Club Spotlight: Black Student Caucus
The Black Student Caucus has been meeting for approximately three years now. The club is a student-led organization, open to all students in grades 9-12, that strives to educate many students about black history, culture, and experiences. The meetings are held in Mr. Wilkinson’s class, who is also the African American studies and AP U. S. History teacher.
“[Mr. Wilkinson] has been nothing but encouraging throughout this process […] as the academic sponsor/advisor,” senior and club secretary Nadia Johnson expresses.
To serve in a leadership role, students must be a junior or senior with a minimum 3.0 weighted GPA and no referrals. The club’s selected leaders for 2021-2022 are Karden Way, Nick Bell, Joshua Douglas, Nadia Johnson, Leilani Roig, and Sydney Murphy.
Karden Way has “brought Paxon BSC back to our school because [she] understood its importance, especially after the events that took place in 2019-2020,” such as George Floyd, Black Lives Matter protests and the aftermath of these hectic events. As a result, she and every other leader believe this club is needed in all schools.
Meetings occur approximately once a month on Wednesdays from 3:10-4:15, where a new topic is discussed, which gives everyone a chance to express their opinion and experiences on new topics and engage on various issues in the world.
Outside of the club conversations, all leaders are planning to gather daily and obtain permission to receive community service opportunities from our local NAACP chapter, Radical Aid Jax, and Urban League as well. It’s recommended that not only African American students join, but students of every race who have an interest in African American history, culture, everyday issues, and the desire to explore what BSC means to them. All members can take advantage of the opportunities the club provides.
The mission is for students to discover, grow, learn, and share with one another. Johnson, who joined the club in June of 2020, recalls her experience in the club.
“[The club] is beautiful, inspiring, insightful, [and gives her] the opportunity to share perspectives with people who uphold similar values to [herself]”.
BSC allows students to be heard and connect with other peers in the school community.
“[The leaders’] overall goal is to start a legacy and [build] a foundation…[and] maintain an environment where people feel welcomed, heard, and represented…as a family,” Johnson said.
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