Courtesy of Elishevlyne Eliason

Students gathered at Battell Chapel on Saturday for the first Yale Black Men’s Union induction ceremony since 2019. 

Board members of the Black Men’s Union —  an organization that hopes to create a safe space and foster a greater sense of community for Black men and students on campus — had been planning this year’s induction since last year. The board inducted 54 students in this year’s ceremony. 

 In his opening remarks, Abel Geleta ’25, the union’s solidarity chair, described the induction ceremony’s return from the COVID-19 pandemic as “a great milestone.”

“I want students to know that they belong, they’re not alone, they have greatness inside of them and greatness ahead of them,” said guest speaker OrLando Yarborough III GRD ’10, a pastor at the Black Church at Yale.

Founded in 2007, the union holds open meetings weekly to plan events and to bridge the gap between Yale and the greater New Haven area. 

During the pandemic, the board met remotely, but they have now returned to the Founder’s Room of the Afro-American Cultural Center. 

In a speech, Joaquin Estevez ’24, co-president of the board for the 2022-2023 academic year, urged inductees to engage with each other and the union. 

“Each of you are special in your own way,” Estevez said. “Start connecting with people today so that you don’t regret it or wish you could revert things tomorrow.” 

Yarborough also hoped the induction gave students “an extra layer of encouragement and support” on campus. 

Inductees, once called up by board members, signed their names in the union’s official black book. Current board members who did not have an induction ceremony of their own, such as Simon Debesai ’24, co-president of the union this year, were called first.  

Several first years attended the induction and had the opportunity to meet current and previous members of the board. 

“I’m being … welcomed to the Black community here at Yale and meeting a lot of new people and forming connections for the next four years,” said Nolyn Mjema ’26, an inductee. 

Among the inductees were also sophomores and upperclassmen, like Mark Ayiah ’25. Aiyah, who joined the BMU last year, said that it was nice to see people gather in person after the pandemic limited in-person events.

“I feel like this being official and getting to write our names in the book,” Ayiah said. “It was all very symbolic and I hope good things come out of this.” 

Ayanle Nur ’23, the union’s previous vice president, was a part of the last class to get inducted in 2019. He described this year as “the perfect time” to bring back this tradition because of Yale’s return to normalcy. In his opinion, board members were also able to “reignite interest” in the union. 

Nur added that this year marks “a new era for the BMU.”

“By establishing certain guidelines, ceremonies and traditions with these black organizations, you make Black life a part of Yale culture, and you’re cementing a lot of Black students into this culture,” Estevez said.

The board has a series of events planned for this academic year. They are currently working on reinstating the union’s mentorship program for magnet schools in the greater New Haven area. New members will have an opportunity to join these initiatives and leave their mark while here at Yale. 

Yale’s African American Cultural House is located at 211 Park Street.