Early in 2021, Greater Diversity News (GDN) asked “Is a new black student movement needed?” Meet William Evans, a junior at Fayetteville State University (FSU) and President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) FSU student chapter.

In May of 2021, the answer to the question began to reveal itself. That is when a group of FSU students met and began the discussion of the question with FSU graduates and proponents of the creation of The NBSM. William was an active participant in the discussion. The consensus coming out of that meeting was that we indeed need a new black student movement and that FSU students could help birth it.

Follow-up discussions included student thoughts, comments, and observations on challenges for various Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Black Student

Unions (BSUs). Additional discussions covered potential committees, including, history and research; leadership development; and public relations and outreach.

Since the first meeting in May 2021, William has led discussions on the creation of The NBSM model every other Friday. He has been advised and assisted by a contingency of committed advisors that have years of experience in the fight for black equality in America. GDN has been the media advocate and support throughout this time. It has focused on initiative context and storylines.

William has led the discussions on the development of The NBSM Engagement Model (NBSMEM) which is to work in tandem with other HBCU/BSU campus student organizations, alumni associations, Divine 9, faith-based, and nonpartisan groups and individuals in an existing and unique VOTER REGISTRATION, EDUCATION, ORGANIZATION,

MOBILIZATION (VREM), and GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV) model.

The establishment of student NAACP chapters at each HBCU throughout the nation and on predominately white campuses with Black Student Unions (BSUs) is a part of the desired institutionalization process to pursue 100% black voter participation moving forward. Ultimately, it is to develop student abilities to acquire and use political and economic resources to address issues in local NAACP and faith-based communities of which they are a part. Corporations are expected to provide financial support for this paradigm as proof of their divestment in voter suppression and investment in HBCU and BSU students.

Recent data indicates that current student activism trends across the country developed to address voter suppression legislation, rampant and significant unjustifiable law enforcement killing of Blacks, and anti-protest legislation that hearken back to the days of the Black Codes and Convict Leasing penalties. The context for current student engagement is best addressed by reference to the “Third Reconstruction.” That concept considers the First Reconstruction era immediately following the Civil War (1865-1877) and the Civil

Rights Movement, Second Reconstruction, (1954-1968).

To appreciate the value of leadership, student or otherwise, it is important to know differentness in leadership and there are many. I characterize William’s leadership as visionary because of his ability to define and express clearly a future for The NBSM. His understanding comes from the many discussions that students and advisors have had on the mission, ambiguity, and complexity of The NBSM. He knows the actions necessary to build models for this initiative and is a part of the development of plans needed for this initiative to succeed. He has demonstrated his understanding of the need to involve other leaders in this process.

The students and their advisors answer the question of why we need a New Black Student Movement by pointing to the Third Reconstruction and the fact that after the First and Second Reconstruction eras, efforts promoting economic inequality, mass incarceration, voter suppression, and the exploitation of black Americans seems to have continued unabated. Student engagement during the Civil Rights Movement was crucial to the successes that resulted therefrom was an important part of the consideration.

Additionally, Evans, a computer science major observed in an interview for this article, “The NAACP was founded to establish justice within the Black Community, first, and the NBSM is perfectly matched with it to pursue strategic, sustainable, committed, and motivated achievement.” The Fayetteville native spoke of his civic engagement responsibility being instilled through his parents and grandmother as, “They just kind of knew it; and I feel as though many youths of today, don’t. My family instilled that in me and my choice to come to an HBCU, FSU, was heavily influenced by that sense of community and responsibility that exists here. As the national organization that has been in existence since 1909, the NAACP has been most recognized for defending justice for more than a century.”

The NBSM focuses on the establishment of NAACP student chapters at each of the institutions, with administrative oversight and community chapters’ involvement. That requires student volunteerism, at this stage, with a focused eye toward work-study compensation as soon as possible and a requirement that there be twenty-five active student members to establish a chapter on each campus. The immediate major focus of these chapters is voter registration, education, and mobilization, and get-out-the-vote (VREM/GOTV).

“I just love the more seasoned and more experienced alumni here. It just goes to show that it pushes the narrative forward of what it means and the significance of an HBCU. The fact that alumni continue to try and help out even after they are long gone is one of the powerful things about an HBCU, and one of the reasons why we as a people should want to go to an HBCU,” William said.

The national requirement for establishing campus chapters will be one that each HBCU will have to attain and is a process for established chapters and those who will be establishing chapters. It’s part of the process of moving forward. It is not viewed as a daunting process and even more reason for generating membership support from different entities.

“I appreciate the opportunity for us to coexist together. From my perspective, this is not taken lightly. You all are doing a great deed, not only for Fayetteville State but for African Americans across North Carolina and even the world. I think you should continue. We must get back out into the community to reclaim the original and continuing efforts for which the NAACP was created…not only as an organization but as a people,” William continued.

During The NBSM he continually reminds everyone that we are all volunteers and he’s not starting a new organization but an initiative that is building a voter engagement model to be adopted and replicated by student leaders and community organizations nationwide. A link to the model is posted on nbsm.greaterdiversity.com.

 

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To stay informed about The New Black Student Movement (The NBSM), visit the new social media site for students at nbsm.greaterdiversity.com and subscribe to Greater Diversity News’ free eNews editions at greaterdiversity.com.

 

 

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