The Black Cultural Center (BCC) provides opportunities for all UW students to attend social and educational events that highlight the many diverse cultures of the African diaspora. The BCC hosts a multitude of events, including study circles, film screenings, cultural celebrations, and socials that enhance the student experience, support student success, and foster a sense of belonging at UW-Madison and beyond.
The BCC centers the lived experiences and cultures of all Black students (including African-American, Caribbean, Afro-Latine, and African Diaspora), regardless of country of origin, religious background, or other identities they hold. We recognize and honor the personal, complex, and fluid nature of identity, and welcome individuals as they understand themselves. As part of the MSC, we take a unified approach to programming that uplifts shared connections and diverse cultural traditions, rather than attempting to define or represent individual countries.
Location
The Black Cultural Center is a physical space on the first floor in the Red Gym. Our space is used to study, socialize, and get connected to resources. We have a classroom, rotating art gallery, lounge/study area, library of books and movies, and historical timeline of Black History at UW-Madison. An accessible entrance to the BCC is located on the North side of the space, near the On Wisconsin Rooms.
- Classroom: Used for programming, meetings, and occasionally class instruction. This space is reservable for registered student organization and campus partners.
- Art Gallery: Highlights artwork from artists in the African diaspora. The gallery fosters mutually beneficial relationships between artist and audience. Work has been contributed by students, faculty, staff, and community members.
History
The Center for Afro-American and Race Relations was established within the College of Letters and Science in October 1968. The university closed the Center in 1973 despite student protests.
The Black Cultural Center opened its doors in 2017. The BCC continues the original center’s goal of supporting Black students and celebrating the contributions of Black culture to the Wisconsin Experience.
Programming
As part of the MSC, the BCC is supported by staff that work with students from many different backgrounds. They advise on student programming, including Heritage months, well-being, and academic resources.
The Black Cultural Center offers programming and initiatives that focus on cultural celebration/education, academic support, and community building.
We create opportunities for students to engage socially with their peers and to explore their varying and intersectional identities.
Additionally, through our programming and initiatives we aim to give students the tools needed for their overall personal and academic success.
The BCC frequently partners with student organizations and campus partners on events. Past efforts have included:
- Drop-In and Food Insecurity Resources
- Ubuntu Peer Discussion Group
- Umoja Study Circles
- Off-campus day trips (e.g. movie screenings, museum trips)
- Cultural celebrations (e.g. Pre-Kwanzaa, Iftar, MLK Day, Black History Month)
Upcoming Events
No events returned.
Black History Month
In November 2013, students and staff came together to create a tradition of a student-led Black History Month Planning Committee. Which would go on to lay the foundation for future heritage months for other Communities of Color on-campus at UW-Madison.
The first Black History Month (BHM) celebration was under the stewardship of then coordinator for African American Student Academic Services (AASAS), Karla Foster. The committee’s original aim was to celebrate Black history, while educating the campus community and honoring the historic contributions of Black students to UW-Madison.
Since 2018 the Black Cultural Center serves in an advisory capacity to the BHM planning committee of roughly 20 students and one staff advisor—the BCC program coordinator Lauren Adams. The committee meets in the Fall semester to plan the month-long celebration including planning small-to-mid scale events, selecting a theme and keynote speaker, and collaborating with student organizations and campus partners to submit their events to the calendar.
Any currently enrolled degree-seeking student is welcome to sign up to join the Planning Committee. Students do not need to be affiliated with a registered student organization affiliated with the MSC or BCC. Recruitment for the Planning Committee begins in the fall semester. Advertising for this occurs on the BCC Instagram account and electronic newsletter. Membership is voluntary, but students are required to attend weekly in-person meetings leading up to February.
Partnering with the BCC
The BCC partners with student organizations, campus offices, academic departments, and community entities mostly through events. You can see the ways we partner with these different groups below.
- Student Organizations Affiliated with the MSC
- History/Heritage Month involvement
- Event collaborations
- Mentorship & advocacy
- Campus Offices & Academic Departments
- History/Heritage Month collaborations and financial co-sponsorships
- Event collaborations
- MSC tours should be scheduled by emailing the msc@studentaffair@wisc.edu
- Community Entities
- Partnerships with community entities to support our students are assessed on an individual basis.
- Tours should be arranged through Campus and Visitor Relations. Please know that our ability to provide programming for K-12 students is very limited.
- Financial donations
Who to Contact about Partnering
- Please email Program Coordinator Lauren Adams at lauren.adams@wisc.edu
If you are interested in partnering with multiple or all four Cultural Centers (BCC, APIDASC, LCC, and ISC), please contact MSC Assistant Director Noreen Siddiqui at noreen.siddiqui@wisc.edu.
