On Wednesday, April 29, a crowd gathered at Miami University’s Shideler Hall to watch the documentary “Bittersweet: Black College Life at a Predominately White Institution.” This film dives into the stories of Black students at the university, highlighting both their struggles and successes.
Directed by Andy Rice, an associate professor of media, journalism, and film, the documentary emerged in the wake of George Floyd’s tragic death. “There was a need for projects focusing on race and diversity,” Rice explained. The film captures voices from different decades, showcasing firsthand accounts of the Black experience on campus since the 1950s.
One significant subject is the Black Student Action Association (BSAA), founded in 1968 during the Civil Rights Movement. This organization, still active today, played a key role in campus protests, including a notable occupation of Rowan Hall in 1970 against the Vietnam War. Larry Clark, the president at the time, described a protest where students creatively participated in a “flush-in” to symbolize their dissent.
Seth Seward, who helped produce the film with Rice, emphasized the importance of telling this story. “It was crucial to document the entire experience—the joy and the challenges,” he noted. The film also critiques the university’s ongoing struggle with diversity. The current BSAA president remarked that Miami often falls short in its diversity recruiting efforts.
Efforts to increase diversity on campus have been ongoing. In the 90s, construction and funding for recruitment improved, yet the representation of Black students and faculty remained low. Recent legislation, Ohio’s Senate Bill 1, signed by Governor Mike DeWine in 2025, restricted diversity initiatives, leading to the closure of the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion (CSDI). This center’s work greatly supported minority students, as reflected in the film.
After the screening, a panel of Black students discussed their experiences. They highlighted how vital the CSDI was to their education and community. Brianna Vondrak, a computer science major and former intern at CSDI, shared her thoughts: “The Black experience here is bittersweet. We need to support and advocate for ourselves because we understand our journey best.”
As the conversation around diversity continues, it’s clear that communities, especially at universities, still have a long way to go. This documentary shines a light on the past while urging for a more inclusive future. For further context on these issues, explore research by the American Council on Education on campus diversity initiatives here.
