The Black Student Experience

In Center for Black Studies Research virtual town hall, Black students share how anti-blackness has shaped their lives

A virtual town hall sponsored by UC Santa Barbara’s Center for Black Studies Research will give the community — on campus and beyond — an opportunity to hear about the experiences of Black students — in their own words — and develop a set of action items aimed at improving the support provided to them.

“State Violence, Anti-Blackness and the Black Student Experience” will take place Friday, June 12, from noon to 2 p.m. It can be accessed at https://ucsb.zoom.us/j/97824283312. Registration is required at tiny.cc/tuhjqz.

“The past few weeks have reached a new height in the contemporary movements for social justice and against anti-blackness and state-sanctioned violence on Black people,” said Sharon Tettegah, director of the Center for Black Studies Research, who with sociology professor Victor Rios will moderate the event.

“The goal of the Black student-centered town hall is to provide a space to discuss and analyze the persistence of Black genocide and how it shapes student experiences,” Tettegah continued.

UC Santa Barbara faculty members will join in the event, asking students questions about their experiences and seeking to learn how to improve teaching, mentoring and learning at UC Santa Barbara.

“This webinar will serve as a space for us as a campus community to continue the conversation about how to support our Black students at UCSB,” said Rios. “We want to hear from our students about their experiences and what approaches they think would help them in their journeys at UCSB. The goal of the meeting is to end up with a list of action items for the campus to engage with in its endeavor to support our Black student population.”

Student panelist include Que’aire Anderson, Daevionne Beasley, Paige Edwards, Nia Flowers, Alexandra Gessesse, Amanda Glover, Johari Hunt, Jennifer Jacobs, Azi Jackson, Taylor Jackson, Raymok Ketema, Kaitlyn Keys, Ellecse Logan, Deion Perkins, Havalin Nyivih and Sekani Robinson.

Faculty and postdoctoral participants include Jeffrey Stewart, professor of Black studies; Christopher McAuley, associate professor of Black studies; France Winddance Twine, professor of sociology; Jean Beaman, assistant professor of sociology; Terrell Winder, assistant professor of sociology; and Michael Dzordzormenyoh, Atim George and Joaquin Noguera, incoming scholars with the Center for Black Studies Research.

In addition to the Center for Black Studies Research, collaborating sponsors include the Department of Black Studies, the College of Letters and Science’s Division of Social Science, the Office of the Chancellor, the Office of Research, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Equal Opportunity & Discrimination Prevention Office.

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