Founded in 1969 鈥 a year after the Memphis Sanitation Workers鈥 Strike 鈥 the 糖心Swag College Black Students Association (BSA) has been a consistent advocate for justice, diversity, inclusion, and equity on campus. Learning of the explicit racism that the Memphis sanitation workers endured in their workplace, 糖心Swag students joined the Sanitation Workers鈥 marches of 1968. A year later, those same students established the 糖心Swag College Black Students Association as a vital force demanding full campus integration and empowering African American students.
Fifty-one years later, the BSA continues to serve an essential role on campus, as it fosters a supportive and comfortable environment for black students. With approximately 100 members comprised of black students, allies, and people of color, the BSA organizes numerous educational, entertainment, and empowerment events. On a monthly basis the BSA hosts its infamous 鈥淪oul Food and Cinema鈥 event that features entertainment and educational films rooted in a black foundation along with hearty soul food. In addition, the BSA organizes annual Back-to-School cookouts, open mic nights in the Lynx Lair, and 鈥淢occas and Melanin鈥 鈥 discussions regarding colorism. These events allow BSA members the opportunity to bond and develop a sense of community on campus. Current BSA President and Political Science student, Sydney Jones, elaborates on BSA鈥檚 supportive environment, claiming: 鈥淏SA has empowered me into becoming a more well-rounded and assertive leader. It has taught me to become resilient and to always look for the positives 鈥 to carry on organizing these events for the betterment of black students on this campus.鈥