AKEBA (SUNY Plattsburgh Black Student Union)

On March 13th, 1969, the organization (Black Onyx) was founded at SUNY Plattsburgh under the leadership of Thomas Buckingham; a member of the class of 1971. In 1977, the purpose and adjectives of AKEBA were expressed in the preamble of our constitution as “to make as our collective vocation the building and maintaining of an organization by providing EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, and SOCIAL enrichment to the Black students of Plattsburgh State”. Buckingham became co-chair of the organization along with Eunice Holt, also class of 1971. The members shared a “deep commitment to the Black Cause in America”. Black Onyx now AKEBA is international to the promotion of diversity of PSU. At the close of 1969, members of Black Onyx along with others staged a “sit-in” in the main lounge in Macdonough Hall, which at the time was a campus center. The sit in was a response to a racial slur made by a staff member at the college to a student. A few days later the members of the Black Onyx entered the Kehoe building with 10 demands to college President Dr. Angell, and left. The atmosphere at SUNY Plattsburgh dramatically changed as a result of their actions. The staff member was removed from his position and administrators implanted the “Project New City”, which later went on to become a part of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), and there was also progress in establishing and incorporating a “Black Studies” program in each discipline at SUNY Plattsburgh. In the late 1970’s, Black Onyx became AKEBA. In 1992, the name AKEBA was expanded to AKEBA Black Student Union throughout the country. Throughout our history, we have been known for our political activism, commitment to education, and community service.

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