Black Action Movement: Difference between revisions
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The '''Black Action Movement''' was a series of protests at the [[University of Michigan]] by [[African American]] students against the policies and actions of the university. The protests themselves took place on three |
The '''Black Action Movement''' was a series of protests at the [[University of Michigan]] by [[African American]] students against the policies and actions of the university. The protests themselves took place on three occasions between 1970 and 1987 (BAM 1, BAM 2, BAM 3). Many student organizations participated in this movement, which has been called one of the most challenging for administrators in the school's history.<ref name=Bentley>{{cite web|title=Suggested Research Topics - The Black Action Movement: An Assessment of its Goals, and Effects on University Policies and Procedures|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/research/topics/bam.php|publisher=Bentley Historical Library|accessdate=19 December 2012|year=2012}}</ref> Alan Glenn of the ''[[Ann Arbor Chronicle]]'' said of the 1970 protests that "the BAM strike became one of the few protests of that era in which the students could make a valid claim of victory."<ref name=Glenn>{{cite news|url=http://annarborchronicle.com/2010/03/30/open-it-up-or-shut-it-down/|title=“Open It Up or Shut It Down”: The 1970 Black Action Movement strike at Michigan|last=Glenn|first=Alan|date=30 March 2010|publisher=Ann Arbor Chronicle|accessdate=19 December 2012}}</ref> |
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==First |
==First protest== |
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The 1970 Black Action Movement protests had their genesis in late 1969 when representatives of several black student organizations decided that it was time to become more proactive in their efforts to speed the pace of integration at the university. Discussions in January 1970 between black students and university administrators led to an invitation to some of the students to dine and discuss their concerns with the university president at his home in early February. On the appointed evening, black students held a demonstration on the president's front lawn and presented a list of demands.<ref name=Glenn/> |
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| ⚫ | The students that year had multiple demands for the university. This included the demand that the university commit to having an enrollment that consisted of 10% of [[African American]] students for the 1973-1974 school year.<ref name=Lehman>{{cite book|last1=Gurin|first1=Patricia|last2=Lehman|first2=Jeffrey|last3=Lewis|first3=Earl|title=Defending Diversity: Affirmative Action at the University of Michigan|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=1oiNqzuvyRUC&lpg=PA54&dq=BAM%20Michigan&pg=PA53#v=onepage&q=BAM%20Michigan&f=false|year=2004|publisher=University of Michigan Press|isbn=0472113070|page=53}}</ref> One other demand was that faculty of African Americans be directly proportional to that of African American students. Furthermore, they also asked for supportive services for minorities, a Black Student Center, a recruiter for [[Latin Americans|Chicano]] students, and the establishment of a Black studies program.<ref name=Bentley /> |
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| ⚫ | The 1975 Black Action Movement protests were brought about for a few reasons. One of these included the lack of progress at the university for implementing the demands of the first movement. Another reason was due to the |
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The campaign closed University of Michigan for 18 days.<ref name=Bunyan>{{cite book|last=Bryant|first=Bunyan|title=Thunder at Michigan and in the Heartland: Working for Student Empowerment and Action|url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5M2L5BS6FoAC&lpg=PA8&dq=Black%20Action%20Movement%20Michigan&pg=PA8#v=onepage&q=Black%20Action%20Movement%20Michigan&f=false|year=2007|publisher=Morgan James Publishing|isbn=1600371450|page=8}}</ref> The settlement reached on 1 April 1970 involved the University accepting the 10% figure as a goal.<ref name=Glenn /> In a speech later that month, [[Vice President of the United States|U.S. Vice President]] [[Spiro Agnew]] criticized university president [[Robben Fleming]] for his "surrender" to the students, calling the university's settlement a "callow retreat from reality."<ref name=Agnew>{{cite news|title=Agnew Accuses University of Surrendering To Blacks|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S0xSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AHwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7026,3597733&dq=black+action+movement&hl=en|accessdate=19 December 2012|newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|date=14 April 1970}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The 1987 Black Action Movement protests were brought about due a handful of new factors, that were never brought up in prior protests. This included the African American faculty's concerns over the racial climate on campus, racist remarks by a [[WJJX-AM|WJJX]] radio [[disc jockey]] |
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| ⚫ | The 1975 Black Action Movement protests were brought about for a few reasons. One of these included the lack of progress at the university for implementing the demands of the first movement. Another reason was due to the expulsion of a black nursing student. The final reason was due to the university rejecting a Regent-approved candidate for LS&A{{what|date=December 2012}} deanship.<ref name=Bentley /> |
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| ⚫ | The 1987 Black Action Movement protests were brought about due a handful of new factors, that were never brought up in prior protests. This included the African American faculty's concerns over the racial climate on campus, racist remarks made on-air by a [[WJJX-AM|WJJX]] radio [[disc jockey]], housing's efforts to address harassment concerns of African American students in residential halls, and the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor Police Department's handling of a fight on campus.<ref name=Bentley /> Administrators later replied to the protests by saying that there was no easy approach for increasing diversity, noting that there were relatively applicants from [[inner city|inner cities]] who qualified for admission to the university.<ref name=Ludington>{{cite news|title=Administrators say there is no black and white answer to campus racism|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vw5QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QlUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6803,7567261&dq=black+action+movement&hl=en|accessdate=19 December 2012|newspaper=[[Ludington Daily News]]|date=9 April 1988}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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* [[Black Student Movement]] (University of North Carolina) |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 02:54, 22 December 2012
The Black Action Movement was a series of protests at the University of Michigan by African American students against the policies and actions of the university. The protests themselves took place on three occasions between 1970 and 1987 (BAM 1, BAM 2, BAM 3). Many student organizations participated in this movement, which has been called one of the most challenging for administrators in the school's history.[1] Alan Glenn of the Ann Arbor Chronicle said of the 1970 protests that "the BAM strike became one of the few protests of that era in which the students could make a valid claim of victory."[2]
First protest
The 1970 Black Action Movement protests had their genesis in late 1969 when representatives of several black student organizations decided that it was time to become more proactive in their efforts to speed the pace of integration at the university. Discussions in January 1970 between black students and university administrators led to an invitation to some of the students to dine and discuss their concerns with the university president at his home in early February. On the appointed evening, black students held a demonstration on the president's front lawn and presented a list of demands.[2]
The students that year had multiple demands for the university. This included the demand that the university commit to having an enrollment that consisted of 10% of African American students for the 1973-1974 school year.[3] One other demand was that faculty of African Americans be directly proportional to that of African American students. Furthermore, they also asked for supportive services for minorities, a Black Student Center, a recruiter for Chicano students, and the establishment of a Black studies program.[1]
The campaign closed University of Michigan for 18 days.[4] The settlement reached on 1 April 1970 involved the University accepting the 10% figure as a goal.[2] In a speech later that month, U.S. Vice President Spiro Agnew criticized university president Robben Fleming for his "surrender" to the students, calling the university's settlement a "callow retreat from reality."[5]
Second protest
The 1975 Black Action Movement protests were brought about for a few reasons. One of these included the lack of progress at the university for implementing the demands of the first movement. Another reason was due to the expulsion of a black nursing student. The final reason was due to the university rejecting a Regent-approved candidate for LS&A[clarification needed] deanship.[1]
Third protest
The 1987 Black Action Movement protests were brought about due a handful of new factors, that were never brought up in prior protests. This included the African American faculty's concerns over the racial climate on campus, racist remarks made on-air by a WJJX radio disc jockey, housing's efforts to address harassment concerns of African American students in residential halls, and the University of Michigan and Ann Arbor Police Department's handling of a fight on campus.[1] Administrators later replied to the protests by saying that there was no easy approach for increasing diversity, noting that there were relatively applicants from inner cities who qualified for admission to the university.[6]
See also
- Black Student Movement (University of North Carolina)
References
- ^ a b c d "Suggested Research Topics - The Black Action Movement: An Assessment of its Goals, and Effects on University Policies and Procedures". Bentley Historical Library. 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ^ a b c Glenn, Alan (30 March 2010). ""Open It Up or Shut It Down": The 1970 Black Action Movement strike at Michigan". Ann Arbor Chronicle. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ^ Gurin, Patricia; Lehman, Jeffrey; Lewis, Earl (2004). Defending Diversity: Affirmative Action at the University of Michigan. University of Michigan Press. p. 53. ISBN 0472113070.
- ^ Bryant, Bunyan (2007). Thunder at Michigan and in the Heartland: Working for Student Empowerment and Action. Morgan James Publishing. p. 8. ISBN 1600371450.
- ^ "Agnew Accuses University of Surrendering To Blacks". St. Petersburg Times. 14 April 1970. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ^ "Administrators say there is no black and white answer to campus racism". Ludington Daily News. 9 April 1988. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
