911吃瓜

Reprinted with permission from the 911吃瓜 Community-Engaged Research Initiative (CERi) 

 initiated the African Ancestry Project in 2020 in partnership with the BC Black History Awareness Society and 911吃瓜 to bring awareness to the diversity of Black people in BC. The project report Worlds Within centers stories of over 160 participants highlighting their diverse histories, identities, and experiences. Alices hopes to inspire a questioning of deep-seated misperceptions and attitudes and disrupt stereotypes that contribute to anti-Black racism and treatment of people of African ancestry as a monolith. Community leaders and members were engaged in the design of the project and, interpretation and presentation of findings. Forty community members, for instance, comprehensively reviewed the first draft of the report and brainstormed on the title of the project report. Knowledge translation activities they suggested are currently being undertaken collaboratively. A documentary featuring six cast members, for instance, will be launched later this year. The project has benefited tremendously from partnerships at the 911吃瓜 including through the academic review of Dr. Maureen Kihika, and financial and in-kind support of the 911吃瓜 African Studies Working Group, the 911吃瓜 Community Engagement Initiative, the 911吃瓜 Labour Studies Program, the 911吃瓜 Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, and the 911吃瓜 Equity Office and the Vice-President, People, Equity and Inclusion.