In collaboration with affinity organization, Sisterhood* and the Enid Cook Center, SGA’s Social Justice and Equity chair Sanaiya Aftab ’27 invited seniors Ayantae Cunningham and Amy Brown to speak on how they have navigated their experiences as Black students at Bryn Mawr College.
The event, initially scheduled for February 9, was postponed twice due to scheduling conflicts and overlapping events. It was finally confirmed for Sunday, February 23 in the Campus Center and communicated to the Bryn Mawr community via email.
Both Cunningham and Brown shared similar sentiments throughout the panel. When asked to describe how their experience has been being Black at Bryn Mawr, they explained how they are expected to speak on behalf of all Black people, and be teachers to their fellow students, an expectation that they find to be unreasonable and draining. They expressed astonishment at what they said were racist and discriminatory beliefs of students and faculty at Bryn Mawr, especially considering that the school prides itself on being an inclusive and progressive institution. The behavior of nearby students was referenced as evidence of this sentiment: as the event was being set up and announced, many students left the main lounge of the Campus Center, either leaving the building altogether or taking snacks from the event and moving to different areas.
Cunningham later criticized the actions of these students when asked during the panel to give advice to incoming and current Black students at Bryn Mawr.
“People couldn’t take even a few minutes out of their day to sit and hear what Black people have to say… a lot of what goes on here is very performative, unfortunately,” said Cunningham. “Things that happen in the world will show up interestingly on this campus, and the way people here respond will shock you and appall you.”
Brown further condemned the school, and characterized Bryn Mawr as an “inherently racist institution,” acknowledging the college’s long history of racism and discrimination against Black students and workers, as well as the implications of the school being built on a former plantation.
Expanding on the challenges students of color face at Bryn Mawr, Cunningham noted that the idea of a “Bryn Mawr bubble” — a sense of isolation and sanctuary from the outside world — doesn’t apply to Black students. “As Black students, we feel everything happening in the world on a heightened level, because it infiltrates this college. We don’t get to have a Bryn Mawr bubble,” she explained.
Despite such hardships, they still managed to find welcoming spaces and communities on campus that helped them push through the difficulties of being Black students at a predominantly white institution. Cunningham emphasized the importance of inclusive groups on campus such as the traditional African dance group, Twist, and Sisterhood*, explaining that “it felt so good to be able to vent without having to be in an academic context” after having her ideas constantly negated in classes.
She encouraged students to attend events hosted by the on-campus affinity organizations, and asserted that one does not necessarily have to identify with certain communities to celebrate with them. Brown shared this appreciation, and also highlighted the value of the tangible record of the Black community at Bryn Mawr, demonstrating their resilience and involvement throughout Bryn Mawr’s history.
When asked about the biggest challenges they’ve faced at Bryn Mawr, Cunningham reflected on personal struggles with campus services, particularly Residential Life. She recounted her experiences from the summer before her first year when, due to medical reasons, she was discouraged from starting school in the fall and was advised to take a gap year by one of the Residential Life staff, who claimed to be unable to accommodate her needs. Cunningham initially thought this was an issue of ableism, but later discovered that many of her white peers had positive experiences with Residential Life and were easily accommodated, highlighting the intersectionality of race and disability, which poses a challenge for many members of the Bryn Mawr community. Despite this, she persevered and completed her first semester. “It’s never too late to go back and demand … what you want … sometimes you have to be your own support. No one is going to support you as much as you can support yourself,” said Cunningham. Brown expanded on this, asserting that “the best way to get through college is to find support where support is.” She continued by saying, “Don’t stay in places you’re not wanted. It’s not worth it; it’s so draining.”
Closing out the first section of the panel, Brown and Cunningham were asked to recount their proudest moments in their college careers. Cunningham told her story of being the only person of color during her summer internship abroad in a private international school. She explained that, despite some challenges, this was her most rewarding moment as she felt pride in knowing that she was doing something important just by being in that space. “Sometimes you are going to have to be your own representation… and I now relish the moments where I’m the only one of me in a space,” said Cunningham.
The speakers also gave a few words of wisdom for Black students at Bryn Mawr. Brown advised Black students to take advantage of any and all resources the college offers, and ensure that they are remaining active in affinity groups, activism, and support. “Please look out for those people that are coming in behind you… you’re never going through things entirely alone… and it feels good to be that support system for someone else,” said Cunningham.
The panel then shifted into a brief Q&A session, during which audience members could participate in discussion with the panelists. Esénia Bañuelos ‘26, asked about ways to bring student engagement and interest back into the SGA, taking into account the massive budget crisis that is severely impacting the Alliance of Multicultural Organizations (AMO). Brown responded by referencing Haverford College’s model of student participation in self-governance, in which there is a stronger push for students to attend Students’ Council meetings. While Brown advised against extensive collaboration between College administration and SGA, she encouraged a potential approach that would mandate student participation. Cunningham encouraged more personalized action. Rather than solely relying on flyers and emails for events, she suggested that students give announcements and work with faculty to garner greater attendance to certain events, while still emphasizing the importance of giving credit to students of color who play a major role in making activism on campus possible.
One attendee, a senior, later brought up the student strike of 2020, an event that occurred before either of the panelists became students at Bryn Mawr, asking about the successes and failures of the event. The panelists connected the strike to last spring’s encampment in support of Palestine, an event they were both more familiar with. Cunningham felt the biggest accomplishment of that action was how students continue to feel the strike’s impact and refuse to let it be forgotten. Cunningham also touched upon the division among the student body regarding student activism, emphasizing the need to “stay focused” and remember the real enemy in social movements. Brown, on the other hand, pointed to the political apathy that followed the strike, expressing concern over how many students no longer engage in protests or seem to care about political issues. She lamented the low attendance at SGA meetings, stressing the need for more genuine civic engagement, rather than just voting to get it over with.
The Q&A session’s final question came from a first-year audience member. They used their time to speak about their dissatisfaction with the SGA, claiming that “the first thing [they] ever learned about SGA is that it failed,” referencing “less significant” developments that were mentioned at the introduction to SGA panel that was given during this year’s first-year orientation week. They posited that it seemed like there was “no point” to SGA on campus. Cunningham countered their point, saying, “just because you can’t exactly see what people are doing, doesn’t mean it’s not there… it just means it’s not being talked about enough.”
In a post-panel interview, both Cunningham and Brown expressed frustration with the final two audience questions. They felt that the focus shifted away from celebrating Black excellence, with questions that seemed to search for negativity. Furthermore, as the panel was organized by SGA and neither was on the SGA E-board, they felt caught in an uncomfortable position, navigating an awkward dynamic between the event’s purpose and the intent of the questions.
In reflecting on their experiences, both Cunningham and Brown shed light on the ongoing struggles Black students face at this institution, while also emphasizing the importance of solidarity, self-advocacy, and creating meaningful change on campus. Despite the challenges, their commitment to pushing for progress and supporting one another highlights the resilience of the Black community on Bryn Mawr’s campus.
