Campus Conversations About Race Now Heating Up the Twitterverse - Higher Education

Campus Conversations About Race Now Heating Up the Twitterverse - Higher Education: A recent trending topic on Twitter started by The Black Student Union at the University of Michigan with the hash tag #BBUM (Being Black at the University of Michigan) revealed a candid discussion about race on college campuses. The social media conversation about race, identity and sense of belonging at Michigan, has turned into a national debate where many students, faculty and administrators at other higher education institutions have weighed in.

Many believe a Facebook event scheduled for Nov. 7 at UM by the fraternity Theta Xi called “Hood Ratchet Thursday,” featuring stereotypical, misogynistic and negative depictions of African Americans, sparked the social media conversation.UM cancelled the event that was to include a “twerking” contest and a Kindle was to be awarded to the winner. Robert Greenfield IV, treasurer for The Black Student Union at UM, explained that there is “more to it than that,” in an interview with Diverse.

Of a total population of over 43,000 students, only 4.7% are African American as of this fall, down from 7% in 2006. The recruitment of underrepresented groups at UM is of concern but retention is equally important according to Greenfield, “although 4.7% is not a lot, what’s the point if the Black students that are here aren’t nurtured?”