Trent University launches groundbreaking Black Studies Lab for Equity

Trent University Durham is making history. The school has announced the launch of the Black Studies and Specialization Research Lab, a new academic hub designed to empower students and communities through equity-driven education, and research.

For more than 50 years, Trent University (located in Durham and Peterborough) has shaped education for students across Ontario’s east end. This new specialization builds on that legacy while breaking fresh ground. Scheduled to launch in fall 2025, the Black Studies Lab is the direct result of recommendations made by Trent’s Anti-Racism Task Force. According to the university’s press release, the initiative “Reflects the university’s commitment to equity and its role in shaping inclusive academic spaces.”

Students who pursue this specialization will follow, “An academic pathway informed by and exploring the lived realities of Black communities and grounded in social justice.” This means the program is an invitation to community building, practical engagement, and knowledge creation.

The program’s foundation lies in what the university calls: “Black knowledge, experiences, and community collaboration.” Students will gain insights and tools designed to help them lead meaningful social and equitable change.

At the heart of the new offering is the Black Life and Community Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K.) specialization. Housed within the Sociology Department, this stream creates a collaborative space for, research, dialogue, and action.

The official program page highlights its promise to, “Explore the histories, identities, and lived realities of Black communities in Canada and around the world through this impactful and empowering specialization. You’ll study resilience movements, intersectionality, and systemic oppression while engaging with communities to create positive change.”

The new lab will advance equity-focused education in several ways:

• Advance equity and social justice across disciplines.
• Support community-engaged scholarship on issues such as: Black health equity, anti-Black Islamophobia, and the criminalization of Black communities.
• Foster connections among scholars, artists, organizers, and educators to create an intellectual home for emerging Black Canadian leaders.

Dr. Adwoa Onuora, Assistant Professor of Sociology, emphasizes the program’s purpose: “With this new programming we are working towards our goals to celebrate Black knowledge. At the core of these programs is an inseparable link between thought and action that drives our collective efforts towards a more equitable and just society.”

Dr. Scott Henderson, Vice-President and Head of Trent University Durham, adds: “With the launch of the Black Studies Specialization and the B.L.A.C.K. Lab, Trent Durham is deepening its commitment to community-engaged learning and research. This is a meaningful step toward more just and relevant academic enrichment.”

The addition of this specialization offers students new opportunities to ground their academic studies in lived Black experiences and equips them to contribute meaningfully to society. By centering Black life in its foundation, the program enriches the field of sociology while preparing the next generation of social workers, educators, and researchers to lead with equity and empathy.

This lab is a space where students can align thought with action, theory with practice, and personal growth with collective justice.

For more information about the Black Studies and Specialization Research Lab, visit trent.ca/durham/program/sociology/black-studies.