While the name has changed, the Center’s values — grounded in Third World consciousness, social justice, and cross-cultural solidarity — remain central.
This page outlines the student-led process, community dialogue, and core principles that led to the adoption of the name Brown Center for Students of Color.
When students of color at Brown first adopted the term “Third World,” they drew inspiration from movements for racial and global justice. Thinkers like Frantz Fanon offered a framework for anti-colonial solidarity—a “Third Way” distinct from dominant global powers. At Brown, “Third World” became a cultural and political identity that rejected the deficit-based label of “minority” and instead affirmed shared power, resistance, and pride.
This consciousness continues to shape our work today. It calls on students to define themselves rather than be defined by others, to find common ground across difference, and to build a more just and liberated campus.
>> Learn more about the philosophy behind the term on our The Meaning of ‘Third World’ page.
As part of a three-year strategic planning process, students of color shared concerns that the original name, Third World Center (TWC), was often misunderstood, especially by those unfamiliar with its political and historical significance. Although the term had galvanized student activism and built solidarity for decades, it began to create confusion for some students about whether the Center’s programs and resources were for them.
To reduce barriers to access and participation, the name change was proposed as a way to clarify the Center’s purpose while continuing to honor its legacy.
>> View our 2013 Strategic Plan.
The renaming of the Center was one component of a larger strategic planning effort. Following a self-study and external review, a committee of students, staff, faculty, and alumni was tasked with developing a new mission, five-year plan, and name recommendation.
The committee:
After gathering widespread support, the committee recommended the name Brown Center for Students of Color, which was reviewed by the Corporation Committee on Campus Life and approved by President Christina H. Paxson.
The name may have changed, but the BCSC’s foundation in student activism and resistance remains strong. The values that defined the Third World Center, such as self-determination, solidarity across difference, and cultural empowerment, are still present in everything we do.
Programs that reflect this ongoing commitment include:
The Third World Transition Program (TWTP) retains its name in recognition of the Black women and students of color whose activism in 1968 led to the creation of the Center. TWTP continues to embody the principles of Third World consciousness—fostering community, reflection, and action among incoming students of color.
Although the Center’s name has evolved, TWTP remains a living expression of its origins and a vital tradition of community building at Brown.
>> Learn more about the Third World Transition Program.