#BlackStudentUnionsMatter

#BlackStudentUnionsMatter

Attending a Predominately White Institution with no Black Student Union is, for me, a culture shock. As an out-of-state student, I walked on campus looking for that one organization I was familiar with. I wanted a home away from home.
BSUs started in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Originally known as the Negro Student Union, people of color confronted racial injustice/inequalities. They addressed political and civil rights issues both on and off campus. Simply put, a voice for the black community.
Why doesn’t ULM have a BSU? I don’t know. I’m sure the issues of money, members and value will come into question.
Money isn’t the issue. There are local business and donors that would love for the organization to flourish. As long as there’s an empty lot and cars to wash, there will always be funding.
Yes, there are black Greek organizations (exclusive). There is also a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People chapter here. The NAACP’s purpose is “to provide young people with personal and leadership development training, proactive political and community activism, and public awareness of the necessity of positive youth engagement.”
But like any organization, they serve their own purpose. Being able to join an organization where you can instantly lock eyes with someone else and say “What’s good fam?” is an indescribable feeling.
A black student union at ULM would offer students an identity. It would promote unity among black students on campus and encourage academic achievement. But, anyone can join. You don’t have to be black. Joining would give others an understanding of who the black community is at ULM. It would be a place to socialize, make friends and grow.
It’s hard being a minority student within a large educational, social environment. That feeling of sitting in a classroom where you make up only 22 percent makes you feel darker than you really are.
Authors of “How to Succeed on a Majority Campus: A Guide for Minority Students” write, “Involvement in organizations such as these have a positive influence on students of color… In addition to finding a supportive community in these groups, [students] can band together to promote change on college campuses.”
ULM would also benefit from having a black student union on campus. A BSU would provide networking opportunities with influential leaders and serve marketing purposes. It would attract more minorities, which would increase enrollment. Keyword here is diversity.
I am a black female, and I wear my natural hair proudly. These three things attract lingering stares, rude comments and macroaggression. It can be overwhelming sometimes, and it would be nice to be a part of an organization where others share the same experience.
Of course, there will be students who feel “if there’s a Black Student Union, there should be a White Student Union.” Students at the University of California tried that.
They started a Facebook page, and it automatically created backlash. They called it “a ‘safe space’ for white students to voice their opinions and stories regarding the ‘challenges’ that European-American students on college campuses face.”
The difference here is they are again excluding others from joining. What are you discussing that others can’t hear about? Minorities have endured the harshest discrimination in this country. Minorities need a place to be unified and supported.
Solution: Start a black student union.