OCAT works collaboratively with BSA (Black Students’ Alliance) and other MSU Departments to put on quality Black community programming. For more information on these events, contact Jason Worley (worleyja@msu.edu) or Murray Edwards (edward12@msu.edu)
Black Students’ Alliance
Black Student Alliance is the voice of the Black community. BSA stands for excellence and succeed through their passion, their hearts are dedicated to the community and the justice for the rights all Black Students deserve.
BSA’s Mission Purpose
The Black Students’ Alliance aims to ensure the promotion of radical Black love, through collective advocacy, continual support, and results-driven actions to redefine the Black experience at Michigan State University.
BSA’s History
Black Students’ Alliance was founded on September 9, 1967 in the basement of Dr. Robert L. Green’s home. This organization was created at the time of student protests surrounding racism on MSU’s campus. Dr. Green’s basement served as a space for this organization to organize and plan as the central advocacy group for Black students on campus. To this day, Black Student Alliance remains the voice of Black students on campus. We are your advocates, confidants, and support system. Black Student Alliance ensures your voice is heard.
BSA’s Student Walk Out on October 18th, 2023
When They See Us: Experiences of MSU Black Male Students Summit.
VIDEO RECORDINGS
Video Recordings for WTSU Part I (January 22, 2021)
Video Recording for WTSU Part II (February 26, 2021)
Video Recording for WTSU Part III (April 23, 2021)
When They See Us Summit Information
Highlights from this summit include:
- Opening remarks by Dr. Jabbar R. Bennett, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer
- Highlighted clips from NCORE’s webinar used to engage discussion.
- A student panel facilitated by Dr. Chezare A. Warren, Associate Professor, Department of English, Michigan State University.
- Breakout Discussions facilitated by MSU faculty/staff including members of MSU’s Black Strategic Outreach Committee.
- Sharing of MSU’s resources and plans for student success from MSU’s Black Strategic Outreach committee.
View Speaker Line-Up Here
Black Male Empowerment Summit
Black Male Empowerment Summit Committee 
What is the Black Power Rally?
The Black Power Rally is an annual event led by MSU’s Black Student Alliance (BSA) who work closely with their adviser from OCAT. When Stokely Carmichael coined the term black power, it was used as a force to empower and unify blacks while creating a strong racial identity. The Black Power Rally (BPR) has become a tradition in the black community at Michigan State University since the early beginnings of the Black Student Alliance, circa 1969. Every year students involved with the Black Student Alliance come together with a sense of stern consciousness and urgency in concern of the state of black America. Not only is the rally an arena to spread consciousness, it is a celebration of blackness. Since the start of the BPR, black figures from all over the country have participated in this event including, Dick Gregory, Sister Souljah, Dead Prez, and Jeff Johnson.
Please contact OCAT (ocat@msu.edu) if you have any questions.
