Established in the spring of 1968, this organization sponsored social events, initiated a weekly Black History and Culture Seminar, established a weekly tutorial program for UT student members, and began a black community tutorial program. They also made quarterly presentations of original Black drama and poetry.
The name of the organization was changed to African American Student Liberation Force in November 1970. The new name was accompanied by a change in the group’s organization and constitution in order, indicated Chairman Dwight Bonds, to provide unity and relevance for the Black population at UT. In May 1970 the BSU presented eight demands to the UT administration: publicly condemn the shootings at Kent State and Jackson State, call for an immediate withdrawal of American troops from Indochina, institute a Black Studies program according to the specifications of the BSU, immediately free the Knoxville 22 (the students charged in the protest against the presidency of Edward J. Boling), use its influence to have withdrawn the injunction against picketing Cas Walker’s stores, withdraw plans to enforce regulations requiring underclassmen to live in residence halls, support wage increases for Knoxville policemen, and allow UT workers to organize.