Black Studies: A Precursor to Africana Studies
In this article from January 23, 1969, student Byron Jackson, remarks on the changes that Swarthmore college is making in regards to the courses and overall academic makeup of the school courtesy of their Afro-American Students Society. Byron Jackson, the president of the BSA at Ursinus, remarked on the importance of having these same demands at Ursinus College in order to "open up the avenues toward accepting more Black students". One of the demands that were brought up by the BSU at Swarthmore was that there should be Black courses that are capable of guiding Black Students into an understanding of their history, heritage, and needs of their people. Byron emphasizes the importance of pushing this demand among others at Ursinus College in order to uplift the Black presence at Ursinus College.
Marc Hauser completed an article on a female student named, Carol Clark. He questioned her opinions on different topics, one of which is what it felt like to be black on campus. Clark responded by saying that she was proud to be a black student on campus and that she had yet to deal with any bigotry from other students. However, she did speak on the fact that she believed that there should be a black literature course on campus or even black literature as apart of a general literature course. She believed that just because students hadn’t previously been introduced to any courses created around black history that shouldn't mean there couldn’t be any formed.
“Focus: Nate Dupree Can a Black Man Find Happiness at Ursinus? Well…” is an interview written by Richard Whaley and published November 7, 1974, Ursinus Weekly. In the interview, Dupree mentions that he would like to add a Black studies program and black administrators/professors to Ursinus college. While Dupree does not expect the school to implement such programs due to their cost, he believes the school might change if there is pressure from the government. The courses, or lack thereof, may even be the reason why students transfer out of the college. However, the lack of black students and other minority students is shocking to Dupree; who has moved from Philadelphia to Ursinus in pursuit of his political science degree. As the college seeks to diversify itself through other means (i.e. bringing in foreign students according to Dupree) the desire to have a more inclusive curriculum can be traced as far back as the 1970s.
In October of 1980, political scientist Kenneth W. Grundy was invited to speak at Ursinus College about the Great Powers of Africa. At the time of the event, Grundy had visited Africa for his research six times and spent his time traveling and teaching in dozens of countries. Dr. Grundy was also an Ursinus College graduate in 1958 and now has a collection of works here in the Ursinus College archives.
"Racism Symposium Set For March 20 with Lincoln Univ." is an article with an unknown author written on March 6, 1969, from the Ursinus Weekly. The article speaks on a lecture that was had at Ursinus College with Lincoln University on the topic "Racism, Youth and America's Future". The guest speakers were Dr. J. Oscar Lee and Dr. Wyatt Lee Walker. These speakers spoke mostly about issues within America concerning racism and lack of representation for Black students in higher education. This article brings the need for representation for Black students to the college's attention. This starts the conversation of needing Black education on Black history to colleges/universities, specifically Ursinus.
"Bond is Back!" is a newspaper article which was written by Keir Lewis, published on March 6th, 1969 from the Ursinus Weekly. In the article, Julian Bond (who was a spokesperson and was involved in the organization, NAACP and the founding member of the National Committee to free Soviet Jewry. He states how he feels that civil rights is still an issue (1989) and how education and modifications to curriculum to include teachings about black/culture and history should put forth the steps toward abolishing racism. Bond makes this clear in his article and points out that education is not only for black people but for the collective.