The Black Student Union: A History of Activism and Advocacy
The Black Student Union (BSU) has played a pivotal role in shaping the college experience for Black students since its emergence in the 1960s. These organizations began as a response to racial discrimination and have evolved to address issues such as police brutality and campus safety for students of color. Today, BSUs continue to drive change in higher education, offering a sense of belonging, cultural affirmation, and a platform for activism.
Origins and Early Years
In the turbulent 1960s, the United States grappled with the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and escalating civil rights tensions. This period was marked by acrimony and hostility, with violence punctuating the struggle for change. Seattle, like the rest of the nation, felt the pressures of this era, particularly as the Civil Rights movement gained momentum.
Seattle's African-American community, experiencing the same frustrations as their counterparts nationwide, found themselves increasingly dissatisfied with the established leadership of the Civil Rights movement. Organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Southern Christian Leadership Coalition (SCLC) were criticized by younger activists for being elitist, dominated by highly educated individuals, and slow to enact meaningful change.
A pivotal moment occurred on April 19, 1967, when Stokely Carmichael, former chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and a leading advocate of "Black Power," visited Seattle. His speeches at Garfield High School and the University of Washington (UW) ignited a spark in young Black Seattleites, inspiring them with the philosophy of Black Power, which emphasized African-American self-help.
Several Black UW students who would later become founding members of the BSU were present at Carmichael's speech. E.J. Brisker and Eddie Demming, among others, credited Carmichael with catalyzing their activism. Demming stated, "[Carmichael] had something we could identify with. He told us that things could no longer stay the same."
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By the fall of 1967, a group of politically conscious and motivated Black students at UW sought an organizational base. The only existing Black student organization on campus was the Afro-American Student Society.
The Birth of the Black Student Union at UW
A key turning point in BSU history came in November 1967 when a group of African-American students traveled to Los Angeles, California, to attend a Black Youth Conference. Organized by Professor Harry Edwards of San Jose State University, the conference brought together two hundred participants representing various political philosophies, including Black Nationalists, Black socialists, Black Panthers, and United Slaves (US). The primary mission of these Black Student Unions was to address the needs of Black students on university campuses, initiate community service projects, and organize BSUs in high schools and junior high schools.
Inspired and informed, these students returned to UW with a renewed sense of purpose. In the first weeks of the 1968 winter quarter, the Afro-American Student Society merged with the Seattle chapter of SNCC to create the UW Black Student Union.
Core Principles and Early Actions
Two fundamental characteristics defined the BSU from its inception. First, it embraced a multicultural approach. While centered on Black interests, the BSU welcomed members of other ethnic groups and advocated for their rights as well. Second, the BSU adopted a militant stance, prepared to take direct action if cooperation with the University administration proved unproductive.
Initially, the BSU sought to collaborate with the University administration to implement change. They drafted a letter to UW President Charles Odegaard, calling for:
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- More Black professors, counselors, and teaching assistants.
- Classes in Afro-American History, Culture, and Literature.
- Offerings of African language courses.
- A university program to encourage Black students to graduate.
- Positive steps to eliminate racism in the athletic department, sorority and fraternity system, housing, and employment.
- The University to take a leadership role in improving conditions in the Black community.
The BSU emphasized the urgency of their demands, stating, "We feel the University of a thousand years does not need another thousand to determine action on these proposals."
In this early stage, the UW BSU also worked to establish BSUs in local high schools and middle schools in Seattle's predominantly Black central and south districts, including Cleveland, Franklin, Garfield, and Rainier Beach high schools, as well as Asa Mercer, Meany, Sharples, and Washington junior high schools.
Escalation and Direct Action
In the spring of 1968, a series of events propelled the BSU toward more aggressive action. The details surrounding a specific demonstration remain unclear, but it is evident that Franklin High School, in particular, faced significant racial issues.
Following a protest, several BSU members, including Dixon, Gossett, Miller, and Flavors, were arrested. While incarcerated, they learned of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968. King's death deeply impacted the Black community in Seattle and across the country. Despite criticizing King's approach, even young activists mourned his loss.
The night of King's murder, Black communities nationwide erupted in riots, arson, and violence. Although Seattle did not experience major disturbances, emotions ran high. Many Black youth were angered by the judge's refusal to lower the unusually high bail for the Franklin protest leaders.
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The following day, April 5, all of the arrested Franklin protest participants were released. Soon after, Dixon, Gossett, Miller, and others traveled to San Francisco for a second Western Black Youth Conference, where they encountered another tense situation.
Two days after King's assassination, the Oakland police raided the headquarters of the Oakland Black Panther Party, an outspoken advocate of Black Power known for patrolling Black neighborhoods to protect African-Americans from police violence and providing free breakfast to poor school children. This event dominated the conference, and Bobby Seale, chairman of the Black Panther Party, delivered a powerful call to action.
Inspired by Seale's speech and the funeral of Bobby Hutton, UW BSU members founded the Seattle chapter of the Black Panther Party within two weeks of the conference, marking the first chapter outside of California. On April 14, 1968, Seale met with local activists, many of whom were active in the UW BSU and the Franklin High protest.
Demands and Confrontations
By May 1968, the BSU believed the time had come to assert their demands more forcefully. On May 6, 1968, they drafted a second letter to President Odegaard, outlining a list of demands:
- Shared Decision-Making: The BSU demanded that all decisions, plans, and programs affecting the lives of Black students be made in consultation with the Black Student Union, reflecting a desire to challenge the historical control of whites over non-whites.
- Financial Resources and Support: The BSU requested the financial resources and aids necessary to recruit and tutor non-white students, emphasizing the importance of diversity in education.
- Black Studies Program: The BSU demanded the establishment of a Black Studies Planning Committee under the direction and control of the Black Student Union, highlighting the need for an objective view of Black history and culture within the university structure.
- Recruitment of Black Faculty and Administrators: The BSU sought to work closely with the administration and faculty to recruit Black teachers and administrators.
- Black Representation in the Music Faculty: The BSU specifically requested the hiring of Joe Brazil and Byron Pope, accomplished musicians who could contribute to the music department.
In the letter, the BSU reiterated its goals of greater minority enrollment, a Black Studies program, and the recruitment of more Black faculty and administrators.
President Odegaard responded with a letter expressing support for many of the BSU's ideas and a willingness to cooperate. On May 10, representatives of the BSU and the University Administration met to discuss the proposals. The outcome of this meeting was described as "encouraging," with Odegaard giving preliminary agreement to the BSU's suggestions. However, the availability of University funds to support the BSU's recruitment goals and other initiatives remained a key issue.
The BSU wanted some of its members to be hired as University employees and work recruiting from communities of color. A follow-up meeting was set for BSU members to meet representatives of various departments to discuss curriculum for a Black Studies Program. However, funding issues also hampered this initiative, as the BSU wanted to bring in experts from California to help create the department.
During the meeting, 300 BSU sympathizers gathered outside the Administration building, holding a rally where many white students voiced their support for the BSU demands, especially the creation of a Black Studies program.
However, a week later, the BSU was disappointed to find that their efforts had not yet produced tangible results. With the school year coming to a close, many BSU members felt this was an unacceptable situation. On May 16, the BSU drafted a bold letter and sent it to President Odegaard, giving a deadline of noon the next day for a pledge of money.
Odegaard ignored both the phone call and the letter, allowing the deadline to pass without any statements. The BSU then decided to take its demands to Washington Gov. Dan Evans, who happened to be on campus. After negotiating with University officials, E.J. Brisker was allowed to hand the letter of demands to Governor Evans.
On May 20, a large group of BSU members and their supporters entered Odegaardâs office suite, intending to remain there until their demands were met.
The Black Campus Movement
The activism of the BSU at UW was part of a larger phenomenon known as the Black Campus Movement. This movement saw the rise of Black Student Unions across the United States, advocating for changes on college campuses during the Black Power movement.
The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which mandated a census of all postsecondary education institutions and prohibited federal funding to institutions that did not meet equal opportunity requirements, played a significant role in this movement. The census revealed the low number of Black students attending predominantly white colleges and universities.
The subsequent Higher Education Act of 1965 expanded financial aid to students seeking higher education, benefiting Black students more than any other group. Affirmative action programs at the campus level also contributed to increased Black enrollment at many colleges.
However, the admission of greater numbers of Black students did not equate to social acceptance. Racial hostility toward Black students was common, with white students and professors often challenging their intellectual abilities and their right to attend college.
In this environment, Black Student Unions provided a vital support system and a platform for advocating for change.
Evolution and Continued Relevance
The first Black Student Union was founded in 1966 at San Francisco State University. The concept spread north to the University of Washington, where a Black Student Union was founded in 1967.
While the logistics of Black student unions may differ between colleges, their core mission remains the same: to unify Black people on campuses by offering a diverse array of cultural, informational, social, and academic events.
These organizations can have a positive impact on a studentâs identity development and academic success, providing a supportive community where Black students can bond over a shared cultural identity and campus experience.
Currently, on many college campuses, Black student unions have evolved from primarily activist or political organizations to more social organizations, focusing on creating and supporting peer culture and socialization.
However, with increased national publicity on the killings of Black and brown people, racial injustice has become increasingly important to college students in recent years. Black student unions across the nation are taking a more active role in speaking out against police brutality and advocating for reforms on college campuses, including increasing campus diversity and hiring more Black faculty and staff.
They have also organized food and clothing drives and other services within their local communities.
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