CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — On Feb. 1, UNC-Chapel Hill students, faculty, and community members gathered on the steps of South Building to celebrate the start of Black History Month with their 50th annual Black Community Photo.
The Carolina Black Caucus, the oldest and largest affinity group for African American faculty and staff at UNC-CH, hosted the annual Black Community Photo with over 50 individuals in attendance. The Caucus also celebrated their 50th anniversary at UNC-CH. Trish Harris, chair of the Caucus, said the group’s goal was to bring members from across the Chapel Hill community together to kick off Black History Month with a nice photo.
The Caucus began hosting the annual Black Community Photo in fall of 2018 after members saw a lack of representation in the group’s archival history. Harris said the archive, which is held in Wilson Library, holds photos of the first Black faculty members at UNC-CH and students throughout the years, but very few photos of faculty and staff. Members of the Caucus voted to start the tradition in hopes to represent and uplift underrepresented groups within the Black community on campus. The Caucus focuses on creating a safe space for Black faculty and staff to connect with each other while at UNC-CH.
“The faculty and staff are here, we are the heart and soul of the campus,” Harris said.
Many students and community members were invited to participate in the photo to signify the importance of inclusive representation at the University, Harris said. Paris Miller-Foushee, Caucus and Chapel Hill Town Council member, said the connection the Caucus has made with the community has helped “blur the lines” between the African American community on-campus and off-campus.
“Any kind of solidarity and community that we can continue to build further advances our causes, movements, and overall connections,” Miller-Foushee said.
In 2021, the Caucus participated in many advocacy rallies in response to the Nikole Hannah-Jones controversy. Miller-Foushee said the Caucus was a pivotal part of keeping the African American community and Town of Chapel Hill informed about what was happening on campus. As an elected official, Miller-Foushee’s role at the Caucus is to represent and inform Caucus members of issues at the city-level that may affect the campus.
“The Caucus was a great source for us to tap into to provide support for faculty members during that difficult time,” Miller-Foushee said.
Harris said the Caucus wants to continue providing support for current students of color on campus. The group often collaborates with Black student organizations, like the Black Student Movement, for student outreach and support. During the event, many students said they have not seen as many African Americans on campus as those that showed up on Feb. 1. Many UNC-CH community members of color are spread out and siloed across campus which can make them feel lonely Harris said. Destiny Stewart, a UNC-CH sophomore, said that having community photos helps the younger generation of African American students know that they are not alone.
“It’s the representation that a lot of us need to see so that we know that we are here, there is a place for us here, and we’re happy and succeeding,” Stewart said.
The Caucus hosts many events throughout the year including the annual Umoja ceremony for graduating seniors. The group also holds virtual general body meetings at noon on the second Wednesday of every month. The Caucus plans to host various Black history events and ceremonies throughout the rest of February. Harris said the final Black history event will be a Black history trivia night in the Sonja Haynes Stone Center co-hosted by the Caucus and ten other Black student organizations.
“Representation matters, and we say that loud and proud,” Harris said, “We are Carolina’s Black history, so happy Black History Month.”
