Moving Beyond Diversity: Using Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Thought to Foster Black Inclusion Through Undergraduate University Admissions

This paper argues that concrete actions are needed to address anti-Black racism and foster Black inclusion in Canadian higher education. These pertinent actions should target the systemic barriers faced by Black students when accessing post-secondary institutions. Through our reflections on current...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Christopher Stuart Taylor, Grace A. Gomashie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mount Saint Vincent University 2024-09-01
Series:Atlantis
Subjects:
Online Access:https://atlantisjournal.ca/index.php/atlantis/article/view/5700/4823
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849729631606800384
author Christopher Stuart Taylor
Grace A. Gomashie
author_facet Christopher Stuart Taylor
Grace A. Gomashie
author_sort Christopher Stuart Taylor
collection DOAJ
description This paper argues that concrete actions are needed to address anti-Black racism and foster Black inclusion in Canadian higher education. These pertinent actions should target the systemic barriers faced by Black students when accessing post-secondary institutions. Through our reflections on current admissions practices of research-intensive Ontario-based universities, this paper highlights how currently used frameworks of diversity and inclusion may not be effective in disrupting the myth of meritocracy and mitigating systemic barriers faced by Black undergraduate applicants. We recommend that undergraduate admissions practices be grounded in a critical understanding of the four principles of the Scarborough Charter (Black flourishing, inclusive excellence, mutuality, and accountability) to support Black admissions, and that critical race theory and Black feminist thought be used as frameworks to create specific admissions practices and programs that disrupt anti-Black racism. The paper will generate further discussions on what it means to foster Black inclusion through university admissions and enrolment in a transformative manner.
format Article
id doaj-art-da0bfdbac6e8433aba8e6f9716594a1d
institution DOAJ
issn 1715-0698
language English
publishDate 2024-09-01
publisher Mount Saint Vincent University
record_format Article
series Atlantis
spelling doaj-art-da0bfdbac6e8433aba8e6f9716594a1d2025-08-20T03:09:09ZengMount Saint Vincent UniversityAtlantis1715-06982024-09-014513951Moving Beyond Diversity: Using Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Thought to Foster Black Inclusion Through Undergraduate University AdmissionsChristopher Stuart Taylor0Grace A. Gomashie1University of WaterlooUniversity of WaterlooThis paper argues that concrete actions are needed to address anti-Black racism and foster Black inclusion in Canadian higher education. These pertinent actions should target the systemic barriers faced by Black students when accessing post-secondary institutions. Through our reflections on current admissions practices of research-intensive Ontario-based universities, this paper highlights how currently used frameworks of diversity and inclusion may not be effective in disrupting the myth of meritocracy and mitigating systemic barriers faced by Black undergraduate applicants. We recommend that undergraduate admissions practices be grounded in a critical understanding of the four principles of the Scarborough Charter (Black flourishing, inclusive excellence, mutuality, and accountability) to support Black admissions, and that critical race theory and Black feminist thought be used as frameworks to create specific admissions practices and programs that disrupt anti-Black racism. The paper will generate further discussions on what it means to foster Black inclusion through university admissions and enrolment in a transformative manner.https://atlantisjournal.ca/index.php/atlantis/article/view/5700/4823admissionsanti-black racismblack affinity groupsequity and inclusionrestorative justicesystems change
spellingShingle Christopher Stuart Taylor
Grace A. Gomashie
Moving Beyond Diversity: Using Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Thought to Foster Black Inclusion Through Undergraduate University Admissions
Atlantis
admissions
anti-black racism
black affinity groups
equity and inclusion
restorative justice
systems change
title Moving Beyond Diversity: Using Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Thought to Foster Black Inclusion Through Undergraduate University Admissions
title_full Moving Beyond Diversity: Using Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Thought to Foster Black Inclusion Through Undergraduate University Admissions
title_fullStr Moving Beyond Diversity: Using Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Thought to Foster Black Inclusion Through Undergraduate University Admissions
title_full_unstemmed Moving Beyond Diversity: Using Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Thought to Foster Black Inclusion Through Undergraduate University Admissions
title_short Moving Beyond Diversity: Using Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Thought to Foster Black Inclusion Through Undergraduate University Admissions
title_sort moving beyond diversity using critical race theory and black feminist thought to foster black inclusion through undergraduate university admissions
topic admissions
anti-black racism
black affinity groups
equity and inclusion
restorative justice
systems change
url https://atlantisjournal.ca/index.php/atlantis/article/view/5700/4823
work_keys_str_mv AT christopherstuarttaylor movingbeyonddiversityusingcriticalracetheoryandblackfeministthoughttofosterblackinclusionthroughundergraduateuniversityadmissions
AT graceagomashie movingbeyonddiversityusingcriticalracetheoryandblackfeministthoughttofosterblackinclusionthroughundergraduateuniversityadmissions