{"id":191881,"date":"2024-02-13T15:09:07","date_gmt":"2024-02-14T01:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=191881"},"modified":"2024-02-13T15:12:56","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T01:12:56","slug":"uplifting-the-black-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/02\/13\/uplifting-the-black-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Uplifting the Black community at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Sister Circle at M\u0101noa and Graduate Professional Access collaborate on the first Alice Ball Remembrance Walk.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The history of organized student representation for Black students goes back about 50 years at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa. The first Black Student Union was organized in the 1970s under the leadership of Kathryn Takara<\/a>, a poet, researcher, and one of the earlier Black woman professors on campus. Later, Power 96 was established, named after the number of African American students attending UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa at the time. <\/p>\n

Related: UH<\/abbr> celebrates Black History Month<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Today, the Black Student Association<\/a> (BSA<\/abbr>) and the Sister Circle at M\u0101noa<\/a>, like their predecessors, are continuing to foster unity, resilience and empowerment for the voices and experiences of the Black community at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa. There are currently 343 students or 1.8% of the student body who identify as African American or Black<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Black Student Association<\/h2>\n

Established in 2016, BSA<\/abbr> boasts a membership of 50, and takes pride in a successful record of advocacy and achievement. <\/p>\n

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Fall 2023 graduates at the Alice Augusta Ball Graduation Ceremony.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“BSA<\/abbr>‘s dedication to academic and social success is encapsulated in our multifaceted goals,” said founding member and current graduate advisor LaJoya Shelly, who earned a master’s of education in educational administration-higher education in 2017.<\/p>\n

These goals include supporting the enrollment, retention and graduation of African diaspora students; increasing awareness of Black-centric issues, history and culture; promoting unity among African diaspora students; protecting the intersectional civil rights of this community; and advocating for the preservation of Black studies.<\/p>\n

Among the organization’s impactful highlights include: <\/p>\n