In room B-4126, students come together and learn the importance of black culture. This club is the Black Student Union (BSU). During the BSU meetings, students celebrate traditions and learn valuable information about African American culture. This club provides a space for students to gain further knowledge about black culture, history and achievements. Although the club emphasizes black culture, it is not only for African American students; the club invites people of all ethnicities and backgrounds to come and learn about black culture.
“We have club meetings every two weeks,” PR manager Destiny Broussard said. “Right now we are doing a canned food drive,”
The service events that BSU provides the club to help those in need. They are also helping local food banks, which gets them involved with their community. This results in others getting encouraged to also get involved in the community and importantly offering nutritious meal options.
This club first started at Williams High School. In the past, the students involved tried to start BSU but it was already established. The BSU club is now in motion and able to thrive here. BSU hosts different service events to allow students to support their community. This month, BSU partnered with Minnie’s Food Pantry to do service work. They collected goods and food to give back to the community.
“We are not just teaching people but we are trying to be involved in our community,” Broussard said. “During meetings, we discuss black history and talk about about different ways we can make an impact on our community and different service events we can do.”
Students learn all about the different aspects of black history. Along with learning about the history, it wouldn’t be beneficial if students weren’t informed about the culture as well. They discuss facts, important black historical people, and historical events. Knowing where students come from and a lot of traditions shown in the modern day is important to be informed on. BSU ensures students are educated on these types of topics. The students not only come together to learn about black history but they connect with each other and share experiences.
Members of the club would like to make BSU an open space and make students feel comfortable. Vice President Madi Martin emphasizes treating everybody in the club as a community and supporting each other is important. This creates social resilience and cultural empowerment. Historically, Black communities have faced systemic barriers, so coming together creates opportunities for success. BSU’s strong support within each other fosters a sense of identity, pride, and collective progress.
“I think BSU has brought [us together],” Martin said. “We are such a minority and the club is spread around the campus. We do not see a large amount of African American students here so it is nice [seeing] people like you around the campus and having a smaller space so it can be more safe.”
It is a wonderful thing to see African American students learning about black culture not just in their academics but in their free time. Learning, having fun, and getting involved in the community to help out all at the same time. The students have each other to commune with and count on each other.
Martin expressed that the impact BSU has on students is the union it brings to the students involved. The fact that students can come together and fellowship about black history is an amazing sight to see. Members of the club want to be heard and use this union to ensure their perspectives are heard, both within the club and in the school community. Martin also says the most important impact the students have had is that they know more about their culture.
BSU allows students to gain respect for diversity. Having a sense of cultural awareness is very essential in life. These students are heavily impacted by the club in many ways. Not only are these students affected at school due to the club, they are also affected in their everyday lives. It allows them to foster resilience, helping individuals navigate challenges. Because of the strengthening in cultural identity shown in BSU students in the club feel a sense of belonging.
“BSU has made a positive impact on my life providing me with a sense of community and warmth in my school,” Broussard said.
There are a couple of ways prospective members can join BSU. You may join their Google Classroom with the code ‘7tughv’ or follow their Instagram @peshbsu. If you are interested and would like more details, do not hesitate to ask Martin or BSU President Grace Oleru if you see them around campus.
“Do not be afraid to join, no matter what background you are from it is open for everyone,” Broussard said. “Come make friends and have fun because it is a welcoming environment.”
It is important to not look at BSU from an inclusive perspective because they do not limit its members. One important goal for the club is to get the history and insights of black history that people don’t know about to get out there. One essential way to achieve that goal is to open this club to everyone. Whether someone is African American or not, they would like everyone to learn something new. Not only this emphasis for everybody to join in learning black history, it is also about having fun. BSU offers several fun social interaction opportunities, new experiences, and the chance to see new faces.
Although the club revolves around black history and its culture, members of BSU invite everyone. Most importantly students join this club and find a little something about themselves that may have not known coming in.
“Since we are in high school, we are all still trying to learn more about ourselves,” Martin said. “I think this is the perfect time to bring a club that speaks volumes to African American culture. Especially if you are not as knowledgeable about the culture, I think it is essential to know more, learn more, and surround yourself with your history.”
