Activist Spotlight: Harry Johnson and Dariel Vasquez

Written by Najwa Jamal “Yeah, we gonna figure this out! ‘Cause we had no idea what we were gonna do.” It was this go-getter mentality and aspiration that has helped shape what Brothers at Bard (BAB) is today. Harry Johnson ’17 and Dariel Vasquez ’17, the founders of BAB, began from humble beginnings as two […]

Blackout Bard: What Happened

Written by Maeve McKaig The majority of the freshman class is unaware of the racial tensions that culminated in an intentionally disruptive demonstration on November 18th, 2015: Blackout Bard. Many of the issues that were addressed at the walkout are still relevant today, including microaggressions on campus towards black and brown students, and a greater […]

Black Stories Matter: Storytelling as a form of Resilience Within the Black Community

Written by Funto Omojola At the age of four, Rachel Elaine Bailey “Beetle” remembers having their first manic episode. Twenty years later, when they checked themself into a psych ward after a nervous breakdown, they remained haunted by the same thoughts they had carried with them for most of their life: they were not good […]

Activist Spotlight: Aasiyah Ali

Written by Maeve McKaig Activism has clearly risen to the forefront of political discussion since the election of Donald Trump. It motivated the creation of this “Activist Spotlight” series, as well as countless other movements across the United States and the world. But this development in what it means to be civically engaged and to […]

An Introspection of my Immigrant Identity

Written by Najwa Jamal “Najwa? That’s such an exotic name!” “If you’re from Africa, then why are you white?” A line from Mean Girls? Yes. Something that has actually been said to me? Also yes. Exotic. Interesting. Cool. These are only the most popular responses I’ll receive upon introducing myself. A tight lipped smile and […]

“I do Feel Marked:” Conversations about Black Male Experiences at Bard College

Written by Funto Omojola Dr. Tommy J. Curry, professor of philosophy and Africana studies at Texas A&M University, was recently invited to speak at The Hannah Arendt Center’s Tough Talk Lecture Series at which he presented the work: “They Mistook a Backlash for a Movement: Black Men and the Doom of Western Civilization.” The talk […]

Mental Health in Communities of Color Panel

by Gabrielle Berbey and Dezi Hall On November 1st, BRAVE at Bard hosted a panel discussion about how institutional racism has contributed to the stigma, discomfort, and distrust around mental health in communities of color. 100 Days Initiative media specialist, Dezi Hall, covered the panel discussion.