Black Awareness Coordinating Committee records

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: RITArc-0170

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Black Awareness Coordinating Committee records consists of documents related to the organization and its activities. The collection includes a history of the organization, as well as a copy of its constitution and a budget proposal for the 1977-1978 academic year. Additionally, there are various program announcements and event calendars, such as a flier advertising a presentation by Dick Gregory and a schedule of events for a Black Awareness Weekend held in 1975. The collection also includes clippings on the organization and several of its programs.

Dates

Creation: 1970-1986
Creation: Majority of material found within 1970 - 1986

Creator

Rochester Institute of Technology. Black Awareness Coordinating Committee (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical / Historical

The Black Awareness Coordinating Committee (BACC) was formed during the Spring 1969 quarter at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). The purpose of the group was "to foster and sustain an awareness of Black people being an integral part of our nation's society." BACC's constitution also outlines its intent in the preamble:

We, the people of various descents, in an attempt to develop a sense of pride in ourselves, our people and our cultures, to create an understanding of black identity pertinent to the needs of black people, united to address ourselves, to the unity of blacks as well as other students, to the needs of sharing and maintaining a Black Culture: to the political, economical, and social needs of Black people, and to whatever is of further relevance to them: to the needs of, more specifically, Black student groups: and to develop a form of leadership among ourselves to find personal meaning in the learning experiences at this Institute.

In 1977, the organization touted itself as being the only organization "run exclusively for and by minority students." At the time, the groups membership consists mostly of Black and Puerto Rican undergraduates, though several graduate students belonged to the organization as well. Some of the programs sponsored by BACC included a Black student orientation, Black Awareness Week, and Educational Day. Educational Day was designed to introduce inner city high school students to the world of higher education. Throughout the years, the group sponsored various events such as a presentation by Dick Gregory, a talk on Frederick Douglass, and a memorial celebration in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

As of 2011, the Black Awareness Coordinating Committee still played a part on RIT's campus by working with other organizations and clubs to help promote Black awareness and enrich the university community.

Extent

.5 Linear Feet (2 folders in 1 document box with other collections)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

Records of the Rochester Institute of Technology's Black Awareness Coordinating Committee. The organization was formed in 1969 to provide a community for minority students on campus. The collection includes historical information, program announcements, newsletters, financial records, governance documents, clippings, and other related material.

Arrangement

The collection is spread between two folders. The second folder contains clippings related to the organization. Items are arranged chronologically within each folder.