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“Understand that your presence here, and what you achieved here, is monumental and that cannot be denied.”

The words of Adriana Williams, president of the ������Ƶ's Black Students' Association (BSA), echoed through Hart House’s Great Hall, where dozens of Black U of T students who graduated earlier this spring gathered recently to celebrate their achievements.

Students at U of T began organizing Black Grad celebrations in 2017 and over the years the events have been held on the St. George and U of T Mississauga campuses, as well as virtually during the pandemic.

The theme of this year's student-run celebration was “trials and tribulations.” It was meant to underscore challenges each student overcame to earn their degree – both as Black students and as students navigating university during a pandemic.

The event itself marked a triumph over difficulties since it was the first in-person celebration in two years due to COVID-19. “I feel the biggest thing about this entire ceremony is it's a really good example of overcoming adversity, which is something our community does all the time,” Williams told U of T News.

“Post-secondary was never created with people of colour – let alone Black people – at all,” said Williams, who graduated this spring with a degree in linguistics, history and African studies as a member of St. Michael's College. “I feel like the Black student experience in general is just very unique, so I think it's imperative that we highlight what we've done here.”

U of T News senior reporter and associate editor Geoffrey Vendeville captured the following images of this year’s event:

(Photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Students greet each other and chat in a room at Hart House before entering the Great Hall. 

(Photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Ranie Ahmed, Marwa Al Waeal and D'Onna Alexander wait to enter the student-run celebration of Black graduates.

Asked how she coped with difficulties over the past two years, Alexander (right), a psychology, sociology and women and gender studies student at U of T Scarborough, answered with a single word: “Community.”  She added: “I feel like I wouldn't have been able to do it alone.”

(Photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Graduate Isaiah Kidane walks off stage after being called for a moment of recognition.

(Photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Professor Rhonda McEwen, who recently began her term as president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University in the ������Ƶ, has attended every Black Grad since . “There’s something about seeing each other in person and being surrounded by others who maybe had a similar experience to you,” she said. “For students who have been in the minority to feel a majority – and to feel surrounded by people who went through the same thing as you – is special.”

At the event, McEwen draped stoles around students’ necks along with Betty Walters, a program adviser in the department of management at U of T Scarborough, and Marieme Lo, an associate professor of women and gender studies and African studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

(Photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

The event, which students watched in person and online, featured a keynote speech by Francis Atta, a social worker, motivational speaker and U of T alumnus, and performances by singers and U of T students Bijoux Mulali, Precious Umogbai and Petra Alfred.

(Photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Musa Hersi, nephew of graduate Ranie Ahmed, plays on a ramp outside Hart House. 

(Photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Elvin Kaunda, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in architecture, and Massoma Kisob, who majored in global health, chat in the Hart House quad. 

(Photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

This was the sixth year in a row that Black students across the university's three campuses hosted Black Graduation, . 

(Photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Carae Henry (second from left) graduated from U of T Mississauga with a degree in criminology, sociology and gender studies.

Her family – brother Daniel, mom Carol and dad Peter – celebrated two other graduations this summer. Daniel finished high school and her mom, Carol Henry, earned her PhD after earning an undergraduate degree at U of T in 1995. “It was wonderful to see,” Carol said of the event, “because certainly when I came here, I felt a little out of place. It's great to see that Carae has taken her place and the university is celebrating Black students.”