Black Student Union Demands: A Response to Racially Hostile Campus Climates

Abstract

This paper looks at how college campuses across the globe foster racially hostile climates that negatively impact Black students' college experience both in and outside the classroom. I use Critical Race Theory (CRT) as an analytical framework to examine Black college students demands in response to their experiences with racism on campus. For this thesis, colleges include community colleges, four-year institutions, and universities. In my findings I break down my analysis of the list of Black Student Union (BSU) Demands by looking at how Black college students challenge and respond to a racial climate in both Academic and Student Affairs. The demands symbolize the voices of all those that call for radical transformation. By centering BSU demands, I am making a statement about the importance of student voice, especially for Black students who historically have and continue to be institutionally silenced. This analysis will contribute to the discussions around promoting an inclusive, equitable, and liberatory education for all.