Emmanuel Olugbeko, Class of 2023

People of similar races tend to band together but not in a hostile sense. As anywhere people of similar races tend to band together, but there’s a lot more nuance. Our biggest resource is Keefe Center, specifically the Black resource centers, Black students union, and African and Caribbean students union. There are also a lot of Black counselors. The school makes an attempt to put Black people in positions of power, so students can be supported. Also, there is Drew house which is a themed house specific to Black students. I feel represented. Amherst is a place where if people don’t feel represented Amherst will listen and correct. Even students themselves will listen. Students will draw up petitions. Especially during 2020, petitions were drawn about how students are treated. It wasn’t that students were treated badly, but how Amherst as an institution benefits from marginalization. Amherst is really good at listening to Black voices. We had a policy change recently because things are not just left to the wayside. My biggest advice is to join a student union because it helps you reconnect with people who have experienced something similar to you. Also, I advise finding a really good advisor who understands and is in tune with the problems that Black people face. Not necessarily a Black advisor because there are other advisors who understand as well.