Black Dance Ensemble

Gospel Choir

Sunday evening realization of a precious Afro-American art form. Struggles to learn our different voice parts. When we did, and all sang together - a wonderful warm feeling that we put everything into it that we had to make the song live. 

Gospel Choir

The Swarthmore College Black Dance Ensemble provides an opportunity for cultural identity and understanding. Black Dance Ensemble members combine their creative talents to demonstrate a realm of black expansion, the traditional African Cuban to contemporary modern dance. In essence, the Black Dance Ensemble seeks, through weekly practices and annual concerts, to enlighten our culture, our community, and ourselves.

Black Dance Ensemble group photo

Black Dance Ensemble performing on stage.

Upward Bound

Swarthmore Afro-American Society

Professor William Amoaku

Maya Angelou

Gospel Choir

Robinson House 1983

SASS (Swarthmore Afro-American Students Society)

Black Cultural Center, Christmas Dinner 1987

Student Life

Black Studies, from left: Joe Mason, Black Cultural Center; Chuck James, English literature, Peter Schmidt, English literature, Hillard Pouncy, political science; and Jerry Wood, history. Missing: Allison Williams, chemistry, Ethel Moore, psychology, and Maurice Eldridge '61, development office.

SASA promotes a wide-ranging study of African issues and African cultures, aiming in all its activities to enrich student's experiences at Swarthmore by fostering a greater awareness of Africa and African issues.

SASS is a political, educational, cultural, and social organization which develops a variety of programs and activities that maintain the understanding of the African-American experience.

On March 21, 1992, the portrait of former dean of Swarthmore College Janet Dickerson became the first painting of a person of color to permanently adorn the walls of Parrish Hall.

Sistahs is a new a capella group on Swarthmore Campus. The group is made up of female Afro-Americans.

Sophisticated Gents is an all-male Afro-American a capella group.

The Swarthmore College Gospel Choir serves as a spiritual uplifting, a cultural identification, and a special outlet for black students at Swarthmore College.

Essie Mae Burkhalter, a 35-year member of the Dining Services staff, at the dedication in her honor of the former snack bar in Tarble Social Center in Clothier Hall.

Student life, 1993

Student life, 1993

Student life, 1993

Student life, 1993

SASS, 1993

In response to racist and homophobic graffiti seen on campus, students took action. Black students staged a silent protest outside the Admissions Office. Later, students of all colors and creeds banded together denouncing all forms of hate speech.

BCC Senior Dinner

Slamming in the Bell Tower, Black Coffee sings during Harambe

Black Coffee is an all African-American a capella group that induced many debates on campus when it received its charter this year, 1996.

Members of SASA perform in a fashion show as part of a presentation of African culture, 1999.

SASA

Celebrating MLK Jr. Day with music in Bond Hall, 2009

SASS, 2008

A cappella group Essence of Soul performing in Clothier Bell Tower, 2009 

Kathryn Morgan, Sarah Lawrence Lightfoot Professor Emerita of History, at a poetry event named and held in her honor, 2009

Christopher Edley Jr. '73 H' 99 speaks at a symposium, Reimagining Civil Discourse, 2010

Black History Month 2011 included a performance by the Alumni Gospel Choir, conducted by Freeman Palmer '79 (right), in the Friends Meetinghouse 

Cecily Bumbray '12 and Philippe Celestin '11 performed in Upper Tarble during the second annual charity ball that raised funds for relief efforts in Haiti, 2011

Rhythm n Motion, 2011

Rhythm n Motion's 2010 fall dance concert

Members of Swarthmore's poetry collective OASiS offered lyrical creations with celebrated Def Jam poet Shihan (right) during the Swat Poetry Jam, 2011

John Alston leads the Chester Children's Chorus during its 2011 summer concert in Lang Concert Hall

We Are All Trayvon march

Black Cultural Center 

The Inauguration of President Valerie Smith in 2015. From left: Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber, President Valerie Smith, and Chair of the Board of Managers Tom Spock '78.

The Inauguration of President Valerie Smith in 2015. From left, Ruth Simmons, former president of Brown University and Smith College, and President Valerie Smith.

The Inauguration of President Valerie Smith in 2015. Lynne Cottman, a 42-year member of Dining Services, offered greetings on behalf of the College's staff.

Students at a BCC Open House picnic

Project Blueprint closing ceremony with President Valerie Smith

Provost Sarah Willie-LeBreton and Dion Lewis, director of Black Cultural Center

Kwanzaa celebration in Upper Tarble sponsored by the Black Cultural Center

Dean of First Year Students Karen Henry '87 and Shá Duncan Smith, assistant vice president and dean of inclusive excellence and community engagement 

Sabrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, met with students in the BCC during her visit to campus in 2018.

Environmental Services Week celebration, 2018

Environmental Services Black History Month celebration, 2019

Chester Children's Chorus in Lang Concert Hall

Students, faculty, and staff celebrate the Class of 2019 at the annual Black Cultural Center Senior Awards Banquet in Upper Tarble.

Students at the Black Cultural Center