Black Action Movement facts for kids

The Black Action Movement was a group of protests by African American students. They were unhappy with how the University of Michigan was treating minority students. These protests happened three times: in 1970 (BAM I), 1975 (BAM II), and 1987 (BAM III). Many student groups joined in. These events were some of the most difficult for the university leaders. Alan Glenn, a writer, said the 1970 protests were a clear victory for the students.

First Black Action Movement: 1970

After Martin Luther King Jr. was killed in 1968, students protested at the University of Michigan. They felt the university did not support minority students enough. The university agreed to make some changes. They promised to include more minority students on campus.

Starting the Protests

The 1970 Black Action Movement began in late 1969. Black student groups felt the university was moving too slowly. They wanted more integration on campus. Groups like the Black Student Union decided to take stronger action. They met with university leaders.

In February 1970, these groups met the university president. They held a protest on his lawn. They demanded that by 1973, 10% of students and staff should be African American. This number matched the percentage of African Americans in Michigan at that time.

Student Demands

The students also asked for more help for minority students. They wanted a recruiter for Chicano students. They also asked for a Black Student Center. Other requests included money for scholarships and a Black studies program.

University Response

The protests closed the University of Michigan for 18 days. Students went on strike and held protests. They blocked buildings and streets. They also stopped classes. During the last week, attendance in one college dropped by 75%.

On April 1, 1970, the university agreed to the 10% goal. Later that month, Spiro Agnew, the U.S. Vice President, criticized the university president. He said the university gave in to the students.

Second Black Action Movement: 1975

The 1975 Black Action Movement protests happened for a few reasons. One reason was that the university had not fully met the demands from the first movement.

Reasons for Protest

Another reason was that a Black nursing student was expelled. She had prepared a patient's insulin shot. She was not allowed to have a hearing about her expulsion. Also, the university rejected a candidate for a dean's job. This candidate had been approved by the university's Regents.

Student Occupation

In February 1975, almost 300 students took over the main administration building. They stayed there for three days. These protests were calmer than those in 1970. A group of Black, Chicano, Asian-American, and Native-American students led them.

They made six demands. These demands called for better representation for all minority groups. They also asked for the nursing student to be allowed back. The students left the building on their own. The university president promised to talk with them. No one was arrested or punished. About 500 other students held rallies outside the building to support the occupiers.

Third Black Action Movement: 1987

The 1987 Black Action Movement started after several incidents. These included racist jokes on the student radio station WJJX. There were also concerns about how the police handled a fight on campus. Racist flyers were spread around campus. African American teachers were also worried about the "racial climate" at the university.

Enrollment Goals

In 1970, the university aimed for 10% Black students. This was to match the Black population in Michigan. Before 1987, Black student enrollment was between 4.9% and 7.7%. In 1987, it was 5.4%. The university said that not enough Black high school students were ready for college.

The university also gave the Black Student Union its own budget. They created a job to oversee minority affairs. An advisory group was also formed. This group included Black teachers, students, and community members. They watched the university's progress.

Black Action Movement in the 21st Century

In 2013, students at the University of Michigan brought back the Black Action Movement. This happened after a fraternity party invitation. The party was called "Hood Ratchet Thursday." Students were very upset by this racist theme. The party was canceled.

#BBUM Movement

This event made students want to highlight other issues. They wanted to show that fewer Black students were enrolling. They also wanted to raise awareness about how Black students were treated. On November 19, 2013, the Black Student Union started the Twitter hashtag #BBUM. This stood for "Being Black at the University of Michigan." Students shared over 1,000 stories about their experiences. Even though Black students were only 4.1% of the freshman class, the hashtag got national attention.

New Demands in 2014

On January 20, 2014, Black Student Union leaders held a rally. They presented seven demands to the university. The treasurer said they were there because of "unfinished business" from the earlier movements. He felt the problems from 44 years ago were still not solved.

Their demands included a new multicultural center in a better location. They also asked for more Black representation on campus. More affordable housing options were also requested. The university president, Mary Sue Coleman, responded with her own plan. It addressed some, but not all, of the demands.

Affirmative Action and Enrollment

On April 22, 2014, the Supreme Court upheld a Michigan law. This law banned affirmative action. Affirmative action is a policy that tries to help groups who have faced discrimination. Black Student Union members felt this law would make it harder to increase Black enrollment.

In 2014, 32% of Black people in Michigan lived in poverty. People in poverty are less likely to go to college. Going to college can lead to better jobs and a better life. Some believed that giving a small advantage to Black students could help Black communities. After the Supreme Court decision, the Black Student Union met with university leaders again. They wanted to make a plan to increase Black student enrollment. Low Black enrollment remains a difficult problem. In 2016, Black students were only 5% of the freshman class. This was half of the percentage the BAM fought for in earlier years.

Continued Protests and Changes

Even after many years, racism against Black students still happens at the University of Michigan. On September 26, 2016, anti-Black posters were found around the school. After a week of protests, more racist and homophobic posters appeared.

In response, University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel created a new plan in October 2016. It is called the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan. It aims to make the campus more diverse and welcoming. However, in February 2017, racist emails were sent to all engineering students. They contained very offensive language.

This incident and the lack of quick response from leaders led to new protests. A student group called Students4Justice (S4J) occupied the Michigan Union. They demanded meetings with university leaders. They also wanted better ways to report racist incidents. They asked for the remaining #BBUM demands to be met. These included affordable housing and 10% Black enrollment. They also wanted a space for students of color to organize for social justice. The university responded with a report. They agreed to meet with S4J leaders to discuss the demands further.