Black Student Union embraces February Black History Month

New Advisor Richard Voltaire and first-year officers have Malden High School culture club off to great start

By Kayla Turner

Blue and Gold

Malden High School

Student Newspaper

At Malden High School, known for its diverse community of students and teachers, it is no surprise that students have formed bonds with one another, creating clubs to share and express similar views. The Black Student Union (BSU), led by junior president Venusia Teklu, “brings community to MHS,” she said.

The BSU is off to a great start this year with a new advisor and new officers. Due to the departure of former advisor Michel-Le Meranda, longtime Malden High School Student & Staff Support member Richard Voltaire has stepped up in the role of the club’s new advisor.

Voltaire, who is one of the most visible and popular members of the MHS staff, said the new advisor position “offers a really good opportunity” for him to “help out in a way and to elevate a club.” Voltaire strives to make a “mark and to inspire people” quite similar to him.

The MHS Black Student Union in February is embracing Black History Month and some members plan on participating in the Malden Public Schools Black History Month Celebration at the Ferryway School on Wednesday, February 25. See separate story.

The group previously held their meetings in Meranda’s room and has now relocated to the Student Study Center (SSC) in classroom H102.
BSU— which was dormant for a number of years— was reconstituted three years ago, holding its first meeting on November 30th, 2022. Earlier that year, Malden High alumnus Meklit Abel thought of the idea to start a Black Student Union at Malden High, which eventually became a club to “create a safe space for Black students in Malden High to talk about issues that are usually stigmatized.”
Teklu corroborated Abel’s concept of giving a space for students to be seen, supported, and be proud of who they are.
Senior Sorin Mamouzette shared, “BSU gives an open space to discuss big issues and the opportunity to have your voice be heard. It’s a great way to strengthen the Black community within the school.”
“The main purpose of a Black Student Union is honestly to uplift Black students and educate the school and also create a space where we can talk about our experiences, celebrate culture, and push for positive change,” Teklu said.
The BSU assists students to learn more about things they “used to never really think about, from how colorism affects our community to systemic racism dealt with in the workplace. We cover a lot, and I think that it’s something that’s beneficial to all,” said Vice President Wongel Yohannes.

“You don’t need to be Black to learn or hear about these things at our meetings,” she added.
“If people want to find a place to grow and be themselves and learn about their culture or just be a part of something meaningful, I say BSU is where you need to be,” said Teklu.
Yohannes hopes this year, BSU sees “a bunch of new faces” and hopes to “hear and learn about ideas from different perspectives.”