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Black Student Life

Black Student Union, 1972

This photograph documents some of the pioneering students who worked to establish a greater voice on campus for African American students following the Civil Rights Era.

 

Overview

The complex history of Black students at West Chester ranges from the inspirational to the tragic. Minstrel shows, segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, cross burnings, the Black Student Union, affirmative action, and the Black Lives Matter movement are just some of the issues and events to research.

Guiding Questions
  • What are some of the notable achievements of Black students on campus? Of Black Alumni?
  • Have racial tensions on campus flared during particular points during the last 150 years? How were these moments treated by the university?
  • How did students of color strive for greater access and better treatment over time? What particular challenges did they face? Which ones do they continue to face?
  • How have university publications tended to portray Black students, or other students of color?

West Chester University   ---    WCU Libraries  25 West Rosedale Avenue, West Chester, PA 19383  610-430-4400