How Is All Began

In 1969, after weeks of planning and preparation, African American seniors Moonyene Jackson Amis, Linda Gayles Garrett, Pearlis Jones, Dorothy Maines Prince, Jennifer Cover Payne , and Carla Edwards Gouraige founded Emerson's Black Organization of Natural Interests (EBONI) with support from other African American Emersonians. This small but mighty group soon grew to nearly 200 participants, including Caucasian Emerson students, African American college students from across Boston, and local community activists—all united in demanding change.

EBONI tasked an African American junior and senior with delivering a letter to Emerson's president, informing him of their protest and the takeover of his office. The letter outlined ten demands that challenged the college to open its doors to African American students.

Fifty-five years ago, this significantly underrepresented group of students successfully pushed the college to become more responsive to their needs during a time of national transformation. The African American students at Emerson strategically presented a compelling vision: by addressing their educational needs, the college would enrich the experience and preparation of all students while providing meaningful opportunities for both African American and white students to learn about and experience cultural diversity.

E.B.O.N.I Speaks

EBONI Emerson’s Black Organization with Natural Interests, is designed to promote unity and communication among the Black students here at Emerson. Its goal is to encourage the Black student to be always aware of who and what he or she is, and to use this knowledge in their everyday life. It is an organization created through pride and sustained through respect. The desire for new ideas, new methods, and new approaches to reach Black youth of today made Spring 1969 a time of excitement, contemplation, and introspection. Eboni presented is TEN DEMANDS.
  1. The incoming Freshman class of Emerson include no less than 20 Black students
  2. Emerson College provide to five of these Black students full fellowships and to another five partial fellowships, totaling ten fellowships for the ’69-70.
  3. Workshops are to be made available by each department for each student requiring additional assistance.
  4. The college hire one Black male guidance counselor.
  5. The College hire one fulltime Black recruiter to work in conjunction with the admissions office. 
  6. Two Black students and the Black recruiter sit in on the admission review.
  7. The Baccalaureate degree requirements to include for every student at Emerson at least one course dealing with Black History or Culture, and that such courses be included in the curriculum.
  8. The speech course Black Rhetoric, to be made an option for Black students towards the fulfillment of speech requirements replacing either Oral Interpretation or Argumentation.
  9. The following dates: January 15-Birthday of Dr Martin Luther King Jr., and May 19-Birthday of Malcoln X, to be observed as school holidays by all students.
  10. The school menu for dormitory residence provide “soul food” twice a month. The menu suggestions to be provided by EBONI