Luther College has its own rich history of Black involvement on campus. In the winter of 1968, five students Jerry Hutch, Byron Dean, Augusta Stephens, Reulan Walter and Carmen Allison formed the Black Student Union (BSU) as a means of supporting one another and dealing with racism. At that point in time, Black students believed that in order for them to have an active part in Luther College community, they had to enter it with a knowledge and pride of their Blackness. They felt that they could best gain that knowledge through education ventures of, for, and by Black people (Constitution of the Black Student Union, 1968).

Founder Reulan Walter said, "We needed to come together as a source of support and strength. We needed to project a united voice and be heard". The BSU quickly evolved from a small "support group" as Walter called it, to one of the most important and influential groups on campus. The early BSU was very energetic, bringing in speakers, concerts and many other events. And it soon becomes one of the very active group members on campus at Luther College.