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INSPIRED BY THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF AFRICANA STUDIES AT

WILLIAMS COLLEGE, HELD APRIL 4-7, 2019, THIS SITE EXISTS TO SUPPORT EXCELLENCE IN BLACK LIFE AND FOSTER COMMUNITY AMONG ALL WHO ARE CONNECTED TO WILLIAMS COLLEGE.

 

 

 

50th Anniversary Home  |  SPRING 2019  >  AFR50  >  The 15 Demands

 

 

AFR50 A   S P E C I A L   A N N I V E R S A R Y   C E L E B R A T I O N

1969

2019

 

WHAT WAS AFR50?  |  FOUR SPECIAL DAYS  |  REFLECTIONS  |  THE 15 DEMANDS

 

THE 15

DEMANDS

PRESENTED TO THE ADMINISTRATION IN 1969

 

 

 

 

THE 15 DEMANDS

Non-Negotiable Demands Presented by the

Williams Afro-American Society in 1969

The 15 Demands were organized into three categories, as follows: A) Afro-American Studies (1-7); B) Administration (8-12); and C) Admissions (13-15).  The Demands can be accessed by scrolling down this page to the categories below, or click on a category name above, and go directly there.

A. AFRO-AMERICAN STUDIES

 

DEMAND No. 1

There is to be guaranteed admittance of black students into courses of the Afro-American Area Studies Program.

 

DEMAND No. 2

Plans are to be made and presented (on the requested date) to expand the Afro-American Studies Program into departments such as art, music, psychology and religion, that are presently not taking part.

 

DEMAND No. 3

The creation of a student-faculty committee whose purpose it will be to determine the feasibility of establishing permanent ties between Williams and institutions relevant to black area studies (i.e. urban universities and community organizations.

 

DEMAND No. 4

Academic and financial considerations are to be made for a rotational instructorship in the Afro-American Studies Program.  These instructors may or may not have traditional academic credentials (i.e. college degrees) and may remain on campus as long as time and necessity permit.  This rotating instructorship is to be an integral part of the Studies program.  It can coincide with the functions and aspirations of other departments not presently members of the Studies program.  The instructors who will come up here will work within the framework of the academic structure as it now stands.

 

DEMAND No. 5

Provisions are to be made for a coordinator of the Afro-American Studies Program acceptable to the Williams Afro-American Society and the administration.

 

DEMAND No. 6

Two representatives of the Williams Afro-American Society and the program coordinator are to form the core of a committee that is to function in an advisory capacity in the Studies program.  This committee will be open to all participants in the program.

 

DEMAND No. 7

The Afro-American Studies Program is to have independent financial holdings to facilitate sponsorship of events outside the normal curricular demands as do formal college departments.

 

B. ADMINISTRATION

 

DEMAND No. 8

There is to be a relaxation of car rules for black students.

 

DEMAND No. 9

All the heads (i.e. presidents, chairmen) of regional Afro-American Societies are to assemble on the Williams campus to deal with the pragmatic problems of community development and the problems of black students on white campuses in New England.  the structuring of this event has not yet been formally decided, but will consist generally of workshops, discussions, lectures, and cultural events.  The Afro-American Society is willing to share costs proportionately with the college.

 

DEMAND No. 10

There is to be college sponsorship of group social activities (i.e. mixers) for black students on campus.  A continuous financial source is to be guaranteed to pro-transportation and entertainment.

 

DEMAND No. 11

Supplemental funds to pay for participation of Society members in conferences outside of Williams, (i.e. the Oberlin conference).

 

DEMAND No. 12

The establishment of an Afro-American Cultural Center whose purpose it would be to promote a more congenial atmosphere for scholarly and social endeavors among black students desirous of living there and will necessarily be planned with an eye towards future expansion and accommodation.  This Center would allow for a greater centralization of activity pertaining to Afro-American affairs (lecture, exhibits, quarter for guests) and would institutionalize the presence and importance of another of the many perspectives that make up the Williams experience.

 

C. ADMISSIONS

 

DEMAND No. 13

A black man is to be hired in the admissions department acceptable to the Afro-American Society, who will act as a liaison and counselor to the Society.

 

DEMAND No. 14

The Afro-American Society is to participate in an advisory capacity in the admissions process of black students.

 

DEMAND No. 15

The addition of at least three African students on scholarship per year with special sensitivity towards students from the Southern Sudan.

 

These demands are contained in BLACK WILLIAMS, (pgs. 121-122), a research paper authored by Walter Clark '75, Michael Darden '74 and Frank Richards '75; and dated May 1974.  The researchers listed the demands as reported in The Williams Record, April 4, 1969, vol. LXXXIII, no. 11.

 

 

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BLACK WILLIAMS 50 PLUS is a presentation of Dan Perkins, a cultural historian and business diversity consultant; and a proud member of the Class of 1978.

Throughout his professional life, Dan Perkins has been a Minority Business Advocate (MBA); connecting people, businesses and communities for good.

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