Oral history of former UMass Amherst student, Cheryl Evans, about her experiences on campus as student from 1964-1968, as a UMass Assistant Area Coordinator of Orchard Hill in 1969, and her life as a teacher, academic, and activist, especially in relation to African American communities. Evans came to UMass from Medford, Mass., recalls being one of six people of color on campus her first year, and discusses feeling invisible on campus, in addition to the lessons learned, and friends made, as she and others worked to build up social, educational, and political supports at UMass, in the Five College area, and beyond. Evans also discusses her family and early activism while in high school. She was the first elected president of an African American student organization at UMass, and pivotal in the organizing of students of color during her years on campus, when Black student groups, the Black Cultural Center, and the Black Studies departments all had their origins. Evans remains an organizer later in life, as a key connector for Black alumni. Also see murg050_9-i006 for an additional oral history with Evans.
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