Duke University. Black Student Alliance

The Black Student Alliance is an organization representing the interests of the Black undergraduate students of Duke University.

From the description of Black Student Alliance records, 1969-1998 (bulk 1996-1998). (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 53906266

The Afro-American Society (now the Black Student Alliance) was established at Duke University in 1967, four years after the first Black undergraduates were admitted. The Afro-American Society was a social and activist group created to support students as they dealt with the challenges of Black life at a previously segregated institution.

The Afro-American Society's first political statement was made at the Hope Valley Study-In on November 13, 1967. Thirty-five members of the Afro-American Society staged a day long study-in protest in the lobby of President Knight's office. The study-in denounced the use of segregated facilities by University organizations and the membership of key University officers, including President Knight, in the segregated Hope Valley Country Club. The 1960s continued to be a turbulent time for race relations at Duke University. On February 13, 1969, Afro-American Society students led a Black student takeover of the Allen Building to spark University action on the concerns of Black students. The Allen Building takeover brought attention to issues such as establishment of an Afro-American studies program, a Black cultural center, and increasing the number of Black faculty and students.

In 1971, the Afro-American Society was renamed the Association of African Students (The Association). In 1976, the Association assumed its present title, the Black Student Alliance (BSA). The Black Student Alliance continued to provide a cultural base for Black students at the University, growing into a major student organization on campus.

In the 1980s, when Black enrollment began to decrease, the Black Student Alliance joined forces with the Undergraduate Admissions Office to make Black recruitment a primary goal. The Black Student Alliance Invitational Weekend, held each spring, allows prospective students to visit the campus and get to know the Duke experience from a Black perspective. The Reggie Howard Memorial Scholarship honors the first Black student government president, who served during 1976. This scholarship is offered to freshman students who demonstrate academic achievement and leadership potential.

Some of the publications of the Black Student Alliance are Revelations, The Talking Drum, and The Grapevine . The Black Student Alliance also coordinates events for Duke University Black Alumni. As of 2012, the Black Student Alliance is active at Duke University.

From the guide to the Black Student Alliance records, ., 1969-2006, (University Archives, Duke University.)