| Sumario: | In this article, I advocate for the importance of Black-music-oriented spaces in fostering sentiments of belonging among Black students at predominantly white institutions. In doing this, I focus on the historical example of Black-music-oriented college-radio programing--or 'Black college-radio'--during a period that I call 'college radio's hip-hop era' (circa 1980 to 1993). I begin by discussing the under-acknowledged role of college radio in hip hop history. I next highlight the 'college radio hip-hop era' as a particularly tumultuous time for Black students on predominantly white college campuses. Through revisiting some of the history of racial incidents on college campuses during the late 1980s, I demonstrate the lack of conviction and/or preparation on the part of university administrations in dealing with diversity issues. Finally, I show how Black college-radio, as a student-authored inclusion initiative, both cultivated and sustained a sense of belonging for Black students at PWIs. In conclusion, I argue that this example can serve as a model for addressing today's inclusion and diversity challenges.
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