At Wakefield High School, students can participate in a plethora of clubs that display various cultures around the world. One such club is the Black Student Union (BSU), whose members plan to celebrate African American culture throughout February in honor of Black History Month. Chandra Campbell, advisor for the BSU, is working with the group’s officers to organize something special for Wakefield’s students of color.
“[BSU is] collaborating with the National Achievers Society,” Campbell said. “We are also making announcements [and] planning a family feud during PACK Time, which will share Black History facts.”
BSU also plans on hosting a Black business “pop-up,” photobooths, a block party, a discussion about mental health and a “sisterhood chapter” for African American girls. While this may seem like a lot to undertake at once, Campbell stresses that their dedication to the cause far outweighs the workload.
“We are recognizing the achievements that Blacks and African Americans have made in history and at our school, and that’s important,” Campbell said.
Each event is meant to emphasize Black culture and history and the BSU wants to ensure that everyone feels welcome to participate. That being said, the biggest challenge for them to tackle is how to go about doing that. Senior and president of BSU, Blake Howard, shares how the club intends to cultivate more inclusivity.
“The first thing we always say at BSU is that everyone is welcome, no matter who you are,” Howard said, “we include other cultures and genres too.”
BSU’s conscious decision to involve those of other ethnic backgrounds has directly impacted the Wakefield community; the group’s authenticity and passion for culture in general recognizes all aspects of the Black experience. Jami Ward, junior and vice president of the BSU, elaborates on this diversity.
“I think it’s important to recognize that even though we are all Black, all of our experiences differ because we [each] originate from various parts of the diaspora,” Ward said. “Some members are African American like myself, while others are Caribbean, Afro-Latina, Afro-Asian or African. In fact, we have an African Student Association within our community in an effort to connect with all parts of the Black experience.”
Ward’s observation highlights the rich diversity within the Black community and is evident in the experiences of BSU’s club members. Josiane Mvula, a student here at Wakefield, shares how her own journey — influenced by being Congolese — has allowed her to relate and learn from others within BSU.
“[BSU has] helped me connect with like-minded Black individuals,” Mvula said. “Sometimes I get too busy to have recreational time, but these meetings help me destress and talk with new people.”
Although one may look past the significance of the club, BSU is contributing to the large range of cultures here in America. Many students recognize that every person has a unique experience they can bring to the table.
“Black history is American history,” Ward said. “I think that’s a really big part of Black History Month [because] if you know where you come from, then you know where you’re going.”
