Reminiscent of the efforts of young black students during the times of segregation, students from historically black colleges and universities across the country united in protest Tuesday.
Students journeyed to Washington from their respective homes to speak out against the University of Michigan case on affirmative action at the U.S. Supreme Court.
A group of FAMU students traveled by bus to be part of history. Jóvian Greer, a freshman senator from Saginaw, Mich., was one of 1,000 students who attended the rally and march.
Greer said the case hits close to home.
“I am from Michigan and I know how important affirmative action is at universities like the University of Michigan, ” said Greer,19.
“I know people attending and applying there, I can see how it would be with out affirmative action.”
Throughout the students’ stay in Washington there was rallies and forums with guest speakers.
“I gained a lot of knowledge from being at the rally, I got to hear some of the speakers and hear what other students had to say,” said Greer, a business administration student.
Greer wasn’t the only student from FAMU who took something special from the march.
“It was inspiring to see so many young black students excited about the cause, it felt like you were apart of history,” said Anthony Ware, 19, a freshman pharmacy student from Temple Hills, Md.
Greer said the march not only united students, it brought together people from as far as California and people of various ethnic backgrounds.
“I was impressed with the diverse group of people there, it was really beautiful,” Ware said.
Tiffany Everette, 18, said the march was amazing.
“I remember when we were marching and I looked back and there was literally thousands of people,” said the freshman respiratory therapy student from Miami.
Greer said the unity and inspiration gained at the march may not have been enough to produce results.
“If we leave it there or if it had been left there …isn’t enough,” he said.
Ware agrees that more needs to be done.
“A lot of students don’t know exactly what’s at risk,” he said. “Students don’t know all the benefits they have from affirmative action. I encourage students to research for themselves and become informed.”
Kanya Simon can be reached at kanyasimon@aol.com.