Black Reality Talks | Photo by Rose Taylor | The Wright State Guardian
A new year brings new questions to the table. The Black Student Union hosted Black Reality Talks on Tuesday, Jan. 16, hoping to address the questions and concerns posed by the community.
History and importance
Black Reality Talks, which originally started in 2019, address the need for an avenue of communication from students to faculty and also provide community and advice from more experienced students to newer students.
Jazmine Reeves is a senior in organizational leadership and is the president of BSU. Reeves serves as the spokesperson of BSU and helped put together the January event.
“If students are having any troubles on campus or new resolutions, that's what this event entails. If there are issues, we bring in faculty and make them get resolved but also work with faculty together to make the space better for everybody, not just minority students, but also the student population in general, and also faculty,” Reeves said.
The faculty session—when BSU gives issues presented during the Black Reality Talks student session to faculty—took place on Jan. 22.
Previously, BSU informed the faculty that some students were concerned that dining halls closed too early for students to take advantage of them after classes.
For more information about Black Reality Talks’ history and previous events, click here.
New questions
Anyone is welcome to join Black Reality Talks, regardless of race or ethnicity, to discuss any issues they may have or simply attend for the community aspect of the event.
The event began with a quick introduction by BSU leadership and the objective of hosting Black Reality Talks. Sophomore Jaha Jackson elaborated on the importance of the events.
“I think it's important because it allows students to have a platform and a safe space where they can talk about their problems or give each other advice,” Jackson said.
The projector screen then displayed a QR code where students could pose anonymous questions to BSU leadership. Questions included the following:
“Is there anything that the school plans to do about the car break-ins?”
“What can I do as a freshman to put my name out there and get more active on campus?”
“When is the Heritage Ball?”
“What should I do if a tutor isn’t available for one of my classes?”
“What are some good test-taking strategies?”
“Can I change my advisor?”
“What is Greek Life like here?”
After each question, BSU leadership and audience members answered the questions to the best of their ability and knowledge.
The next Black Reality Talks student session will commence on Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in Rike 160.
