“Ebony & Ivory Towers” is a student-led oral history initiative to conduct interviews with Washington College alumni of color and their allies—including friends, professors, staff, and community members—who influenced their college experience. Through our interviews, we encourage alumni to reflect upon:

• Their decision to attend the college and their time as a student;

• Campus involvement in clubs, activities, athletics, events, and coursework;

• Discrimination and racism at a predominantly white institution;

• Activism, advocacy, and resiliency;

• Everyday moments of joy and growth.

In learning from the challenges and accomplishments of these alumni we hope to inform and empower current generations of students fighting similar battles, overcoming similar challenges, and experiencing similar joys as their predecessors. In bringing the experiences and efforts of former Black students to light, we can learn from them, continue their activism, and give them the recognition they deserve. Furthermore, these interviews will offer Black alumni and their allies the opportunity to connect with the College and realize that their experiences and stories are a valuable part of Washington College’s history—and perhaps more importantly—its future.