BSU welcomes many new members for wide variety of activities

Since its formation in 2020, the Cedar Falls Black Student Union has aspired to bring together Black students and create opportunities for community and outreach. 

After enrolling at Cedar Falls High School in her sophomore year, junior Thelma Culpepper was motivated to join the Black Student Union.

“I transferred to Cedar Falls from a predominantly white school, so [BSU] was an opportunity to meet more minorities my age,” she said. “I think this type of group is beneficial because it allows others to get to know each other in a place where they are the minority.”

CF alum Jamari Kline, a founding member of the BSU, echoed that sentiment. “We chose to be inclusive. We wanted students from all cultures and races to join our union.” 

The first Black Student Union was formed at San Francisco State University in 1966, when the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century was in full swing. Since then, they’ve popped up on high school and college campuses across the country, allowing students of color to connect with peers of a shared cultural background. Here in Cedar Falls, the BSU was founded after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. 

“When George Floyd died, many kids in the school wanted to advocate and protest,” Culpepper said. 

Since then, that’s exactly what they’ve done—from raising money for the food drive to spreading awareness of historical Black accomplishments, the BSU has been heavily involved in the social climate of our school. 

“We have many plans for this year, including bake sales, fun activities like informative games concerning black culture, jeopardy hangouts and some potential trips,” junior Aleesha Smith said. “We just finished Trunk or Treat with a fun theme of Mario Kart; it was very successful. We look forward to hosting and planning more activities as the year continues.”

In addition to their outreach, many BSU members agreed that the community aspect of the club was important to them. 

“It does not have to be more than a hangout group, or it can be an activist group,” junior Daniel Umemezie said. “It can be whatever the black students in our school need.”

Although the BSU has had some big shoes to fill in terms of past student leadership, union members are confident that they’ll be able to continue making a change this school year. 

“[We] are just getting things off the ground with new student leadership,” said Brenna Griffin, English teacher and club advisor for the BSU. 

“Everyone on leadership is new,” agreed Culpepper, “but we just push through it and look toward our advisers for help.” 

A willingness to help one another is a huge part of the BSU’s ethos. 

“This is a really cool group that’s centered around community,” Umemezie said.

BSU meets every first and third Monday of the month; they can be found on Instagram at @bsu.cfhs.