Harvard Black Students Association

The Harvard-Radcliffe Black Students Association, also known as the BSA, was established during the 1976-1977 academic year, in response to a call to protest an article in the Harvard Lampoon. Replacing the then-defunct Association of African and Afro-American Students at Harvard and Radcliffe (AFRO), the BSA aimed to present the black student perspective on minority issues at Harvard, such as affirmative action and the development of Harvard's Afro-American Studies Department. As a deliberate contrast to AFRO and as an attempt to re-ignite student interest, the BSA was founded with no specific political or philosophical frame of reference. By 1985, however, the BSA had become an umbrella group for all black student organizations and its activities primarily political. The BSA gradually took over that coordinating role from the Harvard-Radcliffe Afro-American Cultural Center, which was established in 1969 and defunct by the mid-1980s. As of 2007, the BSA strives to establish and promote interaction between black students at Harvard College, as well as to encourage interaction among all members of the Harvard community and facilitate dialogue between the Harvard, Cambridge and Boston communities. The ultimate goal of the Association is to provide a forum for the open expression of the political, social, and cultural views of black students. To this end, it provides a variety of political, cultural, and social programs and services to its membership and the black community at Harvard.

From the description of Records of the Harvard Black Students Association, 1977-2005 and undated. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 214313885

The Black Students Association was established in 1976 in response to an article in the Harvard Lampoon. The first president was Tony Chase, A.B. 1977. By 1985, the BSA had become an umbrella group for all black student organizations and its activities primarily political.

From the description of General information by and about the Black Students Association, ca. 1976- (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 77063826

The Harvard-Radcliffe Black Students Association, also known as the BSA, was established during the 1976-1977 academic year, in response to a call to protest an article in the Harvard Lampoon. Replacing the then-defunct Association of African and Afro-American Students at Harvard and Radcliffe (AFRO), the BSA aimed to present the black student perspective on minority issues at Harvard, such as affirmative action and the development of Harvard's Afro-American Studies Department. As a deliberate contrast to AFRO and as an attempt to re-ignite student interest, the BSA was founded with no specific political or philosophical frame of reference. By 1985, however, the BSA had become an umbrella group for all black student organizations and its activities primarily political. The BSA gradually took over that coordinating role from the Harvard-Radcliffe Afro-American Cultural Center, which was established in 1969 and defunct by the mid-1980s.

As of 2007, the BSA strives to establish and promote interaction between black students at Harvard College, as well as to encourage interaction among all members of the Harvard community and facilitate dialogue between the Harvard, Cambridge and Boston communities. The ultimate goal of the Association is to provide a forum for the open expression of the political, social, and cultural views of black students. To this end, it provides a variety of political, cultural, and social programs and services to its membership and the black community at Harvard. In 2003, the BSA published the first Black Guide to Life at Harvard.

From the guide to the Records of the Harvard Black Students Association, and undated, 1977-2005, (Harvard University Archives)