This February represents not only the 30th anniversary of Canada’s official recognition of Black History Month, but also McGill’s ninth official campus-wide celebration. On February 12th, McGill’s Desautels Faculty of Management welcomed students, staff, alumni, and Montreal’s general community to celebrate this milestone at a keynote event featuring guest speaker Sabaa Quao.
The evening opened with remarks from Orlane Donkpêgan Dopinos, President of the Black Students Network, whose words grounded the celebration in institutional history: McGill as we know it is the result of the unpaid labour of Black and Indigenous peoples. Black presence at McGill is not a gift but the result of generations of struggle and insistence on belonging. As Orlane said, “while Black leadership has often been born out of necessity rather than privilege, it remains a powerful force on this campus.” Elder Ka’nahsohon (Kevin) Deer followed, reminding the audience that progress requires cooperation, reciprocity, and a shared commitment to future generations. Other speakers, including Provost Angela Campbell, Senator Suze Youance, and Dean Yolande E. Chan reinforced the evening’s overarching themes of reflection and responsibility. Together, their remarks highlighted both the progress that has been made as well as the sustained commitment required to advance equity beyond simple symbolic recognition.
Sabaa Quao – Concordia graduate, creative leader, business strategist, and mentor to many – took the stage with a message rooted in disruption. Disruption, he explained, is not just chaos. It’s a catalyst, a force that creates instability, yes, but also opportunity. As he explained, periods of uncertainty and instability are often disguised opportunities through which one can make meaningful change. “The world doesn’t have to be ready and willing to hear us out,” he noted, underscoring the importance of not being afraid to make waves, because waves signal a shifting tide. Quao inverted the familiar notion of “two steps forward, one step back” and instead proposed the idea that sometimes we must take a step back in order to move two steps forward. That step back is not regression, it’s reflection. Throughout his talk, the audience was challenged to reflect and consider how we construct the narratives, systems, and truth we live by, and how examining them can open space for reinvention.
By the end of the evening, what lingered in the room was not only inspiration, but perspective. Taking a step back, slowing down, and reflecting is not a weakness, it’s wisdom. And in a time where instability seems to be the only constant, reflection might just be the most radical action we can take.
One step back. Two steps forward.
