African-American History

Georgetown Students Will Vote on Fee to Aid Descendants of Slaves Sold by the University

The $27.20 per semester fee, which would be added to students' tuition, would contribute to a fund to benefit the descendant community of the 272 enslaved individuals who were sold to pay off Georgetown's debt in 1838.

Cornell University Asks Public to Help Build Digital Database of Ads That Sought Fugitive Slaves

The insights the ads provide on the experiences of enslaved Africans and African-Americans are especially valuable because so little information about these individuals has been preserved.

New Residence Hall at James Madison University Will Honor Paul Jennings Who Was Enslaved

Jennings was the personal "manservant" for James Madison on his estate in Virginia and also in Washington, D.C. After Madison's death, Jennings secured his freedom and worked in the U.S. Pension Office.

Saint Elmo Brady Honored With a National Historical Chemical Landmark

Professor Brady was the first African American to earned a Ph.D. in chemistry. He will be honored with plaques at the University of Illinois, where he earned his doctorate, and at schools where he served on the faculty: Fisk University, Tuskegee University, Howard University, and Tougaloo College.

Harvard Students Create Exhibit on Relationship Between Christianity and Slavery

"The Yoke of Bondage: Christianity and African Slavery in the United States" features documents, including rare books, that range from 1619, when the first slaves where brought to Virginia, to the Civil War's end in 1865.

Construction on Memorial to Enslaved Laborers Begins at the University of Virginia

Slaves, rented from local property owners, were used to construct many of the earliest campus buildings. Once the university opened, slaves were used for manual labor on campus. Some faculty members owned slaves.

The Revival of Frederick Douglass’ The North Star

In 1847, 172 years ago, Frederick Douglass and Martin Delany started The North Star as the leading abolitionist newspaper of the day. Now, with the blessing and permission of the family of Frederick Douglass, The North Star is being revived.

University of Cincinnati to Decide What to Do About Its Slave-Owning Founder

When McMicken died in 1858, he left money and property to the city of Cincinnati "to found an institution where White boys and girls might be taught." He owned slaves and reportedly fathered children with enslaved women.

The State of Illinois Now Requires Public Universities to Offer Courses on Black History

A new bill passed into law in the state of Illinois requires all state-operated colleges and universities in the state to include at least one course on Black history. The educational institutions can meet the requirement by offering an online course.

Silent Movie Shows the Earliest Depiction of African American Affection Captured on Film

Researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of Southern California recently discovered a silent movie that was filmed in 1898. The film, entitled Something Good-Negro Kiss, is believed to be earliest depiction of African American affection captured on film.

University Students Examine Slavery at Richmond’s Wilton House

Students at Virginia Commonwealth University spent the fall semester studying the enslaved population at Wilton House, the main building at a former, 2,000-acre tobacco plantation.

Remembering the Work of Early Black Classicists

Michele Valerie Ronnick, now a full professor in the department of classical and modern languages and literatures at Wayne State University in Detroit, has been a leader in the effort to highlight the pioneering work of early Black classicists.

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Examines Its Ties to Slavery

The investigation, led by three Black and three White faculty members at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, found no evidence that the school had a connection to the slave trade. However, the founders of the seminary collectively owned more than 50 slaves.

Western Carolina University Will Name New Residence Hall After Levern Hamlin Allen

In 1957, Levern Hamlin Allen was the first African-American student to enroll at what is now Western Carolina University and was among the first Black students to be admitted to any of North Carolina's predominantly White state institutions of higher education.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Creates Digital Archive on Segregation in Local Schools

The Center for Arkansas History and Culture at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has completed work on a project to digitize 350,000 items relating to the history of segregation and integration of Arkansas's educational system.

Rutgers University Launches Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Center

Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Centers are a nationwide effort developed by the Association of American Colleges and Universities and funded by Newman's Own Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The latest center has opened on the Newark campus of Rutgers University in New Jersey.

University of Missouri Names Two Dormitories After African Americans

Lucile Bluford was denied admission into the journalism graduate program 11 times on the account of the color of her skin. George C. Brooks was director of financial aid at the university for 17 years and participated in efforts to desegregate local restaurants.

Washington and Lee University Removes Slaveholder’s Name From Building

Upon his death, John Robinson left his estate, farm, and 73 slaves to what is now Washington and Lee University. In 1836, the college sold the slaves and used the money to build Robinson Hall. Now the university is removing Robinson's name from the building which will now honor the school's first Black student.

Yale Divinity School Commissions Painting of First African-American to Take Classes

In the 1830s, Pennington, an escapee from slavery in Maryland and an aspiring minister, audited classes at the Yale Divinity School even though he was not allowed to officially enroll. He was permitted to sit in the back of the classroom and listen. He was not allowed to speak during classes or borrow books from the library.

Temple University Adds Tupac Shakur Memorabilia to its Blockson Afro-American Collection

Tupac Shakur was a prominent voice of 1990s hip-hop and remains one of the most influential artists of his generation, having sold more than 42 million copies of his albums and singles. Temple University in Philadelphia has acquired a dozen documents handwritten by Shakur and two pieces of jewelry.
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