Center for African and African American Studies fulfills a need
At college, on campus and in class, Audrea Fryar was one of the few Black people and Black women at the University of Colorado.
Every day, in each of those spaces, she felt the isolation that is associated with that fact.
But she decided she did not want future students to know that same feeling.
Finally, after years of collaboration and dedication, her vision has become a reality.
“I’m hoping that the students that come after me will not have to feel the campus that I felt when I came to CU because it’s tough,” said Fryar, a CU alumnus and student co-founder of the Center for African and African American Studies.
“It’s really tough as a Black student, as a Black woman, as a nonathlete. It’s definitely a tough place to be. The goal for me is to make sure that doesn’t happen anymore — that folks have a place to come.”
The Center for African and African American Studies on Wednesday celebrated its grand opening about two years after it was established on campus. About 250 people attended the grand opening for the center, which is housed inside Macky Auditorium. During the event, guests mingled and listened to a classical music performance by CU students and a performance by Denver-based rappers The Supreme Team.
For professor and center director Reiland Rabaka, the center has been a goal for more than 15 years. Now, it’s a dream come true.
“I think it’s like Sam Cooke said, ‘ It’s been a long time coming,’” Rabaka said.
“( There’s been) a lot of hard work — not just myself but there are a lot of people here in Boulder who have really invested in this.”
Rabaka said the center is also known as The Cause, which represents human freedom, selftransformation, social transformation and institutional transformation.
“That’s what the Cause is about,” he said in an interview with campus officials.
Julie Poppen, a CU spokesperson, said the rooms inside Macky were renovated before the center moved in July 1.
She was unsure when the renovations concluded but said prior to that, the center operated remotely.
The center is in year two of five of its $150,000-peryear seed funding and $95,000-per-year embedded student support services funding.
It is also in its second of four years of funding from the graduate school. It is receiving $25,000 per year.
Additionally, Chancellor Philip Distefano on Wednesday announced that the campus is donating $1 million over the next five years to match private donations for the center.
Distefano highlighted the importance of the center’s work, which he said is more important than ever.
“( The center is) a reminder of the urgency of all of our work to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in our own communities and on our campuses,” Distefano said.