United College Don Jonny Dodoo Launches “Shades of Black” After Life-Changing Summit

by Davandra Earle, Communications Officer

University of Waterloo student and United College Don Jonny Dodoo returned from the recently held National Black Canadian Summit in Montreal with more than just inspiration — he came back with a vision.

The summit held from January 31 to February 2 and hosted by the Michaëlle Jean Foundation, gathered changemakers from across the country to reflect, connect, and build a more inclusive future. For Jonny, it was a transformational experience that deepened his understanding of Black identity and sparked a new initiative he calls Shades of Black.

“I didn't even know Madame Jean was a former Governor General when I was first introduced to her at the United College Black Students Experience panel we had back in November,” Dodoo said, with a chuckle. “But once I found out, I thought, okay… this is a big deal.”
 

That panel became a launching point, after Madame John invited Jonny and others to the summit in Montreal. Encouraged by his sister and energized by his conversation with Madame Jean, Jonny shared his story and found himself not only seen but supported.

“Talking with Madame Jean just felt so natural,” he said. “I felt comfortable talking about Blackness, or the lack thereof, from my point of view.”

After the panel, Jonny connected with Garth Yarde, another United College resident and master's student, who quickly became a mentor. It was Yarde who encouraged Jonny to submit a proposal for the summit. At first, he hesitated, bogged down by finals and unsure if his ideas would come together. But soon, inspiration struck, spontaneously and often.

“I’d be reading a book, watching a show, or even gaming, and these thoughts would just come out of nowhere: ‘This is how to support Black individuals in Canada,’” he recalled. “Eventually I just started writing everything down.”

Those scribbled fragments, paired with a pivotal meeting with faculty member Jermel Jones, the birthed into Shades of Black — a grassroots movement celebrating the depth and diversity of Black experiences.

“To get Black as a colour, you need every shade — the full gradient,” Jonny explained. “In the same way, to understand Blackness in Canada, we need every individual story.”

He further describes Shades of Black as paradoxical — it exists because someone shared their story with him, which inspired him to share his, which in turn may inspire others. “Just by existing, it proves its own philosophy,” he added.

Jonny’s message took the stage during the summit’s opening ceremony, where he performed alongside spoken word poet Svens Telemaque and artist Nicholas Abraham. Though initially overwhelmed, the trio spent two weeks collaborating on a multimedia performance blending rap, poetry, and live DJing.

“The message was all about loving your Black, loving your colour. It was the biggest stage I’ve ever performed on,” Jonny said.

Their piece, rooted in the Shades of Black ethos, resonated deeply with the audience and became a personal turning point for Jonny.

Now back at United College, Jonny is channeling that energy into a new single. Though not explicitly about Black identity, it focuses on the power of personal stories, a theme he plans to explore more deeply in future music.

“I want to make songs that say, ‘This is what it feels like to be Black in Canada. This is my shade of Black,’” he said.

Ultimately, Jonny hopes his work helps others feel empowered to share their own stories in whatever form that takes.“There’s so much hate in the world because of misunderstanding,” he said. 

“But if we really listened to a song, a poem, a story and thought about where it came from, we’d understand each other better. That’s what I’m working toward.”As Shades of Black continues to evolve, Jonny plans to collaborate with other creatives and educators, particularly to engage youth.

“If we start young, if we make it normal for kids to talk about who they are, how they feel, by the time they’re my age, storytelling will be second nature,” he said. “And we’ll finally begin to see the full gradient of Blackness.”

For Jonny, this is just the beginning, not only of a movement, but of a lifelong commitment to sharing stories that matter.