Celebrating BLSA
The BU Law community gathered recently to celebrate “Black Resilience: Our Legacy, Our Future,” the Black Law Students Association’s 51st Annual Conference and Gala.
The 2021 BLSA Conference & Gala
The 2021 BLSA Conference & Gala
The BU Law community gathered recently to celebrate “Black Resilience: Our Legacy, Our Future,” the Black Law Students Association’s 51st Annual Conference and Gala.
The event, adapted to a virtual format in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, featured spoken word from Boston’s Poet Laureate, Porsha Olawiyola, and a keynote address from Angela Davis, political activist, author, and professor emerita at UC Santa Cruz. Dr. Davis’s speech focused on structural racism and antiracist efforts like the recent mass protests, which she noted are a positive indication that more people may be ready to reframe their understanding of racism and reimagine the institutions that perpetuate it.
“BLSA’s Annual Conference & Gala serves as a reminder of the strength and resilience of BU Law’s Black community,” says BLSA copresident Etenish Abebe (’22). “This year, we felt that it was incredibly important to reflect on the ways in which our community has persevered through such unprecedented times.”
Since the pandemic forced the cancellation of BLSA’s 50th anniversary event last March, this year’s gala recognized alumni, law firms, and BU Law community members with awards for both 2020 and 2021. Among those recognized were Associate Dean for Equity, Justice & Engagement Anna Di Robilant and Assistant Director for Government & Public Interest Careers Eron Hackshaw, who received the Student’s Choice Award. The Young Alum award was given to the host of the event, Jonathan Allen (’19), a former preacher and the cofounder of Leadership Brainery, alongside Brandon Greene (’13), the director of the racial and economic justice program at the ACLU of Northern California.
Copresident Robert Gipson II (’22) says it was fitting to celebrate Black resilience at this year’s conference, as BLSA’s solidarity and legacy of empowerment has helped carry the student community through the tumultuous year. “Black resilience, after all, is about the collective hope, wisdom, and tenacity that has propelled every Black generation,” he says. “We feel both humbled and inspired by the evening, and look forward to beholding the vision of the capable leaders who will carry this solidarity into the future.”
