The African Black Coalition (ABC) are a group of student organizations for black students at University of California

University of California

The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...

schools, formed to unite and solve issues concerning academic policy, campus social atmosphere, and matriculation of black students to the University.

History of ABC

In 2003, founding member Jewel Love brought together student leaders from the Black/African student organizations in the UC system. As a major in Black Studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara, Jewel felt that the derogatory relationship between the University and their Black student population was linked to historical oppression Black African people have faced throughout the advancement of western civilization. Thus UC-ABC was founded to preserve the cultural traditions and political fervor of Diasporic Africans, within the student population of the UC System.

Founding members included Ainye Long & Edwina Williams (UCSC), Na'Shaun Neal & Catherine Sylvester (UCLA), Raniyah Abdus-Samad & Renita Chaney(UCB), Adia Smith & Venita Johnson(UCD), Tiana Lynch (UCI), and Stephanie Akpa (UCSD). In 2003, much like today, Black African students at each UC campus faced racial discrimination in the form of threats, offensive comments and actions taken by many non-Black students. These offenses, coupled with the declining numbers of Black African students at the UC system (as a result of Proposition 209), led the various Chairs, Presidents and External Representative to form the University of California African Black Coalition. The first meeting was in the fall of 2003 held at the University of California, Santa Barbara. At the first meeting, the following schools were in attendance: Santa Barbara(host), San Diego, Santa Cruz, Los Angeles, Davis and Berkeley.

Subsequent meetings were held at Berkeley, San Diego, Santa Cruz, and Los Angeles. In the spring of 2004 Riverside was added and in 2007, UC Merced.

The first UC ABC action was held the campus of UC San Diego in coordination with the progressive students of color at UCSD during the UCSA Students of Color Conference to protest the hostile educational environment. This was the first coordinated action of the organization. Approximately 50 students from the various UC-ABC schools attended the direct action.

Structure of ABC

The Organizing Board of UC ABC consists of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Conference Coordinator.

Conference History

In 2004 the University of California African Black Coalition held its first annual conference at UC Santa Cruz. The Conference Chair was UCSC ABC rep, Ainye Long, External Vice Chair for UCSC'c African/Black Student Alliance ("ABSA"). Guest speakers included Professors Trica Rose, George Lipsitz, and David Anthony. The conference was successful by all standards and has continued on since that time. The conferences are tailored to meet the social and political needs of Black/African students in the UC system.

In 2006, the conference was held at UC Davis. The Coalition president was Catherine Sylvester.

In 2007, the conference was held at Santa Barbara.

In 2008, the fifth conference was held at UC Irvine. The Coalition co-presidents were Lonneshia Webb and Christina Williams. The chair of fundraising was Melanie Garber. The site committee chair was Ashley Turner.

In 2009, the sixth conference was held at UC Merced.

In 2010, the seventh conference was held at UC Riverside. The conference chair was Stacey Hartnett.

In February 2011, the eighth conference was held at UCLA. The conference chair was Adrien Sebro.

In March 2012, the ninth Conference is set to be hosted by UC Berkeley.