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Carleton College Archives: History of BIPOC Student Organizations at Carleton

Black House

1970-1975, 1988 - Present 

In the years since its inception, this cultural house has moved location and changed names numerous times. Between 1971 and 1976, Hill House was used as “The House”, then after a period of inactivity through the 1980s, Douglas, Williams, and Stimson Houses were used as gathering spaces. While the house always has an official name, it is commonly casually referred to as "Black House". Currently located in William House, Freedom House or Black House provides “a culturally safe space for students of the African Diaspora and their allies on campus, and contributes to the environment that facilitates their success.” The most recent Student Life and Housing Plan includes a recommendation of demolishing William House and building a brand new house for Black House in the Union Street site. As of 2023, this plan has yet to affect the students currently living at Black House.

Year  Name Location
1970/1971 - 1974/1975 Black House

Hill House 

1975/76  Minority House  Hill House 
1976/77 No house as residents did not reapply to CSA  NA
1988/1989 -1992/1993 African American Awareness House  Douglas House 
1993/1994  African American Awareness House  Williams House 
1997/98  African American Awareness House  (AKA Black House) Stimson House 
1998/99 African American Awareness House  (AKA Black House) Williams House 
1999/2000 - Present Freedom House (AKA Black House) Williams House 

 

Set

Office of Multicultural Affairs

  • African Awareness House 

Carletonian

May 6, 1971. page 5. Black house. 

October 3, 1974. Care of solidarity. 

February 23, 1990. page 3. Douglas feels like home. 

April 18, 1997. page 5. Two houses will be dissolved next fall. 

May 23, 1997. page 3. Institutionalization of interest housing planned. 

October 22, 1998. page 2. Interest houses celebrate campus diversity. 

October 15, 1999. page 3. Interest houses assessed. 

January 22, 2010. page 3. Get Interested: Black House, then and now. 

May 8, 2015. page 3. Cultural house partying seeds sub-free rumors. 

February 23, 2018. page 3. Casa and Black House without washers and dryers, residents ask for updated facilities in houses. 

April 6, 2018. front. Carls Talk Back demands met with logistical, communication concerns. 

February 15, 2019. page 7. Carls Talk Back one year later  

See Also

Agol yearbooks for specific years 

ABC House

Gallery