Black on Campus

Produced in partnership with the Anna Julia Cooper Center of Wake Forest University, Black on Campus was a national program for 10 storytellers—chosen from a pool of more than 100 applicants—in two- or four-year colleges, universities, or graduate schools, working under the direction of Nation contributing editor Melissa Harris-Perry, founding director of the AJC Center and Maya Angelou Presidential Chair at Wake Forest University, and Dr. Sherri Williams, assistant professor in race, media, and communication at American University.

Black on Campus allowed participants to develop professional skills as they documented the experiences of black college students and reported for The Nation on issues of national consequence to a student audience. Following in the examples of Ida B. Wells and Anna Julia Cooper—righting wrongs by shining the light of truth upon them to reframe our understanding of the political, cultural, and personal implications of race—the stories from the talented young Black on Campus writers sparked national attention and helped broaden Nation readers’ understanding of the travails of young people of color.

Read the collection below along with essays from the project’s founders.

Looking Back on ‘Black on Campus’

Looking Back on ‘Black on Campus’ Looking Back on ‘Black on Campus’

Co-founder Dr. Sherri Williams looks back on a year of amplifying black students’ voices and what comes next.

Sep 28, 2018 / StudentNation / Sherri Williams

‘I Want People to Hear Me’: An Interview With Savannah West

‘I Want People to Hear Me’: An Interview With Savannah West ‘I Want People to Hear Me’: An Interview With Savannah West

Black on Campus used technology, travel, text messaging, and the sheer force of will to build community as we learned to meet deadlines.

Sep 26, 2018 / StudentNation / Melissa Harris-Perry

Brianna Black on Campus

For Black College Students, Balancing Activism and Mental Health Takes Work For Black College Students, Balancing Activism and Mental Health Takes Work

College for black students is more than just obtaining a degree. It’s also about permeating structures and spaces in which we were never originally included—and that can take a tol...

Sep 18, 2018 / StudentNation / Brianna Reddick

It’s Time for HBCUs to Address Homophobia and Transphobia on Their Campuses

It’s Time for HBCUs to Address Homophobia and Transphobia on Their Campuses It’s Time for HBCUs to Address Homophobia and Transphobia on Their Campuses

While there are more than 100 historically black colleges and universities in the country, only three have LGBT student centers.

Jun 21, 2018 / StudentNation / Sherri Williams

White on HBCUs

What Does Diversity Look Like at HBCUs? What Does Diversity Look Like at HBCUs?

Are HBCUs simply changing with the times, or are they relinquishing an important black presence?

Jun 7, 2018 / StudentNation / Deja Dennis

Aaron Coleman Black on Campus

As a Black College Student, Poverty Was My Everyday Life As a Black College Student, Poverty Was My Everyday Life

For the country’s colleges, perhaps more so than any other American institution, the case for scaling racially equitable initiatives couldn’t be more clear.

Jun 5, 2018 / StudentNation / Aaron Ross Coleman

Black Women Leaders

Why Are There So Few Black Women Leaders on College Campuses? Why Are There So Few Black Women Leaders on College Campuses?

Forced to face the twin hurdles of racism and sexism, black women leaders are underrepresented on college campuses. 

May 31, 2018 / StudentNation / DeAsia Paige

Campus Racism Protesters

The Costs of Campus Activism The Costs of Campus Activism

As the number of racial incidents increase on campuses across the country, black student activists often have to choose between stability and justice.

May 23, 2018 / StudentNation / Lauren Lumpkin and Devan Cole

University of Michigan

Are Social Media Normalizing Campus Racism? Are Social Media Normalizing Campus Racism?

University officials must do more—their priority should be the well-being of students of color, not the institution’s reputation.

May 21, 2018 / StudentNation / Noëlle Lilley

What It’s Like to Be Black on Campus Now

What It’s Like to Be Black on Campus Now What It’s Like to Be Black on Campus Now

Suddenly our experiences no longer seem isolated—they’re linked in a larger movement against institutional racism. Ten black student journalists tell their stories.

May 16, 2018 / StudentNation / Melissa Harris-Perry

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