Established in 1972 following the initial BAM (Black Action Movement) on the University of Michigan campus, the Afro-American Lounge was one of the first U of M residence hall lounges to be decorated with art and artifacts that reflected African American culture and history. Of the seven murals in the lounge, two reflect the struggle of the African American community in America. When the lounge was designed, no other cultural group had asked for meeting or living spaces, which reflected their culture and history. A major issue for the BAM participants was the absence of African American meeting and living spaces at the University and within the residence halls. In developing this Housing-funded lounge - a place where students of color would feel welcome and comfortable - members of the African American community actively participated in its layout and overall design. At its inception, Ambatana (a Swahili verb meaning, "stick together") was the name of South Quadrangle's African American student organization - a group that addressed African American students' issues only. Around the same time, Minority Peer Advisors (MPAs), who were paraprofessional student staff hired by Housing to work with the African American student organizations, focused primarily on African American student issues. Over time, the focus of the MPA job expanded along with the role of Ambatana to include all federally recognized students of color: Native American, Asian American, Hispanic and Latino/a American, and African American residents. Today, Ambatana is an organization for any and all South Quadrangle residents who wish to participate in activities oriented towards students of color. Ambatana organization meetings usually take place in the Afro-American Lounge, which is often referred to as the Ambatana Lounge.

View the entire Afro-American Lounge.