By Dara Asante, Staff Writer
River Hill High School’s Black Leadership Union is filled with community amongst black students. Leadership is a fundamental life skill, and the Black Leadership Union (BLU) creates a learning environment that helps foster leadership skills and provides leadership opportunities.
BLU creates a safe space for black students and teaches them leadership. Senior Miera Vaughn, a student involved in the club comments, “BLU is important because it creates a safe space for black students and it lets you practice the skill of leadership.”
Diversity is another significant aspect of the BLU student community. Students can connect and develop relationships with people of similar and different races and cultures. A senior Amma Atta-Poku says “Being a part of BLU was a whole new experience compared to what I was used to. As someone who grew up in a predominantly white school with non-black friends; I never imagined that I would end up in such a position.”
Students in BLU grow and learn about themselves and how they can improve their attitude toward different subjects. Senior Gabi Demuren says, “BLU has had a profound impact on both my personal growth and our wider community. As a member and the PR officer, I’ve witnessed how this club creates a welcoming and empowering space for black students. Through our shared experiences and discussions, BLU helps us find common ground, build strong connections, provide support to one another, and conduct projects to serve our community.”
Learning about the African diaspora is a way to feel connected and heard by each other. Learning about the history of your race and who you are and what shapes you is important so you can learn and make your values. Junior Brielle Brade says “BLU has brought me closer to other kids who can understand my viewpoints when it comes to my cultural background. It has also taught me how to problem-solve with others from different experiences and backgrounds. It has taught me to be more comfortable with being myself and embracing my culture around others.”
Starting a club for students to be able to come together, learn and create a safe space is very important and empowering. Letting other non-black students help this club shows how more than one community can help other communities and let people come together. Teacher sponsor of the club Mr.Martin says, “Every high school should have a place where people feel they are welcome and they belong. This being my 14th year here, we’ve always had a very strong black community for students of color where they felt they were welcome and belonged at River Hill, and when COVID happened the sponsors stepped down and they didn’t get a new sponsor. There was like a year when students didn’t feel they had a safe place so I stepped into the role because as an educator it’s our job to make sure all of our students feel that they have a safe space in the building and that there are seeing a safe space in the school building.” He also says “We just finished up a canned food drive. We’re starting a toy drive. We have students who tutor other students of color to help them. So we have a bunch of different aspects and if you want you can participate in BLU to get the leadership.”
Leadership is an important life skill. BLU is a great and empowering community for black students.