Here's some description about African American History at NC State.
An early female African American employee of the university was "Aunt" Ellen McGuire, who began working at NC State in 1889. McGuire worked at State for 50 years, retiring in 1939. According to a 1939 Technician article, McGuire was born into slavery on a North Carolina plantation. Although McGuire maintained many responsibilities while the College employed her, she spent much of her time working in the infirmary.
The Second Morrill Act becomes law, requiring states to provide technical education for African Americans. No federal money would be disbursed to any college that made distinctions between students on the basis of race. States could comply, however, by providing separate colleges for blacks and whites.
In order to comply with the Second Morrill Act and yet prevent admission of African Americans to the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, the North Carolina state government creates the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College in Greensboro.
The North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station (located at A&M College) hired Neil Alexander Bailey as its first African American agricultural extension agent.
The Consolidated University of North Carolina decides that African American students are eligible for admission into graduate programs.
In 1953, NC State College hosted a dairy farm conference on campus. Chancellor Bostian declared that African American dairy farmers attending the conference could only eat in the west wing of the dining hall. Bostians announcement was in keeping with the Colleges policy, which declared African Americans attending on campus meetings would have meals in the dining hall but only when a separate room was available. Leazar Hall served as the campus-dining hall until 1971.
State College admits two African-American graduate students into the School of Engineering: Robert Clemons and Hardy Liston. Clemons became the college's first black graduate; Liston later withdrew and didn't complete his degree.
In Frazier v. the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina, the court determines that undergraduate colleges and universities should be open to African Americans.
The first four African-American undergraduates enrolled at North Carolina State College: Ed Carson, Manuel Crockett, Irwin Holmes, and Walter Holmes.
Walter Holmes joined the marching band and the concert band during his first semester at State College in 1956. Holmess presence in the band complicated segregation laws in stadiums and dining halls throughout the south. In 1957, Holmes dined with the band in the Clemson College dining hall. South Carolina residents circulated a petition asking Governor Timmerman "to see that such racial mixing doesnt occur again, especially when N.C. State visits the University of South Carolina here Nov. 23." Holmess presence in the band also angered NC State alumni. State alumnus A. W. Boswell wrote a letter to H. W. Taylor, director of alumni affairs, opposing the bands integration. Chancellor Bostian replied to Boswells letter stating the band director was legally obligated to audition "Negroes." He continued stating, "Two Negroes appeared for tryouts. One was rejected because of only fair performance on his instrument. The individual approved for being in the band is an excellent musician and there was no way the Director of the band could eliminate him."
Robert Clemons received a professional degree in Electrical Engineering (PREE), becoming the first African-American to graduate from NC State.
African-American student Irwin Holmes joins the tennis team, making it the first integrated athletic team at State College.
The first African-American female academic staff member, Mrs. Justina Williams, is hired to work in the Department of Genetics' Drosophila research lab. Many African-Americans had worked at State prior to Williamss appointment, however they primarily worked in custodial or food service positions.
Irwin Holmes became co-captain of the tennis team, making him the first African American athletics team captain at NC State.
Student Government passes a resolution calling for racial integration of public facilities in Raleigh. This is followed by a similar resolution from the Faculty Senate. Student Government forms the Human Relations Committee to write letters to area merchants.
Irwin Holmes earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, making him the first African-American undergraduate to receive a degree at NC State.
Hazel Virginia Clark receives a master's degree in Occupational Information and Guidance, becoming the first African-American woman to receive a master's degree from NC State.
Edward Walker is hired as a mail clerk, becoming the first full-time African-American staff member of the library.
Vivian Henderson becomes the first African-American faculty member, taking a position as a visiting professor in the Department of Economics. Henderson was a friend of Martin Luther King, Jr., and he later became president of the historically black Clark College in Atlanta.
Baxley's on Hillsborough Street becomes the first restaurant near NC State to serve African-Americans.
A group of NC State students join with students from Shaw University to protest racial segregation policies in effect at the State Theater on Salisbury Street.
Dorothy Williams becomes the first African-American instructor with faculty ranking, teaching in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.
Extension programs, including 4-H and Home Economics, began to integrate.
In 1966, the University was pressuring area landlords to rent to African American students. In response, some landlords wrote angry letters to Chancellor Caldwell.
Norma Wright Garcia becomes the first African-American female to receive an undergraduate degree, earning a BA in history.
Stephen Benton Latimer receives a PhD in Animal Science, becoming the first African-American to earn a doctoral degree from NC State.
Alfred "Al" Heartley and William Cooper become the first African-American members of the freshman basketball team. Heartley later went on to play on the varsity team.
Marcus Martin becomes the first African-American player to join the football team.
Ed Leftwich becomes the first African-American to be recruited to the basketball team, and the first to receive a scholarship as a freshman.
Al Heartley becomes the first African-American to be awarded a basketball scholarship at NC State. He later became the first African-American captain of the team (1970-1971), and the first African-American to win the Alumni Athletics trophy (1971).
On the weekend of Kings death approximately 200 white students and faculty (from UNC and Duke as well as NCSU) gathered in the Brickyard intending to march on the State Capitol Building in an attempt to speak with Governor Dan Moore. The ultimate goal of the march was to present a petition to the governor that "show[ed] the Negro community that concern exists among whites by presenting written grievances to the governor." However, the march did not go forward as planned. After the Raleigh Police Department stopped the group at Winston Hall, Chancellor Caldwell pled with protesters to disperse peacefully, saying, "I wept tears when Martin Luther King died; I loved that man. But you dont have to demonstrate by breaking the law." With threats of arrest looming, and National Guard troops waiting at the Velvet Cloak Inn to intercept the march should it reach that point, the protesters dispersed as requested. The following Monday, a smaller group went to the Capitol and presented the petition to an aide to the governor, who promised that the governor would read it.
In fall 1969, NC State began offering Black Studies courses; these courses included black American literature, the Afro-American in America, black Americans in American politics, and black ideology. Previously, many students were going to Shaw University and St. Augustines College to take these classes.
Sixteen African American Physical Plant employees visited the Chancellors office to request pay raises. The Physical Plant employees refused to leave the Chancellors office. All janitorial/housekeeping services in residence halls canceled as a result of financial pressure from protests for pay raises.
Eric Moore became the first African American Student Senate President.
Clyde Chesney becomes the first African-American to receive a football scholarship.
A group of students hold a rally to support better wages and working conditions for non-academic workers on campus. The protest is organized by the Society of Afro-American Culture and an offshoot of Students for a Democratic Society calling themselves "The Group."
African American students and employees marched to the Chancellors house in opposition to the suspension of African American workers (the Physical Plant fired 4 female housekeepers for refusing to work in male dorms and several men were suspended for leaving work to meet with the Chancellor).
Mary Evelyn Porterfield elected first African American Miss NCSU. In an interview with the Technician following her selection as homecoming queen, Porterfield stated, "If I had been the first black homecoming queen ever at a university of this size, I think it would have weighed much more heavily on my emotions, but to me, by this time, it seems as ordinary as would have been any selection. I think State is three years behind in the trend . . . I realize that this is a victory for the blacks on campus, and particularly for the black female."
The Health, Education and Welfare Department (HEW) informed the University of North Carolina schools that its institutions, including NC State, failed to comply with the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Willie Burden and Charley Young become the first African-Americans to receive football scholarships as incoming freshmen.
Students form NC State's first African American Cultural Center, which was given space in the YMCA building.
William V. Frazier is hired as the first African-American in a professional librarian position.
Augustus M. Witherspoon becomes the second African American to earn a Ph.D. from NC State, and the first African American to receive a doctoral degree and go on to join the faculty (see 1979).
Seven students found a local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, making it NC State's first African-American fraternity.
The Division of Student Affairs hires a black counselor, makes financial aid available to black students, and encourages black cultural programs.
William Maxwell becomes an assistant dean, making him NC State's first African-American academic administrator.
David Thompson is named NC State's first African-American All-American winner in basketball.
NC State publishes "In a Black Perspective." This pamphlet tallies the university's black community at nine professors and 222 students (out of a total 13,809), and lists courses focusing on black history and culture: two in Political Science and one on race relations in Sociology.
The second annual Pan-Afrikan Festival begins.
Nannette Smith Henderson becomes the first African-American woman to be awarded a Ph.D. at NC State, with a degree in Plant Pathology.
NC State hired Dr. Lawrence M. Clark as Associate Provost. Dr. Clark was the second African American to serve as a university administrator. In addition to serving as a professor of mathematics education, Dr. Clark coordinated all activities related to the universitys Affirmative Action Plan. Dr. Clark was instrumental in the founding of NC States African American Cultural Center, the Peer Mentor program, and the African American Symposium.
The university's affirmative action plan is informally accepted by HEW.
In 1974, African American students called for a new cultural center. Student Body President Terry Carroll presented a four point request to Chancellor Caldwell, which included a request for the first floor of the Print Shop to be turned over to the Society of Afro-American Culture for an African American Cultural Center. Banks C. Talley, dean of student affairs, complied with this request.
A Women's Basketball team is established for the first time. The team included two African American women, Gwen Jenkins and Cynthia Steele.
A chapter of Delta Sigma Theta is established, becoming the first African-American sorority chapter on campus.
Ted Brown becomes the first African-American named an All-American in football.
Chancellor Joab Thomas held the first Brotherhood Dinner, honoring Samual Nesbritt. The dinner was institutionalized as an annual event under Chancellor Bruce Poulton in 1982.
Student Government organized a march to protest NC States financial involvement in South Africa. The anti-apartheid march began outside the African American Cultural Center (West Dunn) and ended at the Memorial Tower. Approximately 75 students participated in the march.
Howell was the first African-American to serve as Student Body President. We was a political science major. After graduation, he eventually became the university's primary liaison with state and local governments.
In fall 1988, NC State implemented an African-American Studies minor, the first of its kind at the university. The interdisciplinary minor required students to take courses in both history and English literature.
Black student leaders gathered at the Student Center to discuss campus issues. The low graduation rate for black students, the lack of African American faculty members and athletic administrators, and the discriminatory discipline practices within the athletics department were problems cited by black leaders during this meeting.
Greeks United sponsored the March Against Racism-Challenging History (M.A.R.C.H.) to support change in the Universitys policies towards African American Students. Students marched to Holladay Hall to present a petition to the Chancellor, which demanded immediate action. NC States first African American student body president, Kevin Howell (1987-1988), participated in the M.A.R.C.H.
1988 marked the first year the University recognized Martin Luther King Day. University administrators initially announced the substitution of Easter Monday for MLK day, however students reacted negatively to this suggestion. Student Body president Kevin Howell introduced an open forum to hear student concerns about the spring calendar changes. Upon hearing support for both holidays, Howell pushed the administration to observe both Easter and MLK day. University leaders compromised by canceling classes on MLK Day and Good Friday and by holding classes on a Saturday.
NC State creates the Associate Provost position in African-American Affairs.
The Board of Trustees adopts a racial harassment policy.
Christine Grant (Chemical Engineering) becomes the first African-American female faculty member appointed in the College of Engineering.
The Collection Management Department is established, with Margaret Hunt as its first head. Hunt had been one of the first African-American librarians hired during the 1970s.
Student Body President Brian Nixon was attacked by two or three people near his residence hall, North Hall. Prior to this attack, public safety provided Nixon with security. Nixon received racial death threats and intimidating calls and letters throughout his presidency. As student body president, Nixon implemented programs that encouraged students to practice ethical behavior and allowed students to meet with campus leaders in informal settings. Nixon accomplished many successful programs in spite of the personal racial threats he received while president. The violence escalated in February 1990 when Nixon was attacked in the early morning while walking to his residence hall. Nixon resigned as president in March 1990, one month prior to the end of his term. He cited personal reasons for his resignation and stated, "The pain and pressure has finally taken its toll physically, mentally, emotionally, and especially academically."
The new Student Center Annex (later renamed Witherspoon Student Center) housed the African American Cultural Center, which included meeting space, a library, and a multipurpose room. In 1992, following months of student and faculty protests, NCSU administrators granted the African American Cultural Center an operating budget.
Kedrick Lowery was elected Leader of the Pack (which had replaced the homecoming queen competition). Lowery was the first African American male to be honored with the title. Lowery was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity.
The Sista 2 Sistuh Network is established to support African-American women at NC State.
The Nubian Message began publication in response to student protests alleging racial bias by the Technician. Tony Williamson served as the paper’s first editor-in-chief. The paper was first released in Talley Student Center. In the inaugural issue, Williamson stated his intention to "totally, truthfully, and faithfully cover every aspect of African American life at NCSU" and his hope that the Nubian Message would become "the media voice for African Americans at NC State; a publication where people can learn about different aspects of [African American] culture, as well as find useful information about State’s campus." Because the Nubian Message received no University funding and Nubian staff were prohibited from using NCSU media equipment, the first issue was published with help from North Carolina Central University. Recalling the paper’s initial struggles Williamson stated, "It was a real pain to have to go all the way to Durham to work, but the people at Central were very helpful and understanding. We owe them a lot. If it wasn’t for their newspaper staff, we probably would never have had a first issue." Following publication of the first issue, the University allowed the Nubian staff to utilize campus media equipment.
James Anderson becomes the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, making him the first African-American dean.
The new Student Center Annex was dedicated on this date. It was named for Dr. Augustus McIver Witherspoon, thus becoming the first building on campus named after an African-American. Dr. Witherspoon earned his Ph.D. in Botany from NCSU in 1971, making him the second African American student to receive a Ph.D. from NC State. He joined the faculty as Instructor of Botany and eventually held the following posts at NCSU: Full Professor, Assistant Dean, Acting Dean and Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Associate Provost and Coordinator of African-American Affairs.
Chavonda Jacobs-Young was awarded a Ph.D. She had previously earned a Bachelors of Science degree (1989) and Masters of Science degree (1992). She was the first African American woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D. in paper science. She later became associate administrator for national programs for the USDA's Agricultural Research Service.
A crowd of approximately 500 students and faculty members rallied in Witherspoon in support of affirmative action. Students opposed UNC system President Molly Broads proposal to eliminate race based programs within the UNC system.
University administration creates the position of Vice Provost for Diversity and African-American Affairs. One stated goal of this position is to improve the experience of black students and other minorities.
The African-American Student Advisory Council begins issuing report cards grading the university on enrollment, retention, and graduation of African-American students. The report card gave NCSU an F for recruiting black students.
Yolanda King, Martin Luther King, Jr.s daughter, addressed students in Stewart Theatre as part of the NCSU MLK Commemoration. King urged a crowd of more than 500 to shake off apathy and tackle social problems such as poverty, hunger and intolerance.
African American students participated in a sit-in at a Student Senate meeting to express concern for the lack of funding for African American organizations. Out of $40,000 of appropriations, African American organizations received a mere $735. The Student Senate agreed to send the bill back to committee for re-evaluation.
On August 25, 2005 NC States student chapter of the NAACP held its first meeting in four years. Gina Dean, the NAACP youth and college state director, provided students a brief overview of the NAACPs history. An NC State NAACP chapter initiated in 1991, however participation in the organization declined until the chapter became inactive. Michael Boykin (later named chapter president) and the Omega Psi Phi fraternity aided in the rechartering of the NC State NAACP chapter in 1994. The NAACP chapter met for 7 years; in 2001, the chapter again became inactive.
Sidney Lowe served as the first African American head coach of the NCSU mens basketball team. Lowe was the starting point guard for NC States 1983 basketball team, which won the national championship. From 1991 to 1993, Lowe served as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lowe later served as the head coach of the Timberwolves and the Memphis Grizzlies. In March 2011, Sidney Lowe resigned from his head coach position at NC State. In a statement to the Technician Lowe declared, "This is my school. I love this school. I poured my sweat for our years here and gave it my best. It was my hope and dream to come back here and do something special again."
The Office for Diversity and Inclusion moved to Winslow Hall, following the completion of a new Alumni Association building on Centennial Campus in 2006.
Freedom of Expression Tunnel: On November 5, 2008 racist, threatening graffiti, directed at (then) President-elect Barack Obama, was found in the tunnel. Because of the threats against Obama, the Secret Service was among those called to investigate. The four students responsible were identified and admitted to the act. The students issued an anonymous public apology. In response to the incident, which received international media attention, Chancellor Oblinger established the Campus Culture Task Force Committee to discuss methods of improving the campus climate and possible revisions for Student Conduct practices and Free Expression Tunnel procedures. Students also held a "Unity Rally" to denounce the acts of racism.
In November 2010, racial epithets were painted in the Freedom of Expression Tunnel. Students protested against the offensive images by blocking entrance to the tunnel. Chancellor Woodson released a statement which declared ". . . we must create an environment and an overall sense of global awareness on campus that encourages and embraces all forms of diversity."