Black History Month at Cal Poly, , is focused on fostering a sense of belonging and recognizing the contributions of Black students, faculty, and staff. For Jaylyn Harris, president of the Cal Poly Black Student Union (BSU), the month represents “pride, visibility and community,” though she emphasizes the importance of acknowledging Black history year-round.
“Black History Month is the 28 days that America gave me to celebrate my culture,” Harris stated. “Just because it’s 28 days does not mean that Black History Month is not important to me every other 365 days. But definitely Black History Month is a time for others to have to recognize that we’re here and that we do have history, and we do have heritage rooted into America.”
Addressing Isolation and Building Community
Harris’s experience highlights a common challenge faced by Black students at Cal Poly: feeling isolated as one of the few students of color in their classes. According to a article cited by the university, less than 0.7% of Cal Poly students identify as Black. This reality underscores the critical role of organizations like BSU in creating supportive spaces.
BSU actively works to combat this isolation by providing “intentional spaces for connection.” The organization’s meetings and gatherings, often held at the Black Academic Excellence Center (BAEC) in Building 15, are designed to foster relationships and provide mentorship. Harris, who initially connected with BSU through the BAEC during her first year, now focuses on outreach to incoming students, having previously served as the organization’s treasurer.
The BAEC itself is described as a space of upliftment and support. “BSU and the Black Academic Excellence Center being a space where that’s all you see, and we’re there to uplift you, we’re there to mentor, we’re there to talk to you, we’re there to laugh,” Harris explained. “That’s one of the biggest challenges that we see a lot of, and then we try our best to make do with what we have.”
Defining Black Excellence and Joy
Harris defines “Black excellence” as both persistence and presence – the simple act of Black students succeeding in a challenging university environment. “Black joy and Black excellence is every single Black student that you see,” she said. “We all have made it so far. We made it into such a hard university to get into. We are here, and we’re taking up space, and every single day, we are stepping out of our comfort zone, and that right there is Black excellence.”
This joy is actively cultivated within BSU and the BAEC. Harris emphasizes that despite being a relatively small community on campus, BSU is “very much mighty.” The organization’s events, including an open mic night and the annual “Black Love” formal, are designed to celebrate creativity and connection.
Cal Poly’s Broader Black History Month Initiatives
Beyond BSU’s efforts, Cal Poly’s Office of University Diversity and Inclusion (OUDI) is sponsoring a “Cultural Art Series” entitled “Resonance” throughout . This series features an exhibit by Alisa Sikelianos-Carter at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, exploring themes of resilience, liberation, and protection for Black individuals. The exhibit runs through .
The month began with a Black History Month Kickoff and Resource Fair on at the Multi Activity Center (MAC). The event, co-hosted by the BAEC and Cal Poly Admissions, featured booths from various campus clubs, departments, and organizations, as well as live performances. This year’s kickoff builds on the success of previous events, including the annual “State of Blackness” event, held on in Chumash Auditorium, which brings together experiences from the Cal Poly community within the Black diaspora through panel discussions and roundtables.
Christina Sholars Ortiz, BAEC Coordinator, emphasized the importance of these events for Black students. “It’s a big message to our Black student community,” she said. “It’s about standing 10 toes down and feeling firm in who we are as individuals and not having to apologize.”
Students like Sanaia Pierre, a software engineering sophomore and graphic arts designer for BSU, highlight the importance of early support for Black students navigating the campus environment. “When I came to Cal Poly, I didn’t know that the Black community on campus was so small,” Pierre said. “It’s so important to give them support early on so they can succeed.”
Those interested in learning more about BSU events and initiatives can find information on the organization’s Instagram page, @calpolybsu.