The Winthrop University Association of Ebonites returned to campus last spring after several years of inactivity.
Founded in 1969, they are both the oldest and largest student-led organization that has been active on campus. Like The Roddey McMillan Record (RMR), it was built by minorities, with a mission to promote awareness of the Black community on campus through various educational and cultural avenues.
Attorney Sheila McMillan, for whom this magazine is partially named after, was also intimately involved in the organization as their fourth president. She will appear at the organization’s panel event later this month.
The Association is listed on the Winthrop University website as being service and advocacy-oriented.
The name acts as an umbrella for several sub-organizations, including a contemporary Hip-Hop dance team, a praise dance team and a Gospel choir that all focus on performance. They also have a CORE event planning committee and generalized community service commitments.
Some of their previous ambitions included working with Adopt-A-Highway, Winthrop Idol, and voter registration.
They have returned from their hiatus with the same core values, but a new partnership and vision.
Acting president Ky Abdur-Rahim says the organization “will be affiliated with the African American Studies Minor Program (AAMS). The formal relationship between the Association of Ebonites and the AAMS will assist students in developing the research and analytical skills necessary to be curators of the Black experience at Winthrop University and be prepared for opportunities in experiential learning.”
In addition to their relationship with African American Studies, they are also preparing to build connections with a number of other organizations run by people of color such as the NPHC.
“I really just want to help in any way that I can to spread knowledge of Winthrop’s rich black history,” says Tae Burris, a sophomore business administration major new to the group.
The first event of the semester will be held on Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Dina’s Place. It will be a discussion panel featuring Pat Brown, Sheila McMillan, and Adolphus Belk Jr.- the founding president of the Ebonites, the fourth president and the current Chair of the African American Studies Minor, respectively.
Students interested in joining are encouraged to contact Ky Abdur-Rahim or Jennifer Dixon McKnight.