About

Co-Founders of The Black Academy, Shamier Anderson and Stephan James.

We serve as a vital platform, amplifying the voices of Black Canadians.

The Black Academy is a national, year-round Canadian organization that operates at the intersection of Black popular culture and social justice. The goals of The Black Academy are to showcase Black excellence and to share those achievements with all of Canada; to establish new spaces for Black Canadians to celebrate and network; and to kickstart careers through training and knowledge-sharing.

Across all our initiatives, we inspire young people and generations to come. Co-founded by actors, producers, and Scarboroughborn brothers Shamier Anderson and Stephan James, The Black Academy is born out of a longstanding commitment to their community and is dedicated to dismantling systemic racism in Canada.

Established in 2020, The Black Academy is based in Toronto and is a division of the not-for-profit B.L.A.C.K Canada.

The Black Academy’s mission is supported and upheld by our three core pillars:

Celebrate.

Celebrate.

We celebrate established and emerging Black talent within our communities and share our successes across the nation, giving Black Canadians their flowers in their lifetime.

Connect.

Connect.

We create spaces for Black Canadians to gather, network, share knowledge, and celebrate, igniting new connections and fresh ideas. We strengthen the bonds that bind our communities.

Educate.

Educate.

We light pathways to new career opportunities for Black Canadians through knowledge-sharing and training programs. Knowledge is power.

Community Partners

  • Advance Music
  • All Blk Market
  • BIPOC TV Film
  • Black Designers of Canada
  • Black Execs
  • Black Mens Style
  • Black Screen Office
  • BlackNorth Initiative
  • CEE Toronto
  • For Boys & Girl Club
  • Hungry Eyes Media
  • LOFT Entertainment
  • Massey Hall x Justice Fund
  • Nia Centre
  • ReelWorld
  • Remix
  • Scarborough Shooting Stars
  • The Canadian Academy
  • The Well Connected
  • Tik Tok
  • Toronto Public Housing
  • UTSC
The Black Academy Founder, Shamier Anderson with Monologue Slam students at Wexford Collegiate in Toronto, ON. The Black Academy Co-Founders, Shamier Anderson and Stephan James at a panel during TIFF. The Black Academy hosts the Canadian premiere of Wakanda Forever. The Black Academy Co-Founders, Shamier Anderson and Stephan James with Monologue Slam students and RBC representatives attending a Toronto Raptors Basketball game. The Black Academy Co-Founder, Shamier Anderson speaking with the Monologue Slam participants at Wexford Collegiate in Toronto. The Black Academy hosts the Canadian premiere of Wakanda Forever.

We acknowledge the land we are meeting on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.