Thirty Years Strong...

The Harvard Black Students Association was founded in 1977, although several smaller organizations existed almost ten years prior to their consolidation into the BSA. Our first President, Anthony Chase ‘77, saw a need to not only maintain the strength and unity of the black community that existed then, but to also ensure that future black students had a meaningful voice on Harvard's campus. Since then, the BSA has expanded from what was initially a small circle of friends to a current membership of over 300 undergraduate students and an alumni network of close to 3,000. It is our mission to promote community interaction among African, African-American, and African-Caribbean students at Harvard University, as well as facilitate dialogue between our community and the general Harvard community. Furthermore, it is our mission to galvanize communication between the Harvard, Cambridge and Boston communities. Ultimately, our goal is to provide a forum for the open expression of the political, social, and cultural views of Black students.

The above pledge will be realized through Lecture Series events that stimulate dialogues on issues of concern to the community in general and of Black people in particular; through Public Service to heighten awareness of detriments to the Black community and providing mentoring/tutoring opportunities for the youth of the Cambridge/Boston communities; through Publications that inform and provoke positive action; through Cultural Events that entertain and educate through artistic expression of the African Diaspora; and finally, through maintaining an Alumni Network for the professional and personal development for the future Black leaders of our nation.

— Written by Aaliyah Williams, BSA President 2000-2001
— Additions made by Matthew Clair '09, Publications Chair 2006-2007; Sarah Anoke '09, Secretary 2006-2007