The Cambridge University Students' Union Black Students' Campaign is an autonomous platform that airs the voice of ethnic minority students within CUSU and throughout the University. As a campaign we work with students and student officers offering support and facilitating networking within the Black Community and the wider society. Our focus is primarily on improving race relations, fostering and developing cultural diversity, promoting integration without assimilation, and tirelessly working to ensure effective representation. Our long-term goal is that all students who define as black can experience Cambridge unencumbered by all that would threaten to thwart or distort the achievement of our goals as students and as a people.

Who are Black Students?

A 'Black' student is a person who doesn't consider himself or herself ethnically 'white'. It's an all-embracing term seeking to include a spectrum of students who may share many experiences at Cambridge which are different to the experiences of the majority of students who are 'white'. Black students are typically of African, Arab, Asian, or Caribbean descent, but there are many others who might consider themselves 'Black'.

What is the Black Students' Campaign?

The CUSU Black Students Campaign is here to represent these students and to empower them to be proud of their background, enabling them to overcome adversity and any apprehension they may hold so that that they make their views heard. We seek to ensure racial equality for all students in the University, encourage Black students to fully engage with the community as a whole and to educate and inform the general population about the diversity of Black students at Cambridge . This includes campaigning for the cultural and religious needs of the range of Black Students communities.

Why do we need a Black Students' Campaign?

Black Students are typically underrepresented across the university and the student body, whether in college JCRs, University Committees or a range of other organizations. It is widely recognised and understood that despite significant progress, racial equality, respect for and understanding of Black student issues are at nowhere near the levels where we can stop campaigning and start ignoring them as some institutions do.

For those of us whom have been privileged enough not to have experienced racism or other unfair disadvantages as a result of our ethnic origin, the reasons for the existence of the Campaign might not be transparent. Unfortunately, more often than not, issues such as institutional racism and student alienation go unnoticed. It is therefore the duty of the Campaign to discover the reality and inform the community.

Why the term 'Black'?

The term Black is an inclusive term, not used in reference to the colour of our skin, but the colour of our politics. It offers an umbrella term used to include all members of the Black community, we are able to establish a united Black co-operative. It is important to recognise the range of cultures that exist within the Black Students Campaign and therefore we facilitate a space for different communities to focus on issues specific to them. Which we then adopt and subscribe to as a collective. By creating a single cooperative for all Black Students, we are able to build networks and support each other as a community.

How do we take action?

The Campaign takes action in a variety of ways. Firstly, through the power of joint discussion in general open meetings, furthermore our online forum serves to provide a fertile ground for healthy discussion. One should not hesitate to voice their opinions on any issues and concerns because only then can action begin.

Help us - You can take action

An important place to start making contributions to the community is from within your college:

•  Campaign for a Black Students' Officer in your Union

•  Have panel debates on issues like Islamophobia, Stop and Search policing or Underachievement of ethnic minorities

•  Show Black films ( a rich variety exists: Bollywood, Nollywood and African cinema or documentaries)

•  Have a fresher's' stall with information on getting involve and who to approach for details

•  Organise events for Black History Month

•  Run a Rise Against Racism week/event in your college

•  Put on cultural events

For further information on how to make a difference please contact the CUSU Black Students Campaign on blackstudents@cusu.cam.ac.uk. Together we can build unity that is our greatest strength.

http://www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/campaigns/blackstudents/