By: Carla Beachem (’20), Staff Writer
By now, we should all know that this year is the Black Student Movement’s 50th anniversary. That means that this year will be used to reflect on BSM and its legacy of dedication to being a voice for the black student population here at the University of North Carolina (1). BSM has put in a lot of work to support the entire black student population here at UNC over its five-decade existence and that deserves to be recognized. BSM has a very rich 50-year history and this is why Black Ink saw it fit to reflect on BSM’s past while celebrating its present by sitting down with BSM’s current President (2), Aaron Epps.
UNC’s Black Student Movement has been responsible for many causes meant to make ‘our campus’ more ours by ensuring that our concerns are heard. Oh, you don’t know about the things that BSM has done since 1967? Lucky for you, Black Ink is here to come through with the BSM 50th Anniversary Fast Facts.
- BSM was founded on November 7th, 1967 and its first President was Preston Dobbins.
- One of BSM’s early moves was made on December 11, 1968 when it delivered the first List of Demands to the then Chancellor, Clyde Sitterson. One of the 23 demands on this list led to the creation of our AAAD studies department at UNC.
- BSM did more than just serve the black student population on campus in its history. In 1969, BSM took action and stood in solidarity with the food workers at UNC when they went on strike against the unfair practices of their supervisors.
- Your favorite campus publication and subgroup of BSM, Black Ink was born in November 1969 as the official newspaper publication of the Black Student Movement.
- BSM stood at the forefront of the efforts to establish the Black Cultural Center at UNC, now known as the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History.
These few things mentioned above don’t encompass even half of the legacy BSM has built over the years. That legacy was the basis of conversation with Aaron Epps, BSM’s current President. Since its founding in 1967, BSM has always kept its service to its members at its core, ensuring that our ideals and concerns are heard and taken seriously. While reflecting on the many accomplishments of BSM over the years, Aaron highlighted BSM’s service to not only its students but its entire community. President Epps holds service close to his own heart which is why he connects best with initiatives and programs like Communiversity. Communiversity Youth Programs is sponsored by the Sonya Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History. This program is centered around educating and empowering the participating youth in the community through mentorship and exposure to African and African-American culture. This year Communiversity is partnering with BSM to tutor and mentor local youth that are “underrepresented, and often underprivileged.” This is the kind of work that BSM was built on and 50 years of that is something worth celebrating.
Keeping with the celebratory time, we asked Aaron what he was looking forward to most this year as BSM turns 50. Without spilling all the tea about what specifically was in store for us this year, Aaron mentioned that he was most looking forward to revisiting our history and our roots saying, “It means something to have a black student organization exist on this campus for fifty years– and it’s important to understand why we came about, what our mission is and has been, and ways we can best connect with that vision and uphold it moving forward.” As we look back on where we’ve come from, Epps also mentioned that this year we can all be grateful (3) for the foundation set in place for us back in 1967 by the founders who provided us with a vision to uphold, as well as all of the students who dedicated themselves to ensuring that BSM would thrive for all these years.
During our discussion, we agreed that BSM definitely has a lot to celebrate this year. However, it doesn’t mean there still isn’t work to be done. When asked about how BSM planned to intertwine celebration with maintaining activism and service, Aaron relied on community as one of the pillars of BSM. In light of the campus climate today with regards to our most recent battles surrounding Silent Sam, Aaron recalled the way we depend and uplift each other as a community.
“We have each other’s back– we make sure one another is okay.”
Aaron mentioned that one of the ways that BSM continues to have our backs this year is by implementing Study Hours for students. Study Hours provide students with the space and support they need to be the best students they can be. In addition to that, BSM has forged a partnership with Beyond Carolina (within Diversity and Inclusion) to expose students to postsecondary opportunities. These are two important initiatives to Aaron because he recognizes that going to school here is more than just being a student. We have to find ways to deal with the campus climate on top of being students while trying to live our lives and prepare for our futures all at once. Aaron says that “BSM should be that safe haven students can retreat to when they need a shoulder to cry on or an ear that will listen,” for when it gets to feel too tough. This all matters because no matter how much we care about the movement, we can’t really move anything if we don’t fulfill our obligations to ourselves personally and professionally.
In an effort to find a way to tie everything together, we asked Aaron in closing what he thinks could be the unofficial-official theme song for BSM this year. His answer was the revered new negro spiritual “We Gon’ Be Alright,” given to us by Kendrick Lamar. Epps felt this song would properly encompass this year’s theme because we understand that we will have daily struggles, but we also know that we will make it through those struggles together. Aaron brings everything full circle saying that “There is power in unity and, especially during times like these, we need to band together.”
With that being said, thank you and congratulations to the Black Student Movement for 50 years of embodying the slogan “Uhuru ni Upinduzi (4).”
We are grateful.
Sources: www.uncbsm.com , UNC Virtual Museum of University History , Sonya Haynes Stone Center Website
1: or the University of National Champions, both are equally accurate.
2: Epps also serves as the President of MY beautiful, black United Negro States of America
3: Said in my DJ Khaled voice
4: Swahili for “Freedom Through Revolution”
