Browse the Collection

This program describes events held during the first Black Awareness Week and includes a description of its purpose, a list of BSU members, speaker photographs, and the events schedule.

These promotional materials show the event schedule for the 1975 Black Awareness Week. They also credit the College staff and Black Student Union members who contributed to organizing it.

Twenty Black Student Union members pose for their student organization’s yearbook photograph. This is the first Black Student Union photograph included in the Tomokan yearbook. Back row: Krisita Jackson, Theda James, Deborah Coleman, Brenda Martin, Reggie Brock, Blanche Jackson, Lonnie Butler, Otis Cameron, Rodney Dowling. Middle row: Lorraine Powell, Marcus Wilson, Grace Borom, Juanita Gibson, Jennifer Matthews, Roxwell Robinson, Arlinda Staley. Front row: Guilda Brandon, Theotis Bronson, Constance Blackman, Errol Cunningham.

These news articles inform students about the Black Awareness Week events schedule, the display of bronze busts of famous Black Americans in Mills Memorial Library to begin Black Awareness Week, and the results of the Black Student Union executive committee elections. The articles show BSU campus activities and involvement.

The flyer invites the Rollins community to attend an open discussion meeting in 1972 with the Black Student Union. This meeting was to address concerns about the purpose of the first scheduled Black Awareness Week, since there had been a mixed response to news of plans for this event.

This article, written by Mary McLeod Bethune, discusses her friendship with President Hamilton Holt. It outlines the path of acceptance of African Americans at Rollins College, and her hope for further acceptance and integration in the future. Circa 1955-1956

An overview of completed and planned tasks for the Race Relations Committee in November 1945. The activities show the interaction between the group and local African American community to volunteer, donate, and share ideas.

The administration responds to student demands for more Black studies by creating a winter term course on "Black Literature, History and Sociology." The Dean of Rollins College consulted the Dean of Bethune-Cookman College on the structure and content of the course, demonstrating continued cooperation between the two institutions.

President Hamilton Holt writes to alumnus Dick Kelly about public support for awarding an honorary degree to civil rights leader and educator Mary McLeod Bethune.

Theodore Darrah, the Dean of Knowles Memorial Chapel, invites Frank Otey, Principal of the Hungerford School, and his students to the Race Relations Sunday service. Dean Darrah notes that Rollins College will be providing the choir for the service, which is a change from their usual reliance on the Hungerford choir. The change demonstrates a more equal exchange between the Hungerford School and Rollins College.

Hamilton Holt awarding Mary McLeod Bethune, President Emerita of Bethune-Cookman College, with an honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities.This is the first honorary degree given to an African American by an institution of higher education in the South.

This memo from Alzo J. Reddick (the faculty sponsor of the Black Student Union and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs) thanks President Jack Critchfield for his support and refers to letters from community members in support of Black Awareness Week. Dean Reddick also suggests that Black Awareness Week was a mixed success, but expresses an overall positive opinion about the event.

In Fall 1972, Black Student Union President Krisita Jackson invites all faculty members to contact the BSU office or Dean Alzo J. Reddick with any concerns about the nature of the planned Black Awareness Week. This is in response to the allocation of $2500 for the event.

Hamilton Holt expresses concern that the announcement of Mary McLeod Bethune's honorary degree would cause protesting and interference from the KKK. His fears proved to be unfounded, but facing violence was a real possibility.

A young man walking outside of the Student Center, passing a poster promoting Black Awareness Week. This photo was taken in 1973, the first year that Black Awareness Week was celebrated at Rollins.

A Rollins Sandspur article describing the first Race Relations Sunday, which brought together white and African American residents to celebrate Race Relations Day with music, film, and speeches. Rollins' hosting of this event on campus with support from Winter Park and the Hungerford School shows local and collegiate interest in supporting African Americans.

Black Student Union President Roxwell Robinson requested suggestions from Rollins College department heads about the next Black Awareness Week program, based on the theme of Black Arts. He received suggestions from a professor and her Black literature class. The correspondence demonstrates the BSU’s cooperative relationship with Rollins faculty.