Celebrating Black Graduation at RIT

While RIT gears up for commencement season, the campus’s Black Awareness Coordinating Committee (BACC) will celebrate the milestone of its 5th annual event: Black Graduation. With the anticipation of Black Graduation filling the air, it’s important to understand its broader significance both on campus and nationally. 

Data from the National Center for Education Statistics reveals a concerning trend: only 40% of Black Students completed their bachelor’s degree within 6 years, a stark contrast to the 64% graduation rate among their white peers. As of 2018, college enrollment for Black youth aged 18-24 stood at 37%, trailing behind their white counterparts who enrolled at a rate of 42%. 

Unfortunately, statistics show that outcomes for black students at RIT only marginally outperform those of their national counterparts. 

Data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System indicates that Black and African-American students make up a mere 5% of the total student population at RIT. When analyzing six-year graduation rates, black students at RIT experience a lower rate of degree completion compared to their white counterparts, with figures standing at 68% and 75% respectively.

Unpacking why these disparities happen is complex, likely reflecting an interplay of socioeconomic and institutional factors. Nonetheless, the statistics underscore problematic racial inequalities within higher education.

Given these sobering statistics, events like Black Graduation take on heightened importance. Black Graduation supports Black students and their allies by celebrating their completion of a degree at a prestigious university like RIT, shedding light on their achievement in the face of systemic challenges.

“We want to focus on highlighting students who attend such a prestigious university and end up finishing with a degree, which is not possible for many students of color,” explained Guerline Guerrier, a third-year Biomedical Sciences major and president of BACC.

Commemorating the event's fifth milestone, BACC offered this year's participating graduates free senior portraits and a yearbook-style video tribute to commemorate their achievements.

Furthermore, BACC integrates different elements of Black culture into the ceremony to reflect broader themes of unity. For example, Black Graduation-provided stoles use Kente cloth, designs with roots from the Ashanti people of Ghana. 

In recognition of the diversity within the African diaspora, Guerrier noted the value of coming together to develop Black Graduation.

“We are all together as one. That's what makes Black graduation so special, us coming together to plan something for everybody who looks like us,” explained Guerrier.

“That's what makes Black graduation so special, us coming together to plan something for everybody who looks like us."

    For Treasurer and graduating Management Information Systems student Christine Jones, Black Graduation is an opportunity to celebrate fellow Black achievers.    

“I think it’s because we're at a predominantly white institution, we don't really see Black people in one spot a lot of the time, which is part of the significance of BACC in general. But seeing 100 Black grads shows that we have this whole community on campus that's doing big things and going to great places,” explained Jones.

“Seeing 100 Black grads shows that we have this whole community on campus that's doing big things and going to great places.”

As a graduate, Jones conveyed the significance of BACC and Black Graduation in her ability to form a sense of community at RIT.

“When I was able to join BACC, they gave me that validity, that sense of community that I had been wondering about before. Once I got there, I got comfortable, had a thing to do every week where I was in a group of people that were just sharing experiences. It felt comfortable and it was a safe space.”

Going forward, both Jones and Guerrier expressed an interest in seeing Black Graduation continue to grow more and in fostering intersectional perspectives.

“We're going to have an NTID student speaker present at this year's ceremony and we have included Ebony Club in this year's ceremony,” explained Guerrier.

Ultimately, Black Graduation stands as a testament to the achievements of Black students at RIT, and the tireless efforts of BACC to foster a supportive community on campus. As the event unfolded May 4 at the Panara Theatre, it served as a reminder of the importance of celebrating diversity and striving for inclusivity in higher education. Moving forward, the voices of those involved in BACC echo a call for continued growth within the RIT community. Black Graduation is not just a ceremony; it's a symbol of empowerment, unity, and progress for all.