Plinth reflecting on the 1918 ban against Black medical students
As part of the Queen’s Remembers series, this commemorative plinth recalls the banning of Black medical students from Queen’s in 1918. That generations of Black students were robbed of their dreams, and faced the indignity of unrealized potential, is a tragedy. This plinth is intended to inform, educate, and allow for thoughtful reflection. We honour the dreams and aspirations of past, present and future generations of Black medical students.
Queen's University held a ceremony to unveil the plinth on Tuesday, September 13, 2023. To view the plinth on campus, see its location in the Old Medical Quadrangle (behind Summerhill).
Read the contents of the plinth: Who gets to be a doctor? [PDF 5.8. MB]
Plinth Ceremony
September 12, 2023
INTRODUCTION
MC, Dr. Oyedeji Ayonrinde
WELCOME ADDRESS
Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane
Health Sciences Dean Jane Philpott
THE PAST
Mr. Edward Thomas
Dr. Lanval Daly
PLINTH UNVEILING
Performance led by Nomusa Mngoma to Jerusalema (by South African DJ and record producer Master KG, feat. South African vocalist Nomcebo, sung in IsiZulu)
THE PRESENT
Aesculapian Society President: Grace Ayoo
Medical School Class of 2025 President: Sabra Salim
Black Medical Students Association Queen's: Mudia Iyayi
Black Medical Students Association of Canada: Corey Fletcher
Queen's Medical Grad 2022: Dr. Aquila Akingbade
Gift presentation
Performance: Ryan Lewis, "Shine"
THE FUTURE
President, Black Physicians of Canada: Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass
President, Black Physicians of Ontario: Dr. Andrew Thomas
Performance: Omer Hamour, "To the Future"
Community ensemble performance: "The Greatest Love" by George Benson
RECEPTION
Song lyrics for community ensemble performance:
THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL
I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be
Everybody searching for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone who fulfill my needs
A lonely place to be
And so I learned to depend on me
I decided long ago
Never to walk in anyone's shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I'll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all
I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be
I decided long ago
Never to walk in anyone's shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I'll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
Is the greatest love of all
And if, by chance, that special place
That you've been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love
Songwriters: Linda Creed / Michael Masser
Greatest Love of All lyrics © EMI Golden Torch Music Corp., EMI Gold Horizon Music Corp (1977)
Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass
Dr. Module Tunde-Byass is president of Black Physicians of Canada and a co-founder of Women's Health Education Made Simple.
Dr. Andrew Thomas
Dr. Andrew Thomas is a Family Physician at the Bowmanville Health Centre. There he leads the Family Medicine portion of the Queen's Medical School Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship in Durham. He is also the President of the Black Physicians' Association of Ontario. He completed his Family Medicine Training at QBOL in 2019.
Dr. Lanval Daly
Dr. Daly is a Queen's '71 Medical School graduate and the second Black medical student to graduate after the ban was lifted at Queen's. Throughout his obstetrician-gynecologist career, Dr. Daly has been an unwavering agent of change, committed to work at home in Canada, as well as in his native Montserrat.
Mr. Edward Thomas
Edward Thomas' research interests are driven by Queen's 1918 decision to ban black students from admission to its medical school and the opportunity it presents for exploring how institutional power, collective memory and cultural tropes are served by narrative structures. In addition to documentation and analysis, he is also considering the narrative mechanisms by which the affected students' stories were effectively erased from the university's collective memory and the ensuing impact on its institutional culture. Edward Thomas is the current Associate Director of External Relations at the Arthur B. McDonald Research Institute.
Ryan Lewis
Ryan Lewis is a full-time music professional, who has more than 30 years invested into the music industry. While he specializes in voice and vocal development, Ryan is a prolific songwriter, producer, arranger and composer. Ryan founded the Elevation Music Studio, and prides himself on being responsible for harnessing and developing young talent, and giving them a place to call home.
Omer Hamour
Omer Hamour is a current Psychiatric resident at Queen’s.
Dr. Nomusa Mngoma
Dr. Nomusa Mngoma is an adjunct professor in the Global Development Studies Department with a PhD. She has taught at Queen’s since 2009 and works as a physiotherapist and clinician scientist, as well as being the founder and artistic director of Dansani Dance Company, located in Kingston.
Thank you to organizations including Black businesses and entrepreneurs for generously donating door prizes.
Aba Mortley
Donation of Spa Package at Cher-Mere.
Ryan Lewis
Donation of Vocal Coaching Session.
Desmond Cole
Donation of 5 autographed copies of The Skin We’re In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power.
Ayanda Mngoma
Donation of Photo Booth for 3 hours at an event.
Donation of hair products.
Katherine McKittrick
Professor and UG Chair (Black Studies)
Donation of Black Studies branded merchandise.
Donation of sculptures by Zimbabwean Canadian stone sculptor.
Celina Caesar-Chavannes
Donation of 5 copies of her book, Can You Hear Me Now?
Martha Williams
Spinning®, Yoga, Art & Café
Donation of 5-class pack and Spinning®.
Nomusa Mngoma
Dansani Dance Studio vouchers
Black Physicians Association Ontario (BPAO)
Donation of Merchandise
Sickle Cell Awareness Group Ontario (SCAGO)
Donation of Merchandise
Juliane Okot Bitek
Award winning author of A is for Acholi
Donation of autographed book of poems
Yvonne Akpoveta
Donation of Group package
Museum of Health Care, Kingston
Donation of merchandise
List of students enrolled at the time of the 1918 ban
Albion Somersale Chance
Alvinus Calder
Arthur Cornelius Terry-Thompson
Curtis Theopolis Skeete
David Lionel Harriot
Edward Stafford Greaves
Edward Wellesley Reece
Ethelbert Dennison Joseph Bartholomew
Frederick Harvey Alexander
George Phillips Farmer Allen
Hubert Evarist Cicero Cezair
Hugh Gordon Hylvestra Cummins
Noel James Linnington Margetson
Richard Alexander Hutchinson
Odderick Kirkwood Blackett
Charles Augustus Palmer
Frederick Barrington Holder
Simeon Augustus Hayes
Plinth Unveiling Ceremony Photos
A selection of photos from the September 12, 2023 ceremony
