“Black Student Union is a club at MTHS that serves as a place for students of color to celebrate their differences and embrace being part of a community,” said senior Abby Kimani. Kimani is not only a member of the club; she is also the current president of Black Student Union (BSU).
As president of BSU, Kimani is responsible for the organization of the other committees and is in charge of a variety of events. These include tasks such as fundraising or working with Vice President Abby Bekele to organize fun gatherings for BSU.
“My plan is to leave BSU with a lasting legacy for the following years,” said Kimani.
Kimani believes that BSU hasn’t flourished in the ways it could have in previous years. Due to a disconnect between students in the club and the rest of the student population and staff, the club has not been able to reach its full potential.
Kimani wants to change that.
“Embracing our cultural heritage and teaching diversity through engaging activities focused around tolerance and acceptance is the hope for the year, ” she said. Kimani has many plans to make sure these hopes become reality.
As a club, BSU plans to work and fundraise with local businesses, plan entertaining events, and advocate for one another all while working for the interests of the Black community. That is what Kimani believes is the most important thing about the club.
“The club has always been a place where I’m able to sit comfortably in my blackness all the while being around other people experiencing the same feeling,” she said.
MTHS is a predominately white school with about 64% of the student body being white. With only 6% of the student body being made up of Black students, Kimani realized that she is often one of the only students of color in a classroom. BSU gives her the opportunity to be around those who share these experiences and can relate to each other. She can share one of the most important aspects of herself with those who understand and fully accept her.
Kimani hopes that BSU can impact not only its group members, but the atmosphere of the school as well.
“BSU hopes to encourage the school this year to have open dialogue and help foster an understanding of the experiences and issues that impact African American students,” she said.
She knows that BSU can create a place of comfort between students of color while also educating white spaces through informative conversations and setting up fun events such as holiday parties, fundraisers, an upcoming family feud event, and a possible cultural food fair to bring students closer.
Kimani has super exciting plans for the rest of this year, so to find out more information follow mt.bsu on Instagram and TikTok.
