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#BBUM Hashtag Sparks Dialogue About Diversity At The University Of Michigan

Michigan Students Share The Good, The Bad And The Ugly About Being Black At Their University

Students at the University of Michigan are igniting a dynamic dialogue about race and specifically what it means to be black at a predominantly white university.

After Theta Xi, a fraternity at University Of Michigan thought it was a good idea to throw a “Hood Ratchet Thursday” party invoking cultural stereotypes, black students were inspired to take action.

The hashtag #BBUM was launched at 11 a.m. on Tuesday by the Black Student Union asking students to share their “unique experiences of being black at Michigan.” On social media, students were encouraged to post both positive and negative experiences, although a majority of the posts shared are negative.

"The hope is to make the university more aware of what black students go through,” said University of Michigan student and BSU speaker Tyrell Collier.

The hashtag has taken off, trending on twitter and receiving national attention.

“I don’t think this is a problem specific to the university, I think it’s an experience that black students at predominantly white universities across the nation are facing,” Collier said to the Michigan Daily in an article about the campaign.

Conversations like this are not isolated to the University of Michigan. A video from students at UCLA recently went viral, and sparked national interest and conversation about diversity on college campuses after shining light on the fact that the school has more championships than black male freshmen.

And as the courts reconsider the affirmative action ban in Michigan,
black students enrolled in the freshman class reportedly dropped from 4.6 percent to 4.1 percent.

Meanwhile, the conversation about race, and diversity and what it means to be black at the University of Michigan is ongoing. The black student union is also inviting students to share their experiences in written form on a posting wall on campus covered in black paper.

Although a formal response from the university hasn’t been issued yet, the school tweeted that they are listening:

Thanks for engaging in this conversation. We’re listening, and will be sure all of your voices are heard. #BBUM

— University of Michigan (@UMich) November 19, 2013

Check out some examples of #BBUM posts:

Smiling at people of a different race and they look away #BBUM

— Brie Milan (@Brie_Milan) November 20, 2013

#BBUM says differently... “@umich: By the numbers, #AnnArbor and #UMich prove to be Leaders & Best! #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/qjX8WhQzmZ

— #TheBAR18 (@TheSenCity) November 19, 2013

#BBUM means that crossing the stage to get a diploma is us carrying our cross.

— Hellhound. (@MightyJacYoung) November 20, 2013

Having to explain how the University is not diverse #BBUM

— Brie Milan (@Brie_Milan) November 20, 2013

#BBUM being the only black person in class, and having other races look at you to be the spokesperson whenever black history is brought up.

— Terra (@_myPrivateJET) November 19, 2013

Having to defend your oppression to someone who is willing to argue but refuses to listen. #BBUM

— thick think piece (@larealkay) November 20, 2013

"Oh you're a different kind of black.. You're not like them" #BBUM

— Tiara (@Tiaraevelynn) November 19, 2013

#BBUM All the white students wondering why all the black students sit together in the Bursley cafeteria

— Jazzy J Flair (@PecanJazz) November 20, 2013

Im black and I go to U of M... I MUST be from Detroit #BBUM

— Willis (@AshWillieWillis) November 20, 2013

Culture mocked, individually overlooked.... but we remain steadfast. We can and will succeed #bbum

— Hey Auntie 😈😼 (@Desiniqueeee) November 20, 2013

Not all of my #BBUM experiences have been negative.

— Krys (@_VanillaSwirl__) November 20, 2013
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