From Black Excellence to Black Flourishing at Memorial University

When I first arrived in Newfoundland and Labrador as a student, I carried with me the lessons of my upbringing in Trinidad and Tobago. From an early age, I understood that education was more than just personal advancement. It was survival, safety, and a chance to fulfill the dreams of those who came before me. Success was never framed as my own alone. It was the hope of my family and community, resting on my shoulders. 

That pressure is what many of us recognize when we hear the phrase Black Excellence. For generations, it has been used to celebrate achievement in the face of racism and systemic barriers. Representation matters, and seeing someone who looks like us succeed can open windows of possibility. But excellence can also carry a hidden weight. Too often, it shifts into Black Exceptionalism: the idea that only those who rise above impossible odds are worthy of recognition. 

This way of thinking is harmful. It praises individuals while leaving the structures of inequality unchallenged. If one Black student excels, does that mean the system is fair? If one activist makes headlines, does that erase the labour of others who came before? Exceptionalism narrows the definition of success until many of us, surviving and building quietly, are left invisible. 

At Memorial University, I saw this first-hand. I was often one of very few Black students in my classes, and I rarely saw Black professors at the front of the room. The university has signed onto the Scarborough Charter, a national commitment to addressing anti-Black racism. This is an important step, but signing is not the same as transformation. We need to ensure representation exists at every level, research on the experiences of Black and migrant students is prioritized, and barriers such as differential tuition fees are addressed. 

What we need now is a shift from Black Excellence to Black Flourishing. Flourishing moves beyond the lone individual who beats the odds. It is about building communities of care, accountability, and opportunity that allow all of us to thrive. 

For Memorial, this could mean creating safe spaces where students can speak openly about racism without fear of reprisal. It could mean ensuring internships and job opportunities are not restricted by immigration status. It could mean valuing the contributions of those who have already paved the way instead of erasing their history when a new “first” is recognized. 

Black Flourishing is about collective thriving. It reminds us that worth should not be measured only by suffering or survival, but by the fullness of life we can build together. 

Memorial has the tools to help make this vision real. Representation, research, and accountability are already named in the Scarborough Charter. The next step is to turn those commitments into action. Doing so will not only benefit Black students, staff, and faculty, but will strengthen the entire university community. 

Excellence, on its own, will never keep us safe. Community will. Flourishing will. And that is a vision Memorial can help bring to life.