In 1968, during a tumultuous period in US political and racial history, Black students at MIT formed the MIT Black Students’ Union (BSU). The BSU was created with two goals in mind: to support each other and to bring more Black students to the Institute. At that time, Black students made up less than 1% of each 1,000-member undergraduate class.

scan of black and white photo with over half a dozen students both men and women, wearing coats in the foreground with the 77 Mass Ave MIT entrance in the background.
New York-area high school students, pictured with MIT student tour guides, get a first-hand look at the Institute in 1972. Photo from the MIT Museum Collection.