It’s small, with old African wooden dolls, Kwanzaa candles and brightly colored African garb lining the brick walls of its only room.
Some might call it insignificant – but at a University where being black means being in the minority, the African-American Cultural Center located on Ralph Semmes Road is as significant as it gets.
For 10 years, the AACC has served the black community by providing a safe space amid an overwhelming campus environment.
“It’s a home away from home,” said Jermaine Watson, AACC manager.
But for many students, it’s more than that.
“It’s essential,” said Natasha MacDonald, a nutrition studies junior. “It’s a forum for minority students to come together and openly discuss issues that directly affect them.”
It also is a place for students just to hang out, said Andre Jones, an agriculture business senior and AACC student worker.
“Students can use it for anything,” he said.
During the day, the AACC gets its fair share of use. There are usually students in the center, using one of the four public access computers, doing homework, watching TV or talking. The radio is always on. Magazines and books specifically targeted toward a black audience litter the shelves and tables.
“It’s just a place where anyone can come in and feel comfortable,” Watson said.
The AACC also serves as a valuable facility for many black student organizations.
Sororities such as Delta Sigma Theta use the center for events such as “Sister to Sister,” a forum for discussing the issues of womanhood and politics.
The Black Student Union also holds its monthly meetings in the AACC.
The center hosts activities such as the Black Leadership Conference, public speaking lessons and training programs for young black artists.
It co-sponsors campus-wide events such as Harambee and Black History Month.
The services of the center may seem broad, but Lashina Irvin, a psychology sophomore and AACC student worker, said they are all bound by a common goal.
“The AACC is essentially an education tool to foster greater knowledge of African-American culture,” she said.
Watson agreed. He said the overarching mission of the AACC is to educate the LSU community about what he calls the “African-American experience.”
“All students can benefit from knowledge of the history and development of Africa and African-American culture on our campus and throughout our country,” he said.
Jared Avery, a mass communication freshman and AACC student worker, said the most important thing about the center is that it gives students an opportunity to experience what they need most at LSU: community.