Race Hostilities and Psychosocial Stress Among Black Postsecondary Students in Canada

Black students are underrepresented in postsecondary education in Canada, stagnating in university and college enrolment at a time of upward educational mobility for most racialized youths. Despite their numerical disadvantage, hypervisibility, and elevated risks for psychological distress, the psychosocial experiences of Black postsecondary students remain understudied and poorly understood in Canada. In this study, we addressed this gap using a scoping review methodology to explore the psychosocial experiences of Black postsecondary students in Canada. We conducted a systematic literature search, synthesized findings from 17 studies, and identified three overarching themes on psychosocial wellbeing—anti-Black racism, negative psychosocial outcomes, and navigating race hostilities. Our findings suggest evidence of institutional structures and race relations that are particularly hostile to Black students, affecting both their mental health and academic performance. Amidst campus hostilities, Black students have asserted cultural pride and challenged dominant narratives of “racelessness” and “acting White” as a psychological response to anti-Black racism. We present suggestions for addressing campus anti-Black racism, microaggressions, and psychological distress, including equity-focused structural changes in student and faculty recruitment and retention.