Walk In Her Shoes: The Lived Experiences Of Black Women In Canadian Societies

By Lauryn Stewart

Boasting incredible speakers, Carleton University’s Afro Caribbean Mentorship program sponsored by RBC, hosted a panel discussion Friday, March 26th, focused on “The Lived Experiences of Black Women in Canadian Societies.”  

The panellists echoed stories told by many Black women in Canada. Detailing shared experiences of microaggressions from classmates and coworkers, to the fear Black women feel entering spaces that are not built with them in mind. Learning to navigate the society that we live in; while simultaneously knowing the danger that same society presents to Black women is a uniquely Black experience.  

Panelists El Jones, Dr. Brenda Dogbey, Terena Baldwin, Agnes Appiah- Apawu, and Dr. Veronica Adu- Bobie, shared their lived experiences as Black women in Canada and dived into issues of education, community, self-acceptance, professionalism, and advocacy.

Agnes Appiah Apawu is a Ghanain Canadian raised in Montreal,and now blazing her own trail in Gatineau, Quebec.  She is a Specials Events Mc and host of Umami Conversations Podcast.

She presently works as a program support worker for Indigenous Service Canada.

 “They look at me, not for my qualification, they don’t look at me for the person that I am but the first thing they see; very sadly, is the colour of my skin,” said Appiah- Apawu.

The stories of Black women who found success through sisterhood education and self-love give young Black women the hope that they too will reach their goals. The message of caring for our sisterhood of Black women; in a world that rarely gives Black women the love they deserve is the embodiment of empowerment.

El Jones is a spoken word poet, journalist and community activist. She was the fifth Poet Laureate of Halifax. In 2016, Jones was a recipient of the Burnley “Rocky” Jones human rights award for her community work and work in prison justice.
“We know we're in a world that doesn’t love us inside or out; sometimes it feels you can’t win. There’s always some double standard that’s put upon us so I think it's important to find who you are and stick to that,” said Jones.

Being part of a group of Black women that are challenging the nature of modern Blackness, whether that be in the stereotypes of unwavering strength in Black women, or in the pressure placed on Black women to fit into what society expects a Black woman to be, is exciting.
The prospects for a future that perceives Black women as people with individual personalities, hopes and dreams is the future Black women deserve to experience. The ACMP created a space that allows young Black women to build the future they want to see. 

“When people ask me how I got to where I am and what I'm doing I always say it's been a long and winding road, but while it's been a long and winding road I haven’t travelled that road alone, I've travelled that road with my family, I've travelled that road with the networks of women who are apart of that circle and it is a reciprocal relationship where we all invest and celebrate in that success,” said co-keynote speaker, Camille Williams-Taylor, Director of Education for Ottawa-Carleton District School-board. 

Williams-Taylor delivered a message of unity among Black women. Expressing the need for strong friendships that empower and support young Black women through their life journeys. 

“It's not about compliance but, it's about independence, it's not about fitting in but it's about making friends, it's not about obedience but; instead it’s about leadership, and it's not about being alone but, instead it is the notion of the solidarity of collaboration and the network of women,” she said. 

In her address, Williams-Taylor advised young Black women to confront and recognize their fear when entering new spaces.  

“When you as a Black woman enter spaces to do something that is different, that is not compliant, that is not traditional, that is not expected; where you are alone, you will experience fear, and the danger is real and there’s a reason you’re experiencing it, but choosing to be fearful is a choice,” said Williams-Taylor.

Dr. Veronica Adu-Bobie has served the All Nations Full Gospel Churches International (ANFGCI) as a full-time pastor since 1992 under the leadership of her pastors Dr. Samuel and Dr. Rose Donkor.

“Know who you are and love who you are, it's so important because when you know who you are doesn’t matter what anyone says about you or does against you, you always will come back to yourself,” said Dr. Adu- Bobie, Minister and Superintendent of the Eastern District.

Cindy Karugia, financial advisor at RBC and co-Keynote speaker shared her hopes to change the social construct that paints Black women as monolithic. 

“I want to help unravel that ribbon that society has used to tie us into a box and confine us into one check box ‘Black Woman’,” said Karugia. 

Each woman shared stories to propel the new generation of Black women into success, effectively creating a new network of Black women who support Black women.

To learn more about Carleon’s Afro Caribbean Mentorship Program and Women Empowerment Month, visit We Are ACMP