History of Race at University of Michigan
Hatcher Library Gallery's "The History of Race at the University of Michigan" explores race from the earliest years on campus through the present day. The exhibit highlights early students and faculty of color, and it celebrates the changes that have occurred over time. The exhibit runs until February 28.
The exhibit is co-sponsored by the Bentley Historical Collection, the School of Information, the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives, and the Law Library.
Images courtesy of the Bentley Historical Library.
The Trotter Multicultural Center officially opened its doors as a black student cultural center in 1971. It continues to promote an environment in which all students can prosper and appreciate the multicultural diversity present at the University of Michigan.
In 1890, George Jewett became the first African American to play varsity football at U-M. During his time at U-M, he faced several ugly incidents of racism on and off the field. Jewett was valedictorian of his class at Ann Arbor High School, spoke four languages, and was captain of the debate team. In addition to football, he also excelled at baseball and track.
The son of a Chinese father and Scottish-Irish mother, Jim Toy was a long-time advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) persons at U-M. In 1971, he co-founded the Human Sexuality Office, the first office to address sexual orientation concerns at a higher learning institution. He also worked to include sexual orientation as a protected category in U-M’s non-discrimination bylaw.
In 1934, Georgia Tech refused to play football against Michigan unless the team benched Willis Ward, an African American player. University officials benched him, and Ward's teammate and friend, Gerald Ford, nearly quit the team in protest. The two formed a friendship that lasted the rest of their lives. Ward went on to become a lawyer, was a member of the Michigan Public Service Commission, and served as a Probate judge.
Albert Wheeler received a doctorate from the University of Michigan in 1944, and, in 1953, he became the first black tenured professor at the University of Michigan Medical School. In 1975 he also became City of Ann Arbor’s first black mayor. Of Wheeler, U-M President James J. Duderstadt said, "His legacy to the University is that he almost single-handedly created an environment that made possible our gains in recent years."
On April 9, 1968, the day of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s burial in Atlanta, the newly formed Black Student Union took over the Administration Building (now the LSA Building) and chained themselves inside for five hours, demanding more funding for African American students and African American faculty hires. The Center for Afroamerican and African Studies, established in July 1970, was one result of the takeover.
In 1970, black students were frustrated, disillusioned, and angry at the racism on campus. They asked for an increase in black student enrollment and in faculty hires. When their demands were not met they called for a campus-wide strike. It was a seminal moment in U-M’s history and received national media coverage because it was well organized and effective. More than 300 professors cancelled classes and many departments shut down. (Scene 1 of 3)
In 1970, black students were frustrated, disillusioned, and angry at the racism on campus. They asked for an increase in black student enrollment and in faculty hires. When their demands were not met they called for a campus-wide strike. It was a seminal moment in U-M’s history and received national media coverage because it was well organized and effective. More than 300 professors cancelled classes and many departments shut down. (Scene 2 of 3)
In 1970, black students were frustrated, disillusioned, and angry at the racism on campus. They asked for an increase in black student enrollment and in faculty hires. When their demands were not met they called for a campus-wide strike. It was a seminal moment in U-M’s history and received national media coverage because it was well organized and effective. More than 300 professors cancelled classes and many departments shut down. (Scene 3 of 3)
In 1996, Homer A. Neal, a professor of physics and vice president for research, was appointed interim president of the U-M. Neal came to the University in 1987 as professor and chair of the Department of Physics. He was committed to the Michigan Mandate, stating that such programs "are as much (perhaps more) about intellectual expansiveness as about social change."
Sharkeswari Agha received a B.A., M.A., and LL.B. from the University of Allahabad; then she completed her Master’s degree in Education at U-M in 1930. In India, she later served as the head of the Teacher Training Department of Crosthwaite College for Women.
In 1877, José Celso Barbosa was the first Puerto Rican student to enroll at the University of Michigan. He was enrolled in the Department of Medicine and Surgery and graduated valedictorian in 1880. After graduation, he returned to Puerto Rico and, as the first person with an American medical degree, set up his practice in his hometown.
Alpha Phi Alpha was established on April 9, 1909, becoming the earliest known U-M African American fraternity.
Mary Stone was one of two Chinese students to enroll at the University of Michigan in 1892. Both she and Ida Kahn (pictured in next slide) graduated from the Medical School in 1896 and returned to China as medical missionaries.
Ida Kahn was one of two Chinese students to enroll at the University of Michigan in 1892. Both she and Mary Stone (pictured in previous slide) graduated from the Medical School in 1896 and returned to China as medical missionaries.
Harold Wright Cruse published his famous book, The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual, in 1967. He came to the University of Michigan to teach African American history in 1968. Cruse was instrumental in the founding of U-M's Center for Afroamerican and African Studies (CAAS) in 1970 (now a department) and served as its first director.
Born in Ann Arbor, Mary Henrietta Graham was the first African American woman admitted to the University of Michigan in 1876. When she graduated in 1880, the Ann Arbor Courier wrote, "She has proven herself to be a person of unusual intellect, and is entitled to much credit for her perseverance in pushing her way through the university. She is only 22 years of age."
In 1924, William DeHart Hubbard became the first African American to win an individual gold medal in the Olympics. During his senior year at Michigan (1925) Hubbard set the world record in the long jump. The football coach, Fielding Yost, had barred African American players from football since 1901. In 1921, as Athletic Director, Yost allowed Hubbard to join the track team. Hubbard was the only African American track team member during his four years at U-M.
Nellie Varner was the first African American woman to serve on the University of Michigan's Board of Regents (1980 to 1996). She was an associate professor of political science as well as dean of the Rackham School for Graduate Studies. Varner also served as the first director of the Office of Affirmative Action, which was founded in 1972.
Clarence Norris entered U-M in 1923. Having grown up in segregated Houston, Norris was excited to come to integrated U-M. "I feel somewhat proud and extremely grateful to the University of Michigan for admitting me, a black poor youth unconditionally to the freshman class in September 1923 during a period of extreme racial segregation and color discrimination in our country."
