BSU-BGSA Joint Statement: Responding to the Sanitization of Black Voices on Campus

Martin Luther King Jr. standing in front of a bookshelf with hands raised (possibly in incredulity). He looks fly and ready for the struggle. — *Source: Getty Images*

On February 8th at 11:40am during the 49th annual MLK Luncheon event, 40 Black students mobilized and walked into the room in Walker Memorial.

Black students did not mobilize to the MLK Brunch to see Angela Davis. They did not enter the room because they were dying to brunch with administration and did not have tickets.

Black students showed up to the event to demonstrate our resolve in ensuring our experiences are not sanitized for the comfort of others.

Nicole called for us to “light the fire” of justice with the knowledge that we students must be able to determine what that means for us. We responded in unison with “light the fire” because we know that by standing together we can create a just and safe community for all, which everyone can be proud to be a part of.

Right now, Black people on campus deal with nearly constant affronts like everyday racial aggressions, traumatizing encounters with campus police, and years-long deferrals on meaningful action to address our needs. The vandalism that occurred with the Black Hack banner is both symbolic and symptomatic of larger issues of anti-Blackness within the institution.

As Nicole put it in her speech, “there is a certain kind of fire that must not be extinguished.” We will make sure our voices are heard and will not stop until our community’s needs are seen and addressed.

We will continue to light that fire.

MIT BSU & BGSA