The term “Generational African-American” (GAA) was coined by Reverend Isaiah Webb, the gandfather of Samantha O’Sullivan, one of Harvard GAASA’s founders. O’Sullivan believed the term was powerful because it recognized the decendants of enslaved people without explicitly naming slavery.
In Fall 2019, Alexa Brown ‘20 sent an email to the mailing lists of the Harvard Black Students Association and the Association of Black Haravrd Women with the subject line, “Calling all Black American Identifying Folk!” The email announced the creation of a new affinity space for students who felt unrepresented by the existing Black organizations on campus. Harvard College had over fifteen Black organizations at the time, but many GAA students still felt that their voices were sometimes misunderstood.
The Generational African American Students Association (GAASA) was founded in the fall semester of 2019-2020 academic year on the campus of Harvard University. The founders are Alexa Brown ‘20, Kaya Bos ‘21, and Samantha O’Sullivan ‘22.
Since its founding, GAASA has established several traditions that celebrate GAA culture and foster community. At the start of each academic year, GAASA hosts its annual GAASA Kickoff, a cookout at JFK Park in collaboration with local chapters of the Divine Nine and, more recently, other collegiate GAASA chapters. Amoung its signature events is Spades & Slade’s, where members gather together to play spades while sharing soul food from Slade’s Bar & Grill in Boston. GAASA also hosts line dancing workshops to share traditions commonly seen at cookouts, family reunions, and other community gatherings. Each Februrary, GAASA celebrates Mardi Gras with a potluck honoring Black Southern traditions.