Political Activism

THE BLACK STUDENT UNION: SPEAKERS/PERFORMERS

In an effort to increase its political and social influence on campus, the BSU brought many prominent speakers and performers to Middlebury in the 1970s and '80s. Prominent figures in the African American community at the time, such as Dr. Alvin Poussaint, James H. Cone, and Dr. Edward P. Carpenter, made speeches and led forums on campus. These talks were a good way to introduce ideas and figures in the African American community that Middlebury may not have experienced without the BSU. The Black Student Union not only sponsored individual speakers but also hosted African American dance groups and led school-wide services. Sponsoring such events and speakers was one of the primary ways in which the BSU expressed their views and demonstrated their influence.

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