Photo gallery Recalling the 1969 Black Student Strike
Organizers of the 1969 Black Student Strike at UW–Madison recalled the turmoil and the excitement of the campus-wide student strike during a panel Monday night at Memorial Union’s Play Circle. Propelled by longstanding grievances and fresh flash points, black students issued 13 demands and called for a campus-wide student strike.
Participants were, from left, current student Shiloah Coley, Wahid Rashad, Liberty Rashad, John Felder, Hazel Symonette and current student Breanna Taylor. Photo by: Bryce Richter
Strike organizers spoke of the challenges being one of a small number of African American students on campus and of how they quickly became unified around their goals, including increasing African American enrollment. Photo by: Bryce Richter
Hazel Symonette encouraged current students to speak up for their rights and to build on what previous activists did. Photo by: Bryce Richter
“We were bold and we were principled," recalled John Felder, a spokesman for the strikers. Photo by: Bryce Richter
“Just keep on keeping on; it doesn’t stop," Liberty Rashad urged students. The university still needs to do more to increase enrollment of students of color, she said. Photo by: Bryce Richter
Taylor, who with Coley is co-editor of The Black Voice, a student-run digital publication, contributes to the discussion. Photo by: Bryce Richter
Students were able to discuss issues they face on campus today with the panelists. Photo by: Bryce Richter
The Play Circle was packed with an engaged audience, including current students and some former students who participated in the strike. Photo by: Bryce Richter
Tags: diversity, events, memorial union