Students Commemorate 1968 Movement for Ethnic Studies Programs
Students gathered at Harmony House on November 6 to honor the 1968 demonstrations that led to the establishment of ethnic studies programs in California universities. This event, called the “Whose University? Third World Liberation Front Anniversary Community Arts Celebration,” highlighted both historical achievements and ongoing challenges faced by student activists.
Community Arts and Solidarity
Hosted by the Stanford Asian American Activism Committee (SAAAC), the celebration featured a variety of community art activities including linocut printing, collaborative banner painting, and shared meals. These activities fostered a sense of unity and reflection among participants.
“The Third World Liberation Front strikes started out of a student movement demanding a people’s education,” said Sandi Khine ’25 M.A. “Students were inspired by anti-war protests in Vietnam, liberation movements in the Third World and the Civil Rights and Black Power movement and were looking for anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist liberatory education that reflected their politics.”
Historical Context of the Strikes
The strikes began on November 6, 1968, at San Francisco State University and University of California Berkeley. They united Black, Chicano, Asian American, and Native student groups who demanded ethnic studies departments and greater representation in higher education curricula.
Legacy of Student Activism
The 1968 actions sparked the establishment of ethnic studies programs across California, influencing generations of student activism and continuing to inspire efforts for inclusive education and social justice today.
Author’s summary: The 1968 student strikes for ethnic studies, commemorated through community art, remain a powerful source of inspiration for modern student activism and education reform.