Black (and foreign) in the ivory: Exploring the sociopolitical integration of Black international students in Alberta, Canada
Abstract
Notes
Future research / gaps identified:
1) Popular approaches to studying international students are rarely attuned to intra-group variation based on race and ethnicity.
2) This study is among the first to foreground such analyses in Canadian research on international students. More research of this kind is needed.
Key findings:
1) Black international students’ perceptions of Canadian multiculturalism operate as an ideological attraction that initially assuages concerns about racial hostility.
2) Such preconceptions about a non-racist Canada, however, are complicated by experiences and knowledge acquired post-migration, such as encounters with interpersonal racism and learning about Canada’s colonial legacy.
3) Diverse factors shape Black international students’ understanding of and relationship to Black-themed racial justice activism in Canada. Different groups have varying degrees of political activity, and the role of diasporic and legal consciousness is highlighted in shaping their engagement with movements.
4) A case study is presented: the multifocal experiences of precarity encountered by a queer Nigerian student, involving complex negotiations of sexual, racial identity, and temporary legal status.
5) Collectively, these findings emphasize heterogeneous understanding of international students, acknowledging the diversity of social locations and experiences within this group. It contributes to broader conversations about race, racism, racial justice, and intersecting identities as they pertain to international student experiences.
Key population: Black international students studying in Alberta
Open access: Yes
Community organizations: n/a
Integration timeline: international students
Key recommendations:
1) Develop more nuanced approaches to research on Black international students that considers their heterogeneity.
2) Invest in creating more supportive environments in Canadian students for Black international students and the different intersections within this group.
Location: Alberta, broadly