February was Black History Month and the Queen’s Chapter of the Black Law Students’ Association of Canada had several causes for celebration. At the national organization’s largest conference ever, attended by many local members, an article showcasing their law school experience was widely and warmly received, and BLSA Queen’s President Nigel Masenda, Law’20, was recognized for his outstanding contributions. 

While the BLSA Scholarship is awarded to individuals who are committed to supporting and enhancing academic and professional opportunities for black law students, for Masenda, it’s a group honour. “Personally, it is humbling; I am proud of this team,” he says. “For BLSA Queen’s, it is a reflection of our team’s hard work and the bright future of our chapter. 

“It is also a great reminder that regardless of numbers, you can produce great work and contribute to widespread change,” he continues. “Being a smaller chapter has allowed us to develop a strong bond and a synergy. We consistently feed of each other’s strengths and we have found it to be beneficial by allowing us to reach our goals in giving back to the community while also spreading the BLSA message.” 

This year part of that message was a Q&A piece with members of BLSA Queen’s submitted by Masenda. His article, “Dispelling the Monolithic Myth: The Nuances of Black Law Students,” profiles some of his chapter’s members. 

“These people are the courageous, innovative and daring black leaders of the future,” he says. “We spoke with current BLSA students about their interests, motivations and how they’ve found their time at Queen’s Law. Celebrating black pioneers and visionaries is what Black History Month is rooted in. However, another part of what makes the month so special is it provides a great opportunity for us to learn about the contributions black students are making.”

His article was so special that is has been published in the national Black Law Students’ Association Magazine, and is posted to the BLSA website.  

Attendees at the Ottawa conference, “Pushing Excellence and Higher Heights,” also enjoyed guided tours of the Supreme Court of Canada, a career fair, one-on-one resume and cover letter workshops, and panel discussions on various areas of the law and how to utilize a law degree. 

“The Conference was a great success and a great opportunity to showcase and strengthen BLSA as a collective,” says Masenda. “BLSA Queen’s had a strong presence and we were able to foster and develop new relationships.”

By Lisa Graham