1996 - 1997
In the Seventies distinguished Black men at Harvard founded the organization, "Black Men's Forum" and registered the name with the university. In 1994 another group of distinguished Black men at Harvard, led by the Honorable Derrick Ashong '97-'98, Daniel Alexander '97, and John Waldrop '96 decided that they wanted to establish an organization and they revived the name and the organization which had been defunct.

Revived, Black Men's Forum began to re-establish itself in the 1994-95 school year. Members would meet in the Yard and discuss issues that pertained to Black men at Harvard in particular and society in general. In 1994-95 Black Men's Forum presented the first annual Celebration of Black Women. The Forum invited the prize winning poet, Gwendolyn Brooks who addressed the members and their guests. In addition to Ms. Brooks there was an entertainment showcase in honor of Black women at Lowell Lecture Hall and a Semi-Formal at Adams House. The showcase paid tribute through song, dance, and poetry with the central piece being the reading of Maya Angelou's Phenomenal Woman. The leadership of the Forum was turned over from the Honorable Derrick Ashong '97-'98, President, John Waldrop '96 Vice President, and Daniel Alexander '97, Treasurer to the Honorable Bashir Salahuddin '98, President, Mark Thompson '98, Vice President, Steven Turner '98, Tresurer, and Mark Price '98 Secretary.

In 1995-96 the Forum continued working hard to establish itself on campus and promote a sense of brotherhood. The meetings were more formalized that year, as the Forum gathered every week in Harvard Hall 102 on Monday evenings. In addition to the general meetings, the members enjoyed competing against each other on the weekends playing basketball. In the fall of 1995 many members of the Forum ventured to DC for the Million Man March. The tradition of the Celebration of Black Women continued with the welcoming of the guest, Faye Watlleton, co-founder and former president of Planned Parenthood. The Forum that year began a new tradition with the production of a Jazz show at North House that showcased talented members as well as other members of the Harvard community. At the year's conclusion the leadership of the Forum was handed to the Honorable Mike Sleet '97, President, Mark Price '98, Vice President, Diallo Riddle '97, Treasurer, Richard Phillips '99, Secretary and Kris Radcliff '00, Freshman Representative.

In 96-97 the Forum continued to build, grow and further expand its role in the Harvard community. The year began with an address from Dr. Cornel West at the first general meeting in the new more informal meeting place of the Adams Lower Common Room. A now cornerstone of the group was created that year when the Forum designed the first Black Organization Web Page at Harvard. In addition, the Forum hosted several discussions including a discourse on the relevance of Black Fraternities in the context of majority schools. The Forum also made a name for itself that year with its sponsoring of several social events including a number of mixers and parties. The Celebration of Black Women continued and the Forum was pround to invite Barbara Bostic-Hunt, Deputy Chief of Staff to teh Mayor of Baltimore. The new tradition of the Jazz Show also continued in the spring being held in the Dining Room of the Pforzheimer House (AKA North House). The leadership of the board expanded as the new positions of Service Chair, currently held by Ron Williams '98, Discussion Chair, currently held by Ian Hunt '99, Social Chair, currently held by A. Ryan Leslie, Historian currently held by Steven J. Turner '98, and Harvard Foundation Representative, currently held by Richard Phillips '99, were created. The Forum is now led by Mark Price '98, President, Keith Bernard '99, Vice President, Aaron Montgomery '00, Tresurer and Shearwood "Woody" McClelland '00, Secretary.

Submitted by
Steven J. Turner '98
BMF Tresurer 95-96
BMF Historian 97-98