University of Oklahoma Black Student Association: History of BSA

Our Purpose: To serve as the functioning voice of the Black Community, to promote interaction, communication to encourage participation on campus, in community, social and political activities and to ensure academic success.

Our Mission: To maintain an environment conducive to the development of the Black student body.

History of the Black Student Association

In 1969 the Black People’s Union (B.P.U.) was formed in response to blatant racism on campus. Students would no longer stand for professors telling racist jokes in the classroom. Black female students were being assaulted as they came from class, so they also formed an escort service for them. There was no place for Black students to get their hair cut or styled. Other students would shout racial slurs at them. They had to live on the east side on Norman because the west side was off limits. There were no Black employees in Norman; no one would hire the students. Also, there was no social life for African American students on the weekends. Students knew they needed an organization that could serve as a safe haven for them. The main students involved in the starting of the BPU were Oscar Jackson, Sterlin Adams (first powerful president of the B.P.U., but he did not receive his PhD because they would not let him actively participate in the Civil Rights Movement and work on his degree.), Nova Adams, Ron King, and Gwen Hodges. Melvin Tolson, Lenny Marie Townsend, and George Henderson were the Faculty that served as their advisors. On March 6, 1969 the students wrote the Black Declaration of Independence. It was signed by 175 African American students on campus, but at that time only about 150 African American students were enrolled at OU. The students convinced anyone they could regardless of their ethnicity to sign this Declaration of Independence.

Dr. George Henderson & Dr. Melvin Tolson

Students had the courage to challenge administration by taking over the President’s Office, the residence halls and picketing on campus. The students met with President Hollomon to discuss their issues. He was also given the Black Declaration of Independence that had fourteen points that were nonnegotiable. The students asked for all of their requests to be met (i.e. Vice President of Black Student Affairs, scholarships for five years for Black athletes, Black Studies, etc.), but later determined which points they were willing to compromise. This movement changed the campus for forever.

Norris’ first priority was to reorganize the Black People’s Union because it was being run by an “interim executive council,” and they were $4,000 in debt. There was an election held in the spring of 1978 where Lewis Patmon was elected. At that time the BPU hosted only a few events including Show-n-Tell (oldest program in the Black community), S.O.U.L. (Students Organized for Unity and Liberation) Week, and celebrated one week in Black Heritage month. There were five Black greek letter organizations; Alpha Phi Alpha chartered in 1967 (the only organization with a house), Alpha Kappa Alpha chartered in 1976, Kappa Alpha Psi chartered in 1973, Omega Psi Phi chartered in 1972 and Delta Sigma Theta chartered in 1973. During Norris’ first year at OU the inaugural Miss Black University of Oklahoma Pageant was held and students traveled to the first Big 8 Council on Black Student Government (The second conference was held at OU with “Organization: the link between theory and practice” as its theme).

During his tenure Norris implemented many programs including the BPU Mass Gospel Choir and Tomorrow’s Black Sunshine. Tomorrow’s Black Sunshine is a program that brought African American students to campus to listen to notable speakers like Dick Gregory and Nikki Giovanni. He also began the OU Black Student Directory and Ebony Images magazine that highlighted BPU programs and speakers. He encouraged the BPU to get involved with a number of political issues for example divestment from South Africa which encouraged American companies and universities to cut any financial ties to South Africa until they abolished apartheid, the white minority ruling over the Black majority. In addition, he encouraged them to fight for the name change of DeBarr hall, the Chemistry Building that was named after Edwin DeBarr, a leader in the Ku Klux Klan. In the late 80s the students changed the name from the BPU to the Black Student Association because the OU community was getting the name of the organization and the name of the building also called the Black People’s Union confused. With the name change came some resentment from African students that still rings true today. Also during this time many non-greek organizations formed on campus such as the National Society of Black Engineers, the Black Business Association, and National Association of Black Journalists.

In 1989 Norris became the Director of Minority Student Services. He was responsible for all minority groups on campus. He hired the first Coordinator of African American Student Services. Since that time there have been seven people in that position which is now called Coordinator of African American Student Life.

Since its inception in 1967 the Black Student Association has had 27 presidents not including the Interim Executive Council in 1977. They have held Stompdown, a regional step-show with acts from Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, in conjunction with the National Pan-Hellenic Council annually for twenty-four years. The remaining member organizations of the NPHC have since organized on campus making the University of Oklahoma the only Big 12 School to have all nine organizations with active chapters. In 1982 Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc chartered a chapter, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. came in 1983, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. in 1990, and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. in 1997. African American students have made strides in all areas of campus especially student government. There have been five African American University of Oklahoma Student Association Presidents the first being William Moffet in 1970-1971 followed by Terry Carr (not pictured) (1987-1988), T. Jabar Shumate (1997-1998), Brandon Brooks (2001-2002), and Mary Millben (2003-2004).

William Moffet T. _____Jabar Shumate_______ Brandon Brooks______ Mary Millben