Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center
yet it also excluded Blacks from permanently settling. And, in the 1920s,
there was a resurgence of the KKK across the state. (1) Fortunately, racial
discrimination on the state level and on campus, has come a long way. The
Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center (BCC) is an example of that progress. The
mission of the BCC is to support OSU’s African and African American students,
as well as to educate the campus and local community on issues and histories
pertaining to African Americans. (2)
The BCC officially opened in April 1975, yet the roots of its establishment
date to 1968 with the formation of the Black Student Union (BSU) and the
group’s walk-out the next year. (3) In the early 1970s, the BSU and groups
representing Native American and Latino/a students on campus fought for
equality. At first, a location was established for all cultural groups on campus;
however, as time progressed these groups founded cultural centers of their
own, including BCC. (4) The BCC was named after Lonnie B. Harris, the first
director of OSU’s Educational Opportunities Program. Harris was recognized
and honored for his work in promoting retention and increasing African
American student recruitment, which played a fundamental role in the
establishment of the BCC. (5)
Creating a strong and unified community for African American students, as
well as educating the broader community, is a year-round endeavor for the
BCC; however, there are certain times of year for special events and activities
hosted or supported by the Center. At the beginning of each fall term the
BCC hosts an open house for the OSU and local community, and in January
and February the BCC celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. week and Black
History Month. (6) The BCC also reflects and supports national endeavors; for
example, in October 1995, the BCC hosted a special meeting reflecting upon
the “Million Man March,” a day when African American men gathered at the
nation’s capital to advocate for equality. (7) It is through these and countless
other events, as well as awareness gatherings and alumni support that the
BCC is strengthened. It continues to provide support and resources for African
American students on campus, giving them a sense of pride and community.
Although the BCC and African American students have faced much opposition
over the years, the BCC and its supporters were able to prevail during times
of trial and continue to fight for a positive image and for the rights of the
African American students on campus. (8) In the spring of 2015, the Lonnie
B. Harris Black Cultural Center celebrated its newly constructed space. For
many decades the center has been an integral aspect of our campus here at
OSU, and will continue to prove itself resilient and powerful no matter what
obstacles it may encounter.
