Brown's Organization of Multiracial and Biracial Students

03/21/2021

Hello everyone!
This week, BOMBS, MRHS, and MASH are hosting our annual Loving Week celebration, and we would love for you to join us!
Here is the link to RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSek03dbDlHBbU_R_wa1GqI5N0lEEhIdnk8J5DCFGOv-3l4WFQ/viewform

And make sure to sign up for the multi student showcase:
https://forms.gle/F1qYpLZ3oQ9iD4rm7
Or sign up to be an MC:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScGAbazmXz7Favg6WYY06wIWQ0Z58kBH09IexS7tFTG2QG4jQ/viewform

https://www.facebook.com/LovingWeek2021/?ref=page_internal

Every year, the multiracial community at Brown dedicates a week to celebrate multiracial identity called Loving Week in honor of the Supreme Court Case that legalized in*******al marriage, Loving v. Virginia. Come celebrate with MASH, BOMBS and the MRHS!

09/29/2020

Hey everyone!

Go follow our new Instagram ! We’ll be posting lots of info on there about our future projects, so make sure to check it out!

02/10/2020

Hello Everyone!

BOMBS is currently working with MASH and MRHS on Loving Week 2020! We have many events planned like Karaoke Night, a Blood Drive, and a Showcase. If you want updates about the events we're planning, please like and share this page. We'll have more information on the events as we get closer to the first week of March. Thanks!

Every year, the multiracial community at Brown dedicates a week to celebrate multiracial identity called Loving Week in honor of the Supreme Court Case that legalized in*******al marriage, Loving v. Virginia. Come celebrate with MASH, BOMBS and the MRHS!

04/05/2019

Hey everyone! On Friday, April 19th 6:30-8pm, BOMBS will be hosting a Mixed Heritage Showcase in which POC artists from all backgrounds are invited to display their visual art and perform song, poetry, and dance in celebration of the various cultures and heritage that make up the Brown community. We would love to have some of y’all perform/showcase your art!! Here is the link to sign up: https://forms.gle/dU8sLs6MJYh6Xfgc8

04/14/2018

JOIN US TONIGHT FOR AN EVENING OF COMMUNITY, CELEBRATION, AND UPLIFTING AN AFRO-LATINA NARRATIVE!!!

6PM, PEMBROKE HALL (3rd floor, entrance from Meeting St., directly in front of Smitty B, FREE FOOD FROM FLAMES

Professor and Lawyer Tanya Hernandez will give a talk entitled "An Afro-Latina Lawyer's Exploration of Multiracial Discrimination."

ALL STUDENTS OF COLOR ARE INVITED AND WELCOME TO ATTEND THIS EVENT Bring your friends!

02/05/2018

If you are at all interested in attending General Body Meetings this semester, please fill out this when2meet so we can pick a time that works for the most possible members in the community! We are so excited to see you all at meetings this semester and to continue growing this community!

12/11/2016

We are writing this statement to address the systemic antiblackness and colorism that exists within the B.O.M.B.S. community. After a Facebook post made by a q***r, dark-skinned black man calling out the “BOMBs/lightskin aesthetic,” we have been reflecting on the current demographics of B.O.M.B.S. and the tension that it causes, both as an e-board and as a community. The post is as follows:

“If you only associate with light-skinned people, specifically non Black POC with the "BOMBs/lightskin aesthetic" don't be surprised when I, as a dark skinned person who doesn't even feel desirable, call you antiblack or find that I can't trust you.”

B.O.M.B.S. was originally founded during TWTP in 1991 when students were asked to affiliate with only one race -- it was created for those who identified with multiple. B.O.M.B.S. was created as a space to discuss the multiracial experience, not the light-skinned one. While there is no singular multiracial experience, we’ve found that B.O.M.B.S. has increasingly become a space where the experiences of lightskinned, “__ and white” POC have become the dominant narrative.

We were not created to be a space to center the light-skinned experience. We were not created to be a space that perpetuates antiblackness. We were created to be a space designed to discuss the multiracial experience. But unfortunately, as the post above mentions, this is not how B.O.M.B.S. serves the community.

This is an attempt to call out ourselves, our community, and the systems we perpetuate. This is also an attempt on our part to portray our recognition of the problematic parts of B.O.M.B.S., and express that this community exists to center voices that are currently underserved and silenced in the B.O.M.B.S. demographic.

For those who have felt uncomfortable and unsafe attending our meetings, or were deterred from attending because of the “B.O.M.B.S. aesthetic,” we are reaching out to you. Below is our current living list. We will enforce this list in every meeting, even if it means calling in/out our current members. This is not to guarantee that our space is safe right now, because in truth, we still have a lot of work to do in making B.O.M.B.S. an inclusive space.

B.O.M.B.S. LIVING LIST:
Use “I” statements not “we” or “you”
Make space, take space
Trust intent, own impact
Safe space, brave space
What is said in here, stays here
NO anti blackness/colorism
Be conscious and willing to call out any instances of antiblackness
Actively recognize and take into account that not everyone in this room is mixed with white
It is a privilege to be white passing.

We encourage anyone to reach out to any member of our e-board, or to message our general page if you feel more comfortable.

With love and in solidarity,
The B.O.M.B.S. Executive Board
Auriana Woods, Chantal Toupin, Emily Blatt, Tomiyuri Lewis, Jenna Baker, Sharad Wertheimer, Sarah Haberlack and Camila Pelsinger.

11/11/2016

Hey yall! There is a community outreach tonight at 9 for anyone who can make it. We'll just be hanging out in the formal lounge with a bunch of snack and nice music. Come thru

10/18/2016

To the Brown Community:

As you may have heard earlier this week, a series of incredibly racist, biased, and objectifying incidents happened with an ESS (Event Security Staff) worker at our B.O.M.B.S (Brown’s Organization of Biracial and Multiracial Students) party, How to Get Away with Twerking, last Friday 10/14/16. In our statement posted this last Sunday, we summarized the incidents that occurred and also pledged to take immediate action against the ESS worker involved.

This afternoon the B.O.M.B.S. E-Board met with both the Interim Director of Student Activities along with the Assistant Director of Residential Life regarding what actions had been taken and what plans we have for the future in order to ensure that something like this cannot happen again.

After our discussion, here are the important points we took away from the meeting:

•Yesterday morning, SAO (Student Activities Office) contacted the independent contractor who employs the ESS workers for on-campus events. It was communicated to the contractor that the worker in question exhibited unacceptable behavior that Brown would not tolerate within our community, and that the worker will no longer be allowed to work any student activity events. However, because events through both the SAO and the Athletic Department are staffed by this contractor, they can only ensure that the worker will not be present at any SAO sponsored event. SAO is in contact with the Athletic Office regarding this worker, but cannot ensure the action that they will take.

•During our meeting, we also brought up the uncomfortable power dynamics that were at play during our event. Not only was the worker in power in terms of their role at the party, but was also a white person working an event that was both organized and hosted by two groups of color on campus. The entirety of the ESS staff at our party was white, and we discussed with SAO the power dynamics at play in terms of both position and race. Further, we suggested that in the future, SAO and ESS contractors need to be more cognizant regarding the diversity of their staff in the context of SAO events. Both the Assistant Director of Residential Life and the Interim Director of of Student Activities ensured us that they have been aware of this power dynamic in the past and have spoken to the ESS contractor regarding such issues. They also confirmed that it would be clearly stated as mandatory to the contractor that the staffing of events in the future will be more intentional in terms of the diversity of the staff employed.

•Lastly, we discussed the implementation of mandatory diversity/anti-bias training for the ESS staff. SAO is currently in the process of creating their section of the Diversity Inclusion Action Plan, and have assured us that within this, there will be action taken to train the ESS workers for all SAO events. They also stated that their plan is in the early phases.

This conversation is not over. As an organization, we plan to continue these discussions with both the SAO and other institutional powers within the Brown community. We cannot express enough how heartbroken we were by the pain that was caused by the incidents that occurred last weekend. B.O.M.B.S will unfailingly be in solidarity with all members of our student body, particularly the communities of color that are continually affected by unacceptable incidents such as these. We send our love to all of those affected, and urge anyone to reach out to us with any questions, comments, or suggestions.

In solidarity,
The B.O.M.B.S Executive Board

10/16/2016

We are writing in response to a series of problematic and biased incidents that occurred with an Event Staff Security (ESS) worker at the How To Get Away With Twerking party hosted by Brown’s Organization of Multiracial and Biracial Students and Harambee this past Friday, 10/14/16.

The following incidents occurred:

A black student was standing outside the front door when the ESS officer confronted him. His statement is as follows:
"I was standing outside of the B.O.M.B.S. party and one of the officers told me to get off of the ramp (even though I was standing on the side and people could still get by) I proceeded to tell the officer that my ancestors built this campus and that my tuition allowed me to be in this public university space, and they proceeded to say ‘well my ancestors (white ancestors) were practically slaves on potato farms so I don't really know what's worse.’" When the student did not respond, the officer proceeded to say “I stumped you didn’t I? You don’t know what to say.” The student explained to the B.O.M.B.S. E-Board that he didn’t respond because he was very angry. He “wanted to cry because she made it a joke...Like how dare you.” ESS officers are supposed to remain unprovoked. The officer’s response was unprofessional, racist, and hurtful to the student.

During a high capacity time, a confused female student walked into the party without waiting in line. After entering, the same ESS employee entered the door and immediately grabbed the student while yelling at her. The student seemed confused and tried to ask what was wrong. The ESS employee proceeded to push the student out of the building by her neck. A couple minutes after the incident, they came inside to brag to the other employees and the B.O.M.B.S. E-Board members about how the student would likely have bruises on her neck in the morning. The student stood in the line with the rest of the partygoers and was able to make it to the door. When she reached security, the ESS employee recognized her and yelled, “Get the f**k away, I will file an assault charge against you.” The student left the party visibly shaken, hurt both physically and emotionally.

Two male students entered and were standing by the front door for some time, apparently deciding whether or not to enter the party. The ESS employee began speaking to the students, and then continued to “entice” them to enter by offering them different members of the BOMBS E-Board with phrases like, “What about her? She’s pretty” and pointing to various women, who were all working in the same space. We were taken aback and disgusted by their behavior and blatant objectification of female bodies along with the exotification of women of color.

To clarify, all of these incidents happened with the same ESS officer. B.O.M.B.S. does not condone this behavior, and we will be filing an official complaint to actively ensure that something like this does not occur again. We will also be beginning conversations with those in charge of event staff regarding who is employed to work different events, along with the power dynamics at play. While we have no authority over who is hired to work our events, we will commit ourselves to addressing these issues and correcting this abusive worker. We apologize to all of those affected by this employee. In light of the fact that this was a party hosted by B.O.M.B.S. and Harambee, we are cognizant of the reality that this officer made this party unsafe for people of color, particularly the black students who felt unsafe and unwelcome in their own space.

In solidarity,
The B.O.M.B.S. Executive Board

10/11/2016

We are hosting a party with Harambee this Friday in the Harambee lounge at 10 pm! Come through with your Brown ID and friends! Tickets are $2 presale and $3 at the door. Presale will be in the Blue Room tomorrow 3-5 and Friday 1-2, 3-5. Hope to see you all there!