While studying in the Faculty of Arts, students at McGill have the opportunity to implicate themselves in various aspects of student and campus life. McGill's Black Students' Network (BSN), is just one organization among many that attracts students on campus and provides Black students on campus a dedicated space to address their needs and interests. Founded in 1970, the BSN is a service of the Students' Society of McGill University (SSMU), and is听available to the entire McGill and Montreal Community. It is dedicated to addressing the needs and interests of Black students at McGill, and all interested students, irrespective of race, culture or creed, are encouraged to participate in their list of events and activities. Recently, we spoke to Nkwanzi Banage, Vice President, Advocacy, and U2 in Political Science with a minor in Economics about her experience as at BSN. Nkwanzi was also recently featured in our ", being interviewed about her summer internship experience.听
* Please note that this interview was conducted in November 2023*
Why did you get involved with the Black Students鈥� Network at McGill?听
NB: I decided to join the Black student in my first-year at McGill. As an antsy seventeen-year old in her first semester, I was eager to make friends and connect with Black students at McGill since my highschool did not have a Black students鈥� union. I was also having a hard time finding other Black students in my immediate circles or in my residence, so I started attending some BSN Table Talk events that were being held every month or so. The following year, I got more involved with the Network as a Project Manager for the Advocacy Portfolio. I was inspired by this portfolio鈥檚 work in the past, notably with the 鈥淭ake James Down鈥� campaign, the creation of the Black Bill of Rights, and the mobilization to push the university towards the creation of the Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism. This past spring, I announced my candidacy for the VP-Advocacy position and won after two weeks of campaigning. I was also looking to get involved with advocacy work in university, and was somewhat unsure of where to start. I was naturally drawn to the BSN and the sense of community that it fosters is astounding. I am proud to carry the legacy of a fantastic student group on campus.听听
What does Black History Month mean to you?听
To me, Black History Month is a time to celebrate Black presence across all space and time. BHM is not just a straight month of activism, social justice efforts, or fighting systems of oppression. Although this is a big part of BHM, it is equally about celebrating Black joy and the vibrance and beauty of belonging to such a rich community. BHM means learning about the collective past of Black communities across the diaspora, and always reminding ourselves of our roots and the legacies of those who paved the way for us to be where we are. BHM means finding community and sharing experiences with other Black people who inspire, uplift, and encourage each other.听听听
What are the responsibilities of the Vice-President Advocacy of the Black Students鈥� Network?听
As Vice-President Advocacy, my role is to promote Black presence on campus and to be a channel for Black students to address any barriers they may face at McGill. Part of my responsibility is to organize events that introduce Black students to academic and wellness resources on campus, and to be a first point of contact for students wishing to voice concerns about their experiences at McGill. I also sit on campus equity committees in order to promote the interests of the Black community at McGill.听
How has your academic background in Political Science helped your understanding of leadership?听
I would say academic background in Political Science has taught me more about how 鈥渘ot鈥� to lead than how to lead. I draw a lot of inspiration from my studies in Political Science as VP-Advocacy, especially when collective executive decisions must be made. In this position, I have learned that the best way to lead is to lead alongside others. There are appropriate times for authoritative leadership, but sometimes a top-down approach does more harm than good; it all depends on the people you are working with and their preferred learning styles, and relies especially on others鈥� reception to your leadership styles. My studies have also taught me that often, there is no 鈥渞ight way鈥� to do things, but there are many wrong ways. I keep this in mind as I challenge myself to adopt more than one leadership style, ensuring that I am able to reach different types of people and mobilize them towards one cause.听
What are some of the most notable or meaningful initiatives you have been involved in during your time at McGill thus far?听
I am currently working on cataloging our library inventory in the BSN office, which is located in the SSMU building. The BSN has a rich and comprehensive collection of books in this space, but the office is currently only open to exec members. I am in the process of setting up a loaning system and it has been a very rewarding experience. The office also holds many archives of BSN organizing initiatives from over the years, and they are great resources for anyone looking to learn more about the history of the Network.听听听
Are there any upcoming or ongoing events hosted by the Black Students鈥� Network that students might be interested in attending?听
The Advocacy Portfolio is currently planning an 鈥淎ll Things Internship鈥� information session to be held in mid鈥揓anuary. There will be representatives from the Arts Internship Office, the Engineering Internship Program, and the Science Internship and Field Studies Office to answer all your summer internship questions. Aside from this, the BSN has a podcast on Spotify called Soul Talks with new episodes dropping every second Sunday. All of our Black History Month events will be posted on our Instagram account and our newsletter, so be sure to check those out to stay updated!听
Are there any Black public figures who you follow on social media that inspire you? And why?听
I definitely use Instagram the most out of the various social media platforms. One of my favourite Instagram accounts is @blackarchives.co. This account posts multimedia archives that share the Black experience, and I love the life that is captured in each photo they post. I of course follow BSN's Instagram account @bsnmcgill, which is where we post all of our updates and upcoming events. Another great account is @myblackmusiccanada, which showcases different Black musical talent from across the country. For those looking for fashion inspiration, @b4rfbrain is an amazing and incredibly stylish creator. I also grew up playing the violin, and @taimurrayviolin is a violin professor at Yale who has been a huge inspiration of mine. Last but certainly not least is @qarim___zam, a skilled photographer who captures marvelous photos of everyday life in Zanzibar.听
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