Fanta Ly

My name is Fanta Ly, I am a proud Black feminist with familial roots hailing from the Futa Tooro (Sénégal) to the Futa Djallon (Guinea). My multicultural upbringing spanning three continents has nurtured my interest in African diasporic livelihoods and the theory and praxis of Black solidarity. My racial reckoning began in 2018 when I moved to Montreal to pursue my studies at McGill Law. The pervasiveness of the Anti-Black Racism I experienced in law school has fundamentally altered my sense of self, belonging, and, most importantly, my aspirations. Learning about Montreal’s Black history marked the beginning of my healing journey and has allowed me to situate my own experience with generations of Black Montrealers longing for that sense of belonging. As an aspiring writer and lawyer, navigating institutional violence has fuelled my desire to pursue an impact-oriented career utilizing my experience and passion for law, policy, and advocacy to improve education law and policy. I am excited to be writing the final chapter, where I explore the continuing strategic mobilization of Black Montrealer’s through the nexus of local and international solidarity.