Black Excellence Club Provides a Step Forward for Watauga Students

Watauga’s Black Excellence Club’s first meeting, getting the members informed and amped. Photo Credits: Lora Davis

Marina Brown, Staff Writer for The Powderhorn 

In a place where black students are often a minority, finding a space to feel represented can make a difference. At Watauga, a new club is working to create that space, while encouraging people to build connections, celebrate culture and challenge the lack of diversity.

“I actually noticed there was much more black students coming in, but there’s no black staff, or there’s no really classes that talk about black culture, black history,” said Dalton Mackey, senior, the President and Founder of Black Excellence Club. “You may learn about it in your history class, but there's no specific class. There’s no representation.”

Beyond creating a space for students to connect, the club also hopes to broaden students’ understanding of black history and contributions to society.

“We want to make a class where they can learn and gain knowledge on all those contributions,” said senoir Declan Lippard. “A lot of people don’t have knowledge into all the contributions of the African American community into our modern-day society.” 

The club plans to bring guest speakers with firsthand knowledge and experiences to meetings to provide students with perspectives beyond the classroom.

“We have Omega Psi Phi, which is an African American fraternity at App, and some other people lined up,” said Mackey, “to talk and speak more about black culture, black history, and excellence, that would know more than us.”

But the club's impact isn’t limited to what students can learn. Its organizers hope it will create lasting connections among students.

“Definitely a lot of friendships, especially with college, and that opportunity coming up, can help a lot of people look into [cultural fraternities and communities],” said Devan LaCue, senior.

For the club's members, that sense of community can be particularly meaningful for students who have experienced racism or racial stereotypes at school.

“If someone does run into that at the school, it definitely makes you feel a way. Especially in a school with predominantly white people,” said LaCue. “It definitely affects you, and I feel with a club like that you kind of fit into a group of people who accept you for who you are. If you feel accepted by different races, it means a lot.”

By creating a sense of belonging, the club also aims to challenge the normalization of racism and encourage students to feel confident in their identities.

“I feel like if you run into racism at this school, you kind of have this idea that it’s everywhere because you’ve grown up here. You don’t know anything different, and it’s normalized,” Mackey said. “The club is a way to show that’s not how it is, that's not how it should be, you know, and you should love yourself and not be ashamed to be African American.”

For the students and faculty behind Black Excellence, the goal extends beyond individual meetings. They hope the club will help shape a more connected and inclusive school community.

“We want to change the culture of our school and everyone is welcome. All different things to celebrate, so everyone deserves that space,” said Lora Davis, faculty supervisor for the club. “We’re trying to keep it a thing long-term because I do believe it will help a lot of kids.”

The students want to ensure the club remains a place for connection rather than formal instruction, creating a more human feel.

“We don't want it to be a class, we want to learn from each other, connect,” said Mackey.