Debates on racial issues and matters concerning people of colour, have been prominent in London, Ontario, and across Canada (Bhargava, 2023; Trevithick, 2022; De Guzman, 2022). Southwestern Ontario, a region historically characterized by a predominantly white population, has recently seen a notable increase in its Black community (Statistics Canada, 2016). Despite this demographic shift, little is known about these communities and their unique characteristics, particularly regarding Black youth and their well-being (Fante-Coleman & Jackson-Best, 2020; Hasford, 2016). The concept of race impacts youth identity formation as early as four years old (Gajaria et al., 2021). Identity formation is a transactional process, where self and society are interwoven in context with others (Onnie Rogers et al., 2022). Unfortunately, Black youth face intersecting forms of racism in Canadian society, negatively impacting their mental health (Gajaria et al., 2021; Cénat et al., 2021; Williams et al., 2022). In the media, Black youth are portrayed as violent underachievers, assimilating negative narratives into their racial identity (Hasford, 2016). Canada lacks knowledge of the rich culture of Black communities, which is critical in supporting positive identity for Black youth (Anchua et al., 2018). Semi-structured interviews (25) in London will target Black youth aged 15-25 years old. Building on personal experiences and the unaddressed concerns of many Black youth, I will unpack the persisting barriers perceived by Black SWO youth in their communities, focusing on mental health and identity development. By gathering the evidence needed to implement pro-Black initiatives and policy, I am taking steps towards a future where Black youth can flourish into high achieving members of society.