because she wanted to create an outlet for people to express themselves authentically through design. It was something that she felt London was lacking, she said.
"London didn't really demonstrate many platforms where people of different ethnicities and cultures have a safe place to express their individualities, and that's why I created Crafted Crown."
Wickham's company sells various items, including T-shirts, mugs, accessories, home decor, and custom apparel. Her mostly online shop is offering a unique Black History Month line as well, Wickham said.
Wickham believes it's hard for Black-owned businesses like hers to get their names out to the larger public, which as a result, doesn't get them the support they need, she said. But with more like public markets, she's found that more businesses are getting the spotlight.
"We're stepping up, and we're able to see more Black businesses in the community, and I think that's great," she added.
For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.
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