MAYOWA AINA
#BlackLivesMatter
" The purpose of the University of Washington Black Student Union is to establish a cohesive union between Black students, Black faculty, other Black organizations and the UW community at large. BSU exists to enhance cultural and political awareness, sponsor social events, and provide support for the students and the community" (UW Seattle Black Student Union Constitution)
The Black Student Union at the University of Washington, in accordance with its political legacy, advocates on behalf of black students at the university and in the Seattle community, seeks to build community, and empower black students in their higher education experience. Since joining the organization I have served as the Webmaster, Historian, and currently the Vice President of Communications and now President. In addition to providing me with critical organizational skills, the BSU has been instrumental in providing me with a social education about myself and my history, bringing about my identity as a social justice advocate and allowing me to be more comfortable with radical ideas.
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Self-Understanding...
Being a member of the Black Student Union has significantly helped my personal growth and confidence since being at the university. There are unique trials and issues that I face as a black woman on campus and the BSU has not only provided a safe space for me express my feelings on particular subjects but it has helped me learn not to be apologetic about those feelings. As a direct result of my involvement in the BSU I have discovered that I have a passion for personal social historical education (I think that everyone should have the opportunity to learn about themselves and the whole history of their people, whether it be good or bad), and using my position to advocate on behalf of people who are unable to advocate for themselves. Our recently retired BSU advisor Emile Pitre was instrumental in helping me cultivate these personal values. As a founder of the BSU, Emile constantly reminds me of the history of the BSU, what black students have had to go through to be on this campus, and the responsibility we have as current students to create real tangible change. It’s become increasingly important for me to be able to give back to my community and I take personal responsibility in making the pathway a little bit easier for people coming behind me.
Empowerment...
The focus on teaching each others about the black experience and giving each other the vocabulary to name our thoughts and feelings is extremely empowering and crucial to group development. Each week the leadership hosts discussion around such events as the murders of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, the idea of double-consciousness, the school-to-prison pipeline, the demonization of black men and hypersexualization/monsterization of black women in the media. Through these discussions students of color are able to give their thoughts and opinions on these subjects and feel like people are actually listening. Personally, it can feel like people of other communities are not interested in these topics or my opinion on these topics so being able to have an outlet for discussion and learning around these issues is both comforting and empowering. We, as members, really trust each other and want to learn from each other
Additionally, being able to put on events and projects that build community such as providing free screenings of movies, events that open up challenging conversations such as our annual ‘Meet a Black Person’ booth outside of the Husky Union Building, protests, and events that work towards social justice, such as our annual Legacy Soiree that is used to raise money for a scholarship endowment fund are all pieces of evidence that prove to me that our potential impact could be very significant and possibilities are endless.
Social Justice...
When I was first introduced to the phrase “social justice”, I was extremely intimidated by it. The person I had learned it from explained it as working towards an ideal that we will probably never be able to reach, but that notion in and of itself doesn’t keep us from reaching. And at first it seemed futile to try to achieve an ideal that you knew would never be able to reach achieve but the more that I learned about injustices against people of color and women around the world, the more compelled I was to bringing out my inner social justice advocate. The issue of systemic or institutional discrimination is something that will not go away easily, but that does not mean that we shouldn’t continue to fight against. In light of Trayvon Martin, Eric Gardner, Mike Brown, and the countless others that have become martyrs for this cause, it is my duty and responsibility to fight for justice anywhere it can be gained and not accept anything less than I deserve. The idea of social justice now underlies all of my activities from my involvement in band to my coursework. I have a heightened sense of my social location and use that in every part of my life to remain authentic and unapologetic about something that I can’t change (my blackness) and makes me who I am!