“It took many years of vomiting up all the filth I’d been taught about myself, and half-believed, before I was able to walk on this earth as though I had a right to be here,” Writer / Activist James Baldwin, said.
Believe it or not, he was not the first or the last person to feel this way. Baldwin and TCHS senior Atarah Dorsett share one thing in common, their passion for supporting the Black Community.
“I joined Black Student union because I was mad.” Dorsett said. “I have been mad since I moved out here. At Christmas time there were decorations flowing and everything like that, but for Black History month, there was nothing.”
Dorsett took her irritation and channeled it into action at TCHS.
“They were not talking about it, there were no signs, no announcements, not even Martin Luther King. I was mad. So that’s when I started going on announcements and doing Black History facts every single day.” Dorsett said.
The Colony History teacher Alisa Weal emphasized the importance of acceptance in the black community giving perspective to the true importance of BSU at TCHS.
“There were many times that I questioned my own blackness. I questioned if I was really black, and there were times when I didn’t feel accepted. When I moved to the States, I found my own group of people. It was the Black community that made me feel accepted.”
Weal has not been the only person to understand the importance of community, so has ESL teacher Dr. Hugh Jenkins.
“Black History is American History, and we have to educate our kids. It takes a village to raise a child, so we have to educate our kids. We have to teach these kids so that they can be proud of the community, and then they’ll pass that down.” Jenkins stated.
Weal expressed similar notions about pride in the Black community.
“Being able to feel accepted amongst people who look like you and share similar experiences with you is very uplifting. It is important that these students build that pride so they aren’t broken when they’re being tried in the real world,” Weal explained.
Dorsett voiced similar opinions on the significance of being understood and accepted.
“Black Student Union is a space where you can rise above with your own. You can do community service with your people, you can volunteer with your people, and do good things with your people. You can talk about your problems and get an automatic ‘yeah, girl. I understand,’” Dorsett expressed.
BSU is an inclusive space for everybody.
“A lot of people hear about Black Student Union and think only Black people can go. That’s not what it’s about…it’s not just for Black people. If you come and you’re willing to learn, understand, and relate, then it’s for you. It’s for anybody.” Dorsett said.
BSU carries numerous misconceptions that they are working to dispel.
“Many believe that they’re trying to push white people out, no, we’re just trying to figure out our own community. So that we can integrate into society and create an equal society for everyone.” Weal said.
BSU prioritizes unity over separation. This is an organization committed to providing community for students regardless of race, class, or creed. The union educates students regardless of race on Black history, Black heritage, and strives to connect people heedless of background.
At times it seems as if the cards will always be stacked against progress. However, time will march forward anyways, so we must build things that will last for every child, every man and every human – this same message is clear and transparent within The Colony’s own BSU program.
