[Important Information for Employees] Black Solidarity Day Officially Added to Academic Calendar

[Office of the President]

Dear Campus,


Black Solidarity Day was created in 1969 by Panamanian-born activist,
historian, and playwright, Carlos E. Russell. Inspired by the fictional
play “Day of Absence
<http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/pds/maai3/protest/text12/warddayofabsence.pdf>”
by Douglas Turner Ward, the day is now observed every November, on the
Monday before Election Day.



Thanks to the commitment and advocacy of our Student Association, under the
leadership of Association President Ahmed Metwaly, SUNY Plattsburgh will
officially observe Black Solidarity Day on the first Monday of every
November by formally designating it a "teach-in day" for all on campus to
teach, learn about and engage in discussions around diversity, equity and
inclusion. The Fall 2022 Academic Calendar
<https://www.plattsburgh.edu/about/offices-divisions/registrar/academic-calendar.html>
 has been updated to reflect November 7, 2022 as our campus' first official
Black Solidarity Day.



Ohemaa Owusu-Poku, a sophomore majoring in Political Science with a minor
in Legal Studies, was instrumental in this effort. A member of the Student
Association Executive Board and Coordinator of Student Affairs and
Diversity, Ms. Owusu-Poku acknowledged that "most things don’t get
recognized until the value is brought to light. Black Solidarity Day is
recognized, and I believe that is a great accomplishment. It is time that
we celebrate all students and appreciate the diversity and different
cultures that they bring to the institution. I believe we will all be
educated about the truth that has to be brought."



Mac-Olivier Lalannet, a senior majoring in political science, was also
critical to this effort. He explained that "Black Solidarity Day is
important as it shines light to a long-standing issue of lack of
acknowledgment of the BIPOC contribution to society/community and the need
for action. This is a great accomplishment, and this is a big step forward
to something right. Black Solidarity Day in SUNY Plattsburgh should be
acknowledged as a day of both action and education for students."
Mr. Lalannet stated: "I am proud of myself, Ohemaa, and Ahmed for our
support and effort in accomplishing this feat, and I look forward to seeing
how things will go with this in the future."



Mr. Metwaly, a second semester junior majoring in Accounting and Management
Information Systems with a minor in Political Science, added that he is
"extremely proud of Ohemaa and Mac for all of their hard work on this
initiative, which would not have been possible without them." He added that
"this is a great step in the right direction and that we as a campus should
be proud to be one of the first campuses to add Black Solidarity Day to our
academic calendar."



Dr. Raymond Carman, Associate Professor of Political Science and Chair of
Faculty Senate, added: "I am excited that Black Solidarity Day is now
listed on our academic calendar and that we will be celebrating it annually
by holding a teach-in. SUNY Plattsburgh has a strong record of teach-ins on
topics related to social justice. I look forward to the Faculty Senate
working with the Student Association, Office of Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion, and others to make this a fantastic day of programming with
broad participation across our college."


Black Solidarity Day was originally intended as a day for African diasporic
people to discuss their political status and advocate for their rights to
equitable access to education and social mobility. It has since evolved
into an opportunity for the BIPOC community to exercise a 24-hour
moratorium from commercial activities such as shopping and using the public
transit system, as a way to highlight their essential contributions to our
economic sustainability and survival.



I am grateful for the dedication and hard work that went into coordinating
this important and highly valuable opportunity for learning, discussion and
growth. Black Solidarity Day at SUNY Plattsburgh will directly support our
campus-wide commitment to create the most inclusive and equitable
environment for all who study and work here.



Alexander Enyedi

President
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