On July 1st, 2020, students received a message from President Julio Frenk titled “Our Pursuit of Racial Justice,” where he shared the administration’s fifteen-step plan announcing their commitment to Black students at the University of Miami.  Many of the actions were commendable in achieving representation on campus, however, the school has fallen short in its goal for greater retention.

As the University of Miami grows in size, population and popularity, it fails to invest in physical space for its Black students.  The United Black Students, the largest student organization on our campus, still holds one of the ONLY Black spaces on campus – an office that can barely accommodate eight people at a time. These students need a place where they can be their true selves amidst like-minded peers, a place where they feel comfortable in their own skin and can temporarily shove their sense of double consciousness to the side. The Black experience on campus needs to be enhanced.

We believe that the best way to do this is to create spaces dedicated to Black students on campus.  A Black Cultural Center would create a much-needed place of unity for Black students on campus, a place where people all across the scope of Black UM could come together and enjoy a space that is undoubtedly theirs. We propose that the name of this building be the Harold Long, Jr. Black Cultural Center in tribute to the late outstanding alumni who was the first Black graduate of our law school and founded the United Black Students club in 1968. We believe that this space would commemorate his legacy of equity on our beautiful campus and we would greatly appreciate your support in this initiative. Please share!