Black Student Alliance holds first meeting

The following story was written by by a student on The Staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Production Course.

by Lucy Cotter

Student Life Editor

Ms. Thomas opens a discussion with the BSA to voice their future goals for the club. Photo by: Lucyle Cotter (12).

Bradley was the last of the three Hilliard high schools to establish a Black Student Alliance, and started the club in late March of this year. Ms. Thomas, the BSA advisor, emphasizes to the students: “you are starting something brand new at Bradley. We are late to the game, Darby and Davidson already have a BSA.”

According to the schools’ websites, Darby’s Black Student Union meets every Wednesday to “discuss racial issues openly [and] learn more about Black history and activism.” Davidsons’ BSA meets Mondays to “create a community among Black students and other students by providing support and celebrating Black excellence.”

While opening the meeting, Thomas explains their “goals are to build community for African American students at Bradley and to build programs to celebrate [them].” 

A major aspect of the program is to create a safe space for Black students to share openly and connect with one another. Ziya Lewis (10) says, “BSA gives me a sense of comfort in school to know I am thought-of and represented.” She also mentions she’s “able to communicate with [her] African American peers and feel heard without being judged.”

Lewis goes on to share that “BSA has definitely created a community for me in many ways. Even though BSA is only in the beginning, I'm able to express my opinions and thoughts. Also, I am given advice from others that are similar to me and have overcome situations like I have.”

Since the program was created towards the end of the school year, the goal is to establish roots to develop the program further next year. “We are really gonna hit the ground running in the fall,” Thomas says.

As a graduating senior, Mackenzie Wilkinson (12) explains: “I wish we could have done it a little earlier so [we] could get it started up. Either way, I’m happy we’re getting it started now so the kids coming behind us could experience it and make it bigger.” 

Wilkinson is happy to be a part of BSA regardless; “I like to be involved in anything supporting the Black students at our school,” she says. 

Lewis’ hopes for BSA in the following years include:  “continu[ing] to grow and develop a community for African American students who may not feel like they are heard,” as well as “celebrat[ing] Black joy and culture freely and proudly for many school years to come.”