With Black Excellence Month in full swing, Miramonte’s Black Student Union (BSU) is celebrating African American achievement and resilience through events designed to spark awareness and cultural appreciation. On campus, BSU is commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the first national celebration of African American contributions to American history, Negro History Week. Some planned events include highlighting monumental Black figures from the past century, organizing the annual door decorating competition, arranging bingo scavenger hunt, and planning various games and giveaways, as well as a merchandise fundraiser. At the district level, club officers have coordinated BSU summit dances while contributing to statewide initiatives. Notable among these was a three day leadership conference in San Jose, which featured various workshops on college admissions, academic success strategies, and general life skills. The event also provided valuable networking opportunities, guest speakers, and a dance. Ultimately, BSU provides far more than just a calendar of events. It fosters a community where students can connect, ensuring that the voices of Black students are not only heard but remain instrumental in shaping a more inclusive campus culture. 

To celebrate Black Excellence Month and provide meaningful opportunities for the students, BSU has organized a series of events focused on education, community building, and this year’s theme, “A Century of Black History Commemorations.” The schedule begins with the 23rd annual Oakland Black College Expo on Feb. 7. At this event, students from across the district can receive on-the-spot scholarships and admissions from institutions nationwide, including HBCU’s, Ivy League schools, and the UC campuses. This will be followed by the “Feel the Glow” district-wide dance held at Acalanes on Feb. 27. 

Supporting these events is a spirit week during the last week of February, featuring daily prizes on the quad for students who dress out. BSU is continuing the annual tradition of the door decorating competition, where every fourth period class is encouraged to decorate their classroom’s door following the theme, with the winning classes receiving a donut party. This year, Miramonte’s BSU will be debuting a Black Excellence Bingo Competition, which utilizes posters around campus to teach students about historical figures in exchange for raffle entries. Students looking to contribute further can purchase new BSU merchandise from the Mats Webstore, with proceeds directly supporting BSU activities. 

The Black Student Union invests a significant amount of planning and thoughtful preparation into organizing its upcoming events to guarantee a smooth experience for the participants. “BSU works to hear everyone’s input on activities. As part of the decision process, the BSU hosts meetings where members brainstorm together and decide on activities. BSU officers work alongside Leadership to plan and advertise our events, so the entire campus can participate,” BSU president Christophe Davis said. 

As president, Davis leads weekly meetings focused on cultivating a welcoming space for all students, working closely with advisor Ms. Flores and her officer team to execute their vision. Her leadership extends well beyond the local campus, as she serves as the district liaison — participating in monthly meetings with other BSU presidents and administrators — and as the president of Black Students of California United. In this role, Davis helps to plan the state-wide conference and day of activism. “The most rewarding part of leading BSU is knowing that students of all races can come, learn, and cherish the space. BSU is a community of scholars who are committed to learning and celebrating both each others’ and our history’s achievements,” Davis said. Building on this sense of shared community, Davis is now looking to translate that inclusive connection among the student body into a broader educational movement across campus. “My goal for BSU this Black Excellence Month is to have a campus-wide impact — educating, celebrating, and empowering everyone in Black History,” Davis said.     

Each officer within the club has a distinct set of responsibilities that contribute to the collective success of every scheduled event. Vice President of the BSU, Zoe Banford-LaCour, plays an important role in organizing and executing these plans by working alongside Davis and the other officers. Together, they brainstorm ideas and plan events to ensure that all activities highlight black excellence and history in an impactful way. For the officers, these responsibilities are a way to elevate the inclusive environment that drew them to the union in the first place. 

“What first made me want to join BSU was the opportunity to be in a space where I felt understood. I wanted to connect with other Black students who shared similar experiences and create a community where we could support each other while simultaneously celebrating our culture,” LaCour said. This sense of community has evolved into deep personal bonds that extend well beyond the planning of school activities. Throughout our various events and meetings, I have been able to build strong friendships that go beyond the club itself,” LaCour said. It is through the club’s collective dedication that it achieves its mission to unite and uplift the student body. 

 Sophomore Trey Atkinson is a great example of how getting involved can lead to a bigger role in the school community. Atkinson first joined the BSU as a freshman because some of his friends were attending meetings, and they convinced him to take part in the club. “I feel like BSU meetings are a really welcoming place for all grades to relax and have fun with friends. We have really great club officers who plan events and field trips that everyone can feel excited about,” Atkinson said. Now, as the club’s treasurer, Atkinson helps create budgets and plan for upcoming events. He is now working on the details for the upcoming HBCU college fair on Feb. 7 and finding ways to promote the club so more students decide to join. “As a freshman, I met different Black students from other grades, which made me feel more connected to Miramonte. BSU helps give Black students a place to gather, and I think that helps at a school where Black people are a minority. It’s important for people to see that there is diversity at Miramonte,” Atkinson said. 

Drawing on years of experience as a BSU president in her previous school, BSU secretary Morgan Thompson joined the Miramonte chapter to continue building personal connections and fostering cultural representation. “This club helped me connect with people I wouldn’t have known before, especially the upperclassmen. Prior to joining, I wasn’t close to a lot of them, but now I have a strong connection with many of them,” Thompson said. Beyond fostering these internal bonds, the club serves a vital role in external advocacy and awareness at Miramonte. “We help represent Black culture by creating events and helping people learn about it. We also sometimes open up our meetings to allies, so anyone who wants to learn about or be involved in certain things can have the opportunity to learn about our cultures,” Thompson said. By balancing the focus on internal community building with an open invitation to the rest of the school, Thompson and the BSU are ensuring that Black culture remains a celebrated part of the school. 

For many members, BSU meetings serve as a sanctuary where goals and inclusive community building go hand-in-hand. “We usually start off the meetings doing more important stuff, like planning for events, and then for the rest of the period we do fun bonding games, or just talk with each other as a group,” Thompson said. This balance of productivity and social connection creates a space where every member feels both valued and heard. “The atmosphere is very welcoming. Everyone is always playing games or having a conversation, and they all care about including everyone when talking about possible events. Whenever there are upcoming events, everyone is always on task, and Christophe makes sure everything goes smoothly and efficiently,” BSU’s historian, Olivia Durinck, said. Through this collaborative spirit and organized leadership, BSU successfully maintains a community that is as focused on its mission as it is on the well-being of its members. 

The Black Student Union remains a vital part of the Miramonte community, dedicated to honoring, celebrating, and spreading awareness of Black culture. In an environment where Black students are the minority, the club provides a vital space for connection and solidarity. Ultimately, Davis envisions the club as a source of lasting personal impact for its members. “I hope students can walk away from BSU feeling empowered and proud to be Black,” Davis said.