Washington State Rising - (Black Power) by Marc Arsell Robinson

About the Book

"Evergreen Ungawa documents the origins, actions, and impacts of the Black Student Union (BSU) in the state of Washington, from 1967 to 1970, paying particular attention to the organization's transformation activism in Seattle, at the University of Washington, at Washington State University, and beyond"--

Book Synopsis

Documents the origins, actions, and impacts of the Black Student Union in the state of Washington during the tumultuous late 1960s.

Washington State Rising documents the origins, actions, and impact of the Black Student Union (BSU) in Washington from 1967 to 1970. The BSU was a politicized student organization that had chapters across the West Coast and played a prominent role in the student wing of the Black Power Movement. Through accounts of Black student struggles at two different college campuses in Washington, one urban and one rural, Marc Arsell Robinson details how the BSU led highly consequential protest campaigns at both institutions and beyond, which led to reforms such as the establishment of Black Studies programs, increased hiring of Black faculty and staff, and new initiatives to recruit and retain students of color.

Washington State Rising is the first book to document 1960s Black student activism in the Pacific Northwest and includes extensive oral history interviews with former BSU members. Robinson uncovers new insights into Black politics, locating the Black Power Movement in Seattle, Washington, a city and state not typically associated with 1960s black protest. At once fascinating and revelatory, Washington State Rising provides historical insights for current and future social justice activism.

Review Quotes

"Robinson's in-depth analysis incorporates important oral histories of BSUs in Washington at both an urban and a rural campus. Hopefully, his work will inspire future scholarship on Black student organizing and its contributions to the larger Black Power Movement in other, less studied parts of the country. Every library with collections in education history, African American studies, and ethnic studies should obtain a copy of this book."--J. G. Moreno, Northern Arizona University "Choice Connect"

"Robinson's in-depth history of the Black Power movement in the Pacific Northwest under the landscape of the '60s is nothing short of a revelation... Washington State Rising shines a light on the past, so that it can hopefully light our way forward... it can and should be read in every classroom in the state."-- "Real Change"

"Robinson explores late 1960s Black student activism in his urban hometown of Seattle and rural college town of Pullman in this well-researched look at the origins and influence of the Black Student Union in Washington state. His scholarly monograph broadens understanding of Jim Crow North... [and] engaging interviews with former BSU members enhance the narrative."-- "Washington State Magazine"

"Set within the context of the anti-war movement, the civil rights movement, and the women's movement, Washington State Rising reiterates an important historical phenomenon. Local activism has ramifications well beyond local borders. On this point, Robinson brings his story full circle to Black Lives Matter."-- "BookTrib"

"Contributes new dimensions to the history of African Americans in the Pacific Northwest while broadening understanding of how the Black Power movement unfolded across the nation. Showing the innovative tactics and pivotal accomplishments of the BSU on Seattle's University of Washington campus, the book also explores the struggles of Black students at Washington State University, a nearly all-White campus located far from any Black community. Both case studies enrich the literature on Black student activism."--James Gregory, University of Washington

"Features fascinating oral histories with former BSU members to illuminate the understudied experiences of the Black Power movement on campuses in the Pacific Northwest. Robinson is an impressive writer and storyteller."--Matthew Delmont, author of Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad

"Illuminates and broadens our understanding of the important role that Black students played in the Black Power Movement in the racially homogeneous regions of the Pacific Northwest. The book's expertly curated sources document the experiences of black students at the University of Washington and Washington State University, and it illustrates the ways in which they organized through the Black Student Union and Black Studies Movement to agitate for progressive curricular and social change."--Dwayne Mack, author of Black Spokane: The Civil Rights Struggle in the Inland Northwest

"Rich, interesting, and original. Makes a strong contribution to the broad history of the Black Power and the Black Student Movements."--Brian Purnell, Bowdoin College

"Uncovers new facets of the Black Power movement and its local manifestation in Washington state in an accessible and engaging way."--Akinyele Omowale Umoja, author of We Will Shoot Back: Armed Resistance in the Mississippi Freedom Movement

About the Author

Marc Arsell Robinson is Associate Professor in the Department of History at California State University, San Bernardino.