Casa Grande Black Student Union active

Amid the changing social norms and challenged government policies of the 1960s, there arose on school campuses nationwide the Black Student Union - a place where African American and other minority students could come together and let their voice be heard.

Although initially named and intended for the African American student body, the Union quickly expanded to include other cultures and ethnicities. Now, with racial inequalities and government brutality resurfacing in America, and calls for greater cultural awareness gaining strength, Casa Grande High School senior Nayana Reaves decided to revive the Black Student Union at the east Petaluma campus.

“It’s unbelievable, everything that’s going on in the world today, and I wanted to do something that would make a difference,” Reaves said. “I thought that it would be cool to have a club on campus to spread cultural awareness.”

Much like the Black Panthers were tied to the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, the Black Student Union, or BSU, is acting in support of today’s Black Lives Matter movement, with the intent of encouraging social justice and acceptance.

“Many people don’t get the concept behind (Black Lives Matter) so I thought that maybe making a little club at school would help the movement - not a radical movement, but a movement for the rights of all people,” she said. “I thought it would be good to spread the word. When you share with small groups of people, it spreads and spreads and spreads.”

As an African-American growing up in predominantly white Petaluma, Reaves says she has faced discrimination her whole life.

“I used to snap really easily when someone pushed my buttons, but I learned that you have to respond a different way or else I’m basically just proving their point,” Reaves said. “In BSU, we’re more focused on educating people. A lot of people speak out of ignorance, because they don’t really know the situation behind (the club) and they don’t know how they can help, so giving them the option to be a part of the issue, regardless of what your race or ethnicity is, helps those people make a change.”

The club certainly hasn’t waited to start making a change. On Sept. 24, BSU hosted a clothing drive for kids in Afghanistan, and in late October they plan to show the movie Selma at Casa Grande to raise cultural awareness. Currently the club numbers in the high 80s, with a core group of fifteen girls who are dedicated to planning more events for the year.

Senior Clare Nicholson spoke about the importance of making a difference.

“I joined BSU because I acknowledge that I do have privilege that could potentially help a lot to contribute to almost any cause,” she said. “Just having a voice and helping other people express theirs, I guess it’s just really important to me and I know that this is a big deal right now. This is not something that can just be put on pause.”

Even so, Reaves recalls how the club, and it’s goals, were not met with unconditional support.

“Someone approached us and they asked us about the club and they said, ‘Oh, sounds to me like it’s just Black Power,’ and I kind of looked at them and said, ‘So, because three African American girls started a club at this school to spread cultural diversity, it’s Black Power?’ And I kind of made them think about how ridiculous they just sounded when their intention was to make me mad,” she said.

It’s with this level-headedness and resilience that BSU intends to bring more understanding, affirmation and cultural awareness to the Casa Grande campus this school year. So where can someone begin to help bridge the gap in their community?

“Don’t be afraid to talk about race,” Nicholson said. “That is the most important thing to do right now. People are scared to ask questions because they think that people are going to get offended but that’s not true. If you’re curious about it, that’s the best thing to do.”