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Exhibit March 2002
Celebrating the African-American Presence at SDSU
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Celebrating
the African-American Presence
at SDSU
From the 1930s to the 1990s
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1970s to the 1980s
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Black
is Beautiful Week
Black is Beautiful Week, in February 1970, was heralded with
a dance and beauty pageant sponsored by the Black
Student Council. Delois Kelley, a 22-year-old senior,
was crowned Miss BSC. Various cultural events were featured during that
week, including dance groups, bongo players, art shows and a costume design
contest. Rounding out the week, LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka), noted African-American
poet and playwright, read some of his poems and the Spirit House Movers
performed two plays.
Photograph from
1970.
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The
Black Student Council
In 1968, the Black Student Council at SDSU was established with its first
president, David Crippen, to provide a voice for African-American students.
At that time, the BSC spoke out on social and political issues of SDSU's
African-American students. The population of African-American students
on campus in 1968 was approximately 700, 150 of whom were actively involved
with the BSC. Among many things, the BSC organized an Economic Opportunity
Program and started a recruiting committee to seek out prospective students
in the community to increase African-American enrollment.
Image from brochure,
1977.
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Corinne
M. Conway
In 1973, Corinne M. Conway served as the president of the Black
Student Council. The goal of this group (now known as Afrikan
Student Union) was to grant a voice to African-American
students at SDSU, to increase their enrollment and to create courses for
the study of African-American history. Corinne Conway was subsequently
employed as the director of the African American Community Center at SDSU.
Photograph from
May 1979.
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Leroy Eldridge Cleaver
Leroy Eldridge Cleaver, one of the original members of the Black Panther
Party, visited SDSU in 1977. While in prison, he wrote the groundbreaking
Soul on Ice (1967), a series of essays outlining his views on
the problem of racism in America. After he was paroled, Cleaver joined
the newly formed Black Panther Party and became the group's Information
Minister, serving as its spokesman.
Photograph from San Diego State University Year book, 1977.
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Studying
at SDSU
Photograph circa
1970.
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Photography by Kiri Corser |
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A scene from the Black Repertory Total
Theatrical Experience.
Under the direction of Dr. Danny Scarborough, assistant professor
of literature and drama at SDSU, and performing artist in the Department
of Afro-American Studies, this progressive group, founded in October 1977,
grew from a few to forty members.The group intellectually proposed that
art could and should be political. The Black Repertory Total Theatrical
Experience symbolized the struggle for progress and life-affirming creative
outlets.
Photograph from 1987.
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Clockwise
from top: Danny Scarborough, Melanie Hayman, Steven Beard and Ava Beard.
Photography
by Kiri Corser.
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The Black Repertory Total Theatrical Experience
During their performance, the group received critical acclaim and media
exposure. The photograph on the left shows members of the world premiere
of "When Roosters Crow Something 'Pose to Happen'" (1986), a
multi media experience of African-American culture through dance, movement,
sound, and music. Its director and chair of the Department of Afro-American
Studies, Dr. Danny Scarborough, passed away in 1988.
Photograph from
1986.
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This page http://infodome.sdsu.edu/about/depts/spcollections/exhibits/0302/70s.shtml is maintained by Special Collections c/o Cristina Favretto.
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