Mission Statement

We, the members of the Black Student Movement, embrace a culture distinct from the dominant culture found at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In view of this fact, it is the goal of this organization to strive for the continued existence of the unity among all its members, to voice the concerns and grievances of its members to the University, to offer outlets for expressing Black ideals and culture, and finally, to ensure that the Black Student Movement members never lose contact with the Black community.

The History of the BSM

The Black Student Movement was established on November 7th, 1967 because of the slow growth of the black population on campus and black student dissatisfaction with the NAACP chapter on-campus. Preston Dobbins served as the first president of the organization. It was from this beginning that the Black Student Movement began to take its position as being the leading voice for black students at UNC-Chapel Hill. The ensuing year became yet another momentous one for black students on the campus because it was within this period that the Dixon Resolution and the Phipps Committee were established. The Dixon Resolution, written by Professor John Dixon, requested that the Chancellor appoint a five-person committee to generate recommendations for the faculty to help improve the academic climate among black students. It was the Phillips Committee, led by Professor Dickson Phillips, which recommended an eight-step plan to improve the intellectual climate and remove educational disabilities based on the race of black students on campus and those to come. On December 11, 1968, the Black Student Movement presented a list of 23 demands to Chancellor Sitterson for improvements that they wished to see implemented. It was because of this list that many of the programs and curricula in place at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were established. On November 14, 1998 to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Black Student Movement, students rallied in support of the Housekeeper and Groundskeeper Struggle, and presented Chancellor Michael Hooker with a list of 23 new demands.

The Black Student Movement has been active in many of the historical events that have taken place at the University, most notably as a voice for the struggle of a freestanding Black Cultural Center. The Black Student Movement has also been a great contributor to the cultural climate at the University of North Carolina, making the organization familiar with several other cultural organizations. Former leaders of the Black Student Movement saw fit for there to be outlets available for black students to be creative and share the many talents they possess. From this idea, subgroups of the Black Student Movement were formed. They include UNC Gospel Choir, Opeyo! Dance Company, Ebony Readers/Onyx Theater, Black Ink Magazine, and Harmonyx A Capella Group.

As one of the largest student organizations, the Black Student Movement is proud of a large annual membership of students from several different backgrounds. The Black Student Movement holds general body meetings every Wednesday at 5:30 PM in Upendo Lounge. Upendo used to be part of Chase Dining Hall, which was the historical location of the Black Student Movement during the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Past Presidents AND MR./MS. BSM of the Black Student MovemenT

An Overlooked History

African American studies was born from the struggles of black students and staff on campus in the 1960s

BY JORDAN BAILEY

in March 3, 1969, members of the Black Student Movement and other UNC students entered Lenoir Dining Hall, where employees were in the midst of a month-long strike, with the intention of slowing down service. In a first attempt, they sat one to a table with just a glass of water at each. But when that didn’t garner sufficient attention from university officials, the group returned the next day with a more volatile tactic in mind.

BSM leader Preston Dobbins and several other students stood at one end of Lenoir, announcing that everyone should either “Get out or come with us.” The group then moved through the room shouting, overturning tables, throwing chairs and inciting a few scuffles that resulted in minor injuries. One student was hit in the head with a sugar shaker and required almost 15 stitches.

The Lenoir food workers’ strike was coming to a head...  

Full Story At: https://synapse.atavist.com/aaadhistory