The Black Caucus at Penn State's University Park Campus is a student organization founded in 1971. The Black Caucus serves as an umbrella organization to minority students and student organizations."Black Caucus". African American Chronicles: Black History at Penn State. Retrieved May 18, 2020 from https://www.blackhistory.psu.edu/timeline/black_caucus_replaces_black_student_union They aim to promote the social and political development of students at Penn State. In addition, they provide students of color with a safe space to voice the struggles experienced in a predominantly white institution.Oquendo, Kaiana (July 3, 2019). "Penn State's Black Caucus Educates and Empowers Minority Students". The Underground. Retrieved from https://www.psuunderground.com/2019/07/02/penn-states-black-caucus-educates-and-empowers-minority-students/ During the Fall and Spring semesters, the Black Caucus holds weekly meetings titled Sankofa. Every year since 2009, the organization hosts the Ashe Awards - an award ceremony dedicated to honoring students, faculty, and student groups who have excelled in promoting diversity at Penn State.

History While the Black Caucus was founded in 1971, the organization has roots in two other Black student organizations. The Frederick E. Douglass Association, founded in October 1967, transitioned into the Black Student Union in 1969, which would be replaced by the Black Caucus in 1971.

The Frederick E. Douglass Association The Frederick E. Douglass Association named their group after Frederick Douglass –– Black abolitionist, suffragist, diplomat, and more.Cohen, Marge. (1969, January 25). "Citizens Group Walks Out on Walker: Ten Members Leave When Collegian Reported is Barred From Old Main Meeting". The Daily Collegian. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1969-01-25/ed-1/seq-1/

1967 Petition In November 1967, the Douglass Association petitioned Penn State's administration to instate an Afro American History course no later than the winter session of 1968.Moshinsky, Julie. (1967, November 21). “Douglass Association Petitions for Afro-American History Course”. ‘’The Daily Collegian’’. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1967-11-21/ed-1/seq-1/ Members of the Frederick E. Douglass Association presented this petition on November 21, 1967, to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Kenneth Roose. A year later on May 13, 1968, the group submitted a list of demands to Penn State's Administration. The list included the following: Increase Black undergraduate enrollment by 10 percent after 1970; increase Black graduate enrollment; establish a section in the Pattee Library for Black authors; establish a Martin Luther King scholarship; reevaluate the athletic recruitment process for Black students; increase the recruitment of Black Athletes and coaches; dedicate one of the campus's buildings to the late Rev. Martin Luther King; permanently establish a course on Negro History; incorporate more Black authors into English courses; establish an African culture study program.“To ‘Clarify Requests’: Blacks, Old Main Meet”. (1968, May 16). ‘’The Daily Collegian’’. Retrieved May 15, 2020 from https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1968-05-16/ed-1/seq-1/

13 Requests and Demonstrations at Old Main On January 13, 1969, the Frederick E. Douglass Association presented a list of 13 demands to university President Eric A. Walker (1956-1970).Cohen, Marge and Epstein, William. (1969, January 18). "Jones Raps Douglas Action". The Daily Collegian. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1969-01-18/ed-1/seq-1/ The list included demands to instate "black counseling" and enroll 1,000 Black students by Spring 1969. Additionally, the list included demands to hire a Black recruiter and to involve Black students and Black Pennsylvania community members in the approval process for the hiring of the recruiter, any future committees involving Black students, and instructors and courses on Black subjects.Cohen, Marge. (1969, January 21). "Will Do Everything in Power, But First Request 'Practically Impossible'". The Daily Collegian. "https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1969-01-21/ed-1/seq-1/ On January 20, 1969, Walker issued a ten-page reply to the Douglass Association.Cohen, Marge. (1969, January 21). "Walker 'Betrayed Trust': Thompson Raps Reply". The Daily Collegian. "https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1969-01-21/ed-1/seq-1/ Prior to the release of Walker's reply, Ted Thompson, Douglass Association member, Vice President of The University Student Government (USG), and future president of the USG (the second African American man to hold that title at Penn State),Williams, Bria. (2014, February 26). "Past Student Government Presidents of Penn State". Daily Collegian. https://www.collegian.psu.edu/news/campus/article_350c8e9e-9e81-11e3-abe1-001a4bcf6878.html met with the Penn State President to discuss the 13 demands.Cohen, Marge. (1969, January 21). "Walker 'Betrayed Trust': Thompson Raps Reply". The Daily Collegian. "https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1969-01-21/ed-1/seq-1/ During this meeting, Thompson warned Walker that the association did not want an "[...] 'I will do' statement on a succeed or fail basis," despite this meeting, Walker's response did not guarantee that the administration would work towards achieving one of the demands — enrolling 1,000 Black students by Spring, 1969. In addition, Walker's Statement claimed that the University had already increased Black enrollment by fifty percent; however, the previous enrollment count only included African American undergraduates, whereas the new count included Black international students and graduate students. Therefore, the Douglass Association argued that there was actually a decrease in enrollment of Black students. As a result, Rick Collins, the President of the Douglass Association, and five other representatives (Clark Arrington, David Patterson, Billie Patterson, Valerie Tartt, and Kenneth Waters), met with Walkers in Old Main to discuss the issues with his response. While the meeting between Walker and Douglass Association representatives occurred, 60 Douglass Association members waited inside of Old Main, in addition to 400 White students waiting in support outside of Old Main.Cohen, Marge. (1969, January 21). "Will Do Everything in Power, But First Request 'Practically Impossible'". The Daily Collegian. "https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1969-01-21/ed-1/seq-1/ Due to the lack of a concise response from Walker, 150 Douglass Association members carried 132 bricks to the second floor of Old Main, outside of Walker's office, to build a triangular-shaped wall, with one black brick at the top, and two statements tacked to the wall. The wall symbolized barriers in communication between Old Main officials and the Black community. One statement read "Next time we won't build a wall" and the other was a two-page statement outlining the issues in Walker's 10-page reply. The Douglass Association's statement critiques Walker's proposal from his 10-page letter that new programs would include "Afro-American or primitive material" because his statement assumes an analogy between African Americans and primitive.Levine, Paul. (1969, January 22). "Blacks Build Wall for Proxy". The Daily Collegian. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1969-01-22/ed-1/seq-1/ On January 22, 1969, 70 Douglass Association members traveled to Harrisburg to meet with legislators to gain their support increasing Black enrollment. K. Leroy Irvis, House majority leader, pledged his support of the Douglass Association and stated he would oppose state funding for Penn State until he sees a full commitment of the Administration to meet the 13 demands. In addition, Irvis stated he would call upon Penn State to appoint Black people to the Board of Trustees, see to an investigation of the hiring and enrollment policies, and visit Penn State in March to speak with President Walker.Epstein, William. (1969, January 23). "Blacks Turn to Harrisburg for Support on 13 Requests". The Daily Collegian. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1969-01-23/ed-1/seq-1/ On January 24, 1969, The Community Action Committee of Pittsburg and Douglass Association members met with Walker and University Provos J. Ralph Rackley to discuss the relationship between Black students and the University.Kranzley, Glenn. (1969, January 24). "Citizens to Consult Walker". The Daily Collegian. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1969-01-24/ed-1/seq-1/ Due to Rackley's unilateral decision to exclude the press (Collegian reporters) from the meeting, the committee members and Douglass Association members walked out of the meeting.

The Black Student Union In April 1969, Rick Collins, the president of the organization, announced that the Douglass Association changed its name to The Black Student Union, to communicate the purpose of the organization more effectively to the Black community. In September 1969, BSU announced that a committee composed of five chairmen would replace the role of president. The committee would consist of a Communications Chairman, a Counselling Chairman, a Financial Chairman, a Cultural Activities Chairman, and a Political Activities Chairman.

Black Student Orientation In 1970, BSU lead Penn State's first-ever Black Student Orientation. According to Treasurer, Anthony Leonard, the orientation will provide incoming freshmen with advice and information on how they can prosper in the University. Leonard stated that the orientation would be part of a series of BSU events all catered to provide an array of supportive services."BSU To Lead Program for New Black Students". (1970, September 20). The Daily Collegian. Retrieved May 14, 2020 from https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1970-09-20/ed-1/seq-8/

Black Arts Festival During the same announcement of the name change from Douglass Association to the Black Student Union, Collins stated that BSU members were discussing plans for Black cultural centers on campus and in the State College community. In addition, a Black Arts Festival would take place from May 12 to May 18."The Black Student Union: New Name for DA". (1969, April 18). The Daily Collegian. Retrieved May 14, 2020 from: https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1969-04-18/ed-1/seq-1/ According to Ron Batchelor, BSU member and President of the Organization of Student Government Associations (OSGA), the Black Arts Festival was created to be educational on Black Culture and entertaining in order to alleviate tensions on campus. All of the profits made from the event will be put towards black scholarships and the creation of an off campus Black student center. During the festival, Black students would perform poetry, plays, African dances, and socio-historical discussions.Wolk, Mike. (1969, April 23). "Black Artists to Perform May 12 to 18: BSU to Hold Festival". The Daily Collegian. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1969-04-23/ed-1/seq-1/ Additionally, BSU created a magazine titled Aquarius that would publish poetry and essays by Black students, to be sold throughout the Black Arts Festival. The editorial staff consisted of Gloria Horsley, Lesley Bantom, Philip Coleman, Carol Merril, and Robert Moses."BSU Starts Magazine Concerning Black Arts". (1969, April 30). The Daily Collegian. Retrieved May 14, 2020 from https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1969-04-30/ed-1/seq-1/ Some of the guests of the festival included actress Ruby Dee, Rep. Adam Clayton Powell, The James Brown Revue, and The Arthur Hall Afro American Dance Ensemble."BSU Committee Sets 'Black Unity' As Goal". (1969, September 21). The Daily Collegian. Retrieved May 14, 2020 from https://panewsarchive.psu.edu/lccn/sn85054904/1969-09-21/ed-1/seq-10/

Penn State-Boston College Halftime Demonstration