Black Women of Amherst College

Welcome to Black Women of Amherst College

When Amherst College went coed in the mid-1970s, the first Black female students encountered a campus that was not designed, built or ready for them. Listen to the multidimensional story of the Black women of Amherst College — including alumnae, students, faculty and staff — from the first days of the Amherst community through today.

Episode 5: Activism @ Amherst

Protest is in the DNA of Amherst College, and Black women have often led the charge to effect change on campus. The 1979 takeover of Converse Hall Thastened the College’s divestment from apartheid-era South Africa; an unlikely protest held in Charles Drew House during the 1990s resulted in improved resources for STEM students; and the Black Lives Matter-inspired Amherst Uprising of 2015 helped seal the fate of “Lord Jeff” Amherst, the now-former unofficial school mascot named for the controversial mid-18th century commander of British colonial forces in North America..  Host: Nichelle S. Carr ’98 Discussion topics: Black women and the undue burden of reforming institutions Timeline of the 1979 takeover of Converse Hall in response to a campus cross-burning, also demanding divestment from South Africa and the continuation of Black freshman orientation The two-day takeover of Converse in 1992 protesting the lack of faculty diversity  How young Black women tackled a larger STEM problem at Amherst  The Forum on Academic Concerns of Black Students: a different kind of protest The Being Human in STEM initiative The genesis and impact of the 2015 Amherst Uprising Continuing the conversation online: @BlackAmherstSpeaks Featured interviews (in order of appearance): The Hon. Denise Francois ’80 Sheila Maddox ’80 Dr. Susan Prattis ’80 Dr. Kellie Jones ’81 LeAnn Shelton ’80M.  Cyndy Jean ’07 Amani Brown Legagneur ’97 Ashaki Brown ’97 Onawumi Jean Moss, former associate dean of students (1985-2006) Katyana Dandridge ’18 Kyndall Ashe ’18

Episode 6: The Next 200 Years of Amherst College

Biddy Martin, president of Amherst from 2011 to 2022, reflects on how the institution is working in earnest to become a more welcoming, equitable and inclusive place for marginalized students, one that tackles uncomfortable truths, celebrates triumphs and fully serves its next generations of Black women. Host: Nichelle S. Carr ’98 In conversation with: Biddy Martin, former president of Amherst College Discussion topics: Race, race relations and the myth of a “post-racial” society The unique concerns of Black women at Amherst  Invisibility, hyper-visibility and “Black Girl Magic” The 2015 Amherst Uprising The tension faced by Black women on campus between academic growth and activism  The contributions of Dr. Anna Julia Cooper, Professor Sonia Sanchez and other unrecognized trailblazers in spaces and places on campus Black martyrdom vs. recognition What lies ahead for Amherst College: Reckoning, reform and celebration  Featured interview: Rhonda Cobham-Sander, the Emily C. Jordan Folger Professor of Black Studies and English, who has taught at Amherst since 1986

Episode 3: Black Alumnae Speak, Part 1

This episode deconstructs stories of vulnerability, challenge, growth and joy from Black women who dared to be their authentic selves at Amherst. Host: Nichelle S. Carr ’98 Guest Co-host: Tene Adero Howard ’01 Discussion topics: Personal reflections on: Culture shock and seeking space for self-expression and joy  Amherst College’s beloved but controversial Black freshmen orientation  The high cost of authenticity  Colorism, classism and rejection from one’s own Code-switching and coping The importance of “sistahood”  Learning to thrive in a predominantly white institution  Featured interviews (in order of appearance): Dr. Yulanda Faison-Oyebanji ’92 Billye Smith Toussaint ’01 Sarah Bass ’06 Laura Jarrett ’07

Episode 4: Black Alumnae Speak, Part 2

This episode features more first-person narratives of self-discovery and self-realization at Amherst College that encompass the competing demands of academics, intersectionality, dating, the Black Student Union (BSU) and the financial aid office. Host: Nichelle S. Carr ’98 Guest Co-host: Tene Adero Howard ’01 Discussion topics: Personal reflections on: Expressions and definitions of Blackness The changing role of the BSU LGBTQIA intersectionality The challenges of dating at a predominantly white institution  Beauty and desirability The high stakes and financial angst of being a first-generation college student Dealing with entitlement and microaggressions The struggle of academics vs. activism  “Black Girl Magic” Featured interviews (in order of appearance): “G” Wright Muir ’95 Sarah Bass ’06 Katyana Dandridge ’18 Kyndall Ashe ’18 Vanessa Olivier ’01