Sankofa House: A Place of Belonging Community and social support form the heart of W&L's newest theme house.

“Generally, people who live here really want to be open, to participate in a community, and to support each other.”

~ Ramonah Gibson ’20

The amenities of the new Sankofa House are any resident’s dream: a sprawling chef’s kitchen, wide windows lavishing light over 5,000 square feet of freshly renovated living space. Just steps away from campus, Sankofa House, one of W&L’s newest theme houses, is more than just a place for folks to hang their hats. It’s a sanctuary for students of the African diaspora and their allies to foster community, friendships and activism, and a game-changer for the W&L campus.

“We realized early on that social real estate is important,” said Tamara Futrell, dean for diversity, inclusion and student engagement, who, along with Tammi Simpson ’91, associate dean of students and David Leonard, dean of student life, was instrumental in bringing Sankofa House to fruition. Statistically, minority students don’t join the Greek system as much as their white peers, Futrell explained. The Greek system offers housing, socialization opportunities and, just as crucially, the space in which to host them.

Previously, Chavis House served as the African-American social house, but it only fit a few people comfortably in its common area.

Although it’s a relatively new community, the residents of Sankofa House have already fostered an intentional, “very inclusive” ambiance, according to Ramonah Gibson ’20, its community assistant (C.A.). The massive kitchen offers opportunities for parties and shared meals galore — such as the recent Sizzlin’ Soul event organized by the National Panhellenic Council, a collaborative organization of African-American fraternities and sororities.

(L-R) Students MaKayla Lorick ’19, Lauryn McCray ’22, Bri Mondesir ’22, Trinity Perdue ’22 and Esther Assenso ’22 watch as Dean Tamara Futrell (center) mixes cornbread batter at Sizzlin’ Soul.

After hours of cooking, talking and laughing alongside one another — students, staff and faculty alike; some who had never before tried soul food, some who had eaten it all their lives — attendees mingled over steaming plates of mac and cheese, chicken and dressing, green beans, ribs, peach cobbler, apple pie and more. It felt like a family gathering, as one attendee put it.

“Sometimes you feel a bit out of place [at a Greek party] if you don’t know anyone,” explained Gibson. “At Sankofa parties there’s music, the lights are on. It’s more than just dancing. You look over and you see some serious conversations — and of course some super silly ones too — and a general vibe of acceptance. No one feels like they aren’t allowed or aren’t supposed to be there.”

Though adjusting to campus life can be hard for any student, minorities can face unique psychological and social challenges, especially on a campus where black or African-American students represent just 2.58 percent of the student body. Sankofa offers a communal space to unpack and discuss these challenges without judgment, to share frustrations and joys. “It’s nice to come in and say one thing and have everyone understand it,” said Gibson. “We all know what it means when someone walks in and says, ‘I had a bad day.’ We support each other and hold each other accountable.”

Students relax and study in one of Sankofa House’s spacious common rooms.

Asked about who she wants to be a part of Sankofa House, Gibson said, “I don’t have an ideal. I want all different kind of residents. The majority here are of African descent, but we also have a girl from Poland living here, and we all love her. We all have different majors — drama, biology, film — people are in different clubs and in different leadership positions across campus. Generally, people who live here really want to be open, to participate in a community, and to support each other.”

Simpson marveled at the changes she’s witnessed since first stepping foot on campus as a freshman in 1987. She called the university “undoubtedly, demonstratively different” today, adding that hers was just the third class of women to be admitted to the previously all-male school.

“But I believe that our motto, ‘Non Incautus Futuri,’ requires that we continue to do more to serve all students,” she said, “students of every ethnicity, socio-economic status, and sexual orientation.”

Futrell noted that enrollment of undergraduate American minorities at W&L increases year over year, and that black undergraduate enrollment is the highest it has been since 2012.

When it comes to making W&L a campus that is truly welcoming to all, “there is still much work to do for all students to feel included and engaged,” she said. “But Sankofa House is an important step.”

Betelihim Haile ’22 tops off a salad with a squeeze of fresh lemon at Sizzlin’ Soul.