Demands for Relevant Education and the Rise of the BSU

Black students at the University of Washington rose up in an open rebellion against traditional white middle class standards and a racist curriculum.

Colleges and universities in the US have traditionally been a world exclusively dominated by white America, but the increase of contemporary black students who feel themselves as an extension of their black community have begun to challenge white ideals and demand an education that helps them gain relevant experience to be able to successfully work within the black community. [1]

“ The black studies department would be open to all students and would better prepare them to enter a world which isn’t the white Western European world they think it is, but one composed of 80 percent nonwhites .” [2]

The Rise of the BSU

The establishment of the Black Student Union at the University of Washington in 1967 started a revolution that demanded a relevant education beyond the experiences of the white community.[3] Black students at the UW were fed up with the lack of diversity in the student population, the lack of visibility and inclusion on campus, and the lack of diversity in thought. Professors used material written by predominantly white male authors, eliminating any integration of perspectives from multicultural authors or varying scholarly mediums such as oral histories .[4] In order for their voices to be heard, the BSU wrote a series of letters to UW president Charles Odegaard, outlining their list of demands and stating their larger goals towards greater minority rights. [5]

Unable to produce any tangible results and without a response from Odegaard, BSU members decided to take direct action. On May 20, 1968, members seized an administration building and staged a sit-in to present University President Odegaard with their list of demands.[6] Black students held this sit-in because they wanted more recruitment of minorities, the creation of a black studies curriculum, more black staff, and representation in policy making bodies on campus.[7] Four hours after the sit-in began, Odegaard ended it by pledging to open up conversation with the BSU and committed to a more inclusive recruitment campaign. [8]

This explosion of young voices sparked conversation as to what exactly relevant education entailed. The demand for a black studies program on campus was the beginning of an important conversation surrounding the black perspective. For some, it meant seeing themselves reflected in their curriculum and giving a voice to those who have historically been overlooked and marginalized. For others, it was creating paths to give students of color the opportunity to succeed in higher education. Following the sit-in, new programs, such as the Special Education Program (SEP) and the Office of Minority Affairs (OMA), were established to recruit more students of color and provide counseling, tutoring, and financial support once students were accepted.[9]

Ultimately the creation of the BSU brought attention to the racist environment that existed at the UW despite being located in ‘liberal’ Seattle. The demand for relevant education highlights the lack of diversity of thought within the realm of higher education that deprives students from a wide range of relevant experiences and perspectives. Universities are geared towards middle class white norms, but a radical revolution of thought and a thorough examination of the goals and methods behind higher educations is necessary in order for it to be made relevant for a larger and more diverse group of culturally competent students. [10]

[1] James Turner, "Black Studies: A Concept and A Plan", Cornell Chronicle (Ithica, New York), October 2, 1969.

[2] Fred Olson, “Odegaard Gives Answers to BSU Demands”, UW Daily (Seattle, WA), May 10, 1968.

[3] Kurt Schaefer, “The Black Panther Party in Seattle, 1968-1970”, Seattle Civil Rights & Labor History Project, 2005.

[4] UWTV, “In Pursuit of Social Justice: An Oral History of the Early Years of Diversity Efforts at the University of Washington” (Video)

[5] Marc Robinson, “The Early History of the UW Black Student Union”, Seattle Civil Rights & Labor History Project, 2008.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Fred Olson, “Odegaard Gives Answers to BSU Demands” UW Daily (Seattle, WA), May 10, 1968.

[10] James Turner, "Black Studies: A Concept and A Plan" Cornell Chronicle (Ithica, New York), October 2, 1969.