'Black doesn't mean anti-white': Harvard Black Student Alliance holds independent graduation

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — More than 200 students of color participated in Harvard’s first black graduate student commencement Tuesday.

“Today was absolutely phenomenal,” Harvard graduate Lauren Powell said. “It was a joyous celebration for everyone who was able to participate.”

The first of its kind ceremony is the brainchild of Harvard Law student Courtney Woods and the Black Graduate Student Alliance. Woods says it came from a need to honor the students of color who paved the way for her class and acknowledge the achievements of African-Americans that often go unrecognized.

“Sometimes, the world makes us feel like we're nothing,” another graduate, Farris Blount, said. “That we're just a speck in a huge world but today was a reinforcement. A celebration to remind us that we matter."

As news of the ceremony spread, so did the backlash. Comments to articles online said things like, 'what if white students did this?' and a Washington Post article called the ceremony ‘racially segregated.’

“The truest form of inclusion is when people feel safe to celebrate their identity,” said Woods. “I think this celebration is about affirmation for a lot of people and it was to celebrate a spectrum of identities across the Diaspora."

"It's amazing. This is what we need in this world to celebrate diversity; to celebrate cultures; to understand that black doesn't mean anti-white,” said Harvard Graduate David Price. “It means that we're all together celebrating our differences and our similarities."

The Black Graduate Student Alliance raised more than $34,000 to hold the event. They hope the funding will continue and the commencement will happen again next year.

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