2018 | 1968 Take Back the Mic Students

1968 marked the end of an era--particularly for Black America. What had begun as an age of hope and possibility ended in bloodshed, assassination, and violence. In that year, an assassin's bullet killed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Stanford community bore witness to the entire spectrum of reactions. Four days after the assassination, on April 8th, the University canceled all classes and called a campus-wide convocation entitled "Colloquium and Plan for Action: Stanford's Response to White Racism." During the convocation, Provost Richard Lyman was addressing the crowd when seventy Black students and community members rose from their seats, solemnly walked onto the stage, and took the microphone from Provost Lyman. Frank Omowale Satterwhite then read the Black Student Union's statement which listed ten demands for Stanford to adhere to in order to show its commitment to actively combat racism. The Black students who took the mic understood that the Black Student Union had one central purpose--to do its part for the Black freedom struggle by defending, supporting, and fighting for the interests of Black students on a campus that was not designed with their unique historical experiences in mind. The Black Community Services Center has chosen to honor these students and community members who participated in the 1968 Takeover affectionately called, “Take Back the Mic.” We salute these organizers, activists, educators, and risk-takers for their bravery, tenacity, grit, and ingenuity as they single-handedly shifted the campus culture and ultimately, the trajectory of Stanford University. 
Submitted by: Brent Obleton, BCSC, October 16, 2018