A Look Through the Archives: Black History Month at Douglass 

 

In honor of Black History Month, we’re reflecting on the experiences of Black students at Douglass.  Photos from The Douglass Century, Scarlet and Black, and more, paint a story of Black student life at Douglass and Rutgers—a story of student organizing, steadfast advocacy, and critical contributions that have made the campus community a more celebratory and inclusive place for students of all backgrounds. Check out some of the archives below! 

1. Julia Baxter Bates NJC'38

Featured here is Julia Baxter Bates NJC’38—the first Black woman to be admitted to and graduate from the New Jersey College for Women (NJC). Scarlet and Black, Volume 2 explores her life and experiences at Douglass during the 1930s, where she experienced discrimination and racism in a variety of contexts. Despite these challenges, Bates understood the significance her attendance would have in the fight for civil rights. After graduation, Bates became the National Director of Research and Information at the NAACP headquarters in New York City, where she served for two decades. During her time there, she contributed directly to one of the most significant achievements of the Civil Rights Movement. She researched and co-authored the winning brief in the historic Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, ending segregation in public schools across the nation. Bates truly embodies the meaning of the Douglass Difference—courage in the face of adversity and a willingness to fight for and claim her education.

2. The Douglass Black Students' Congress 

The influential Douglass Black Students’ Congress (DBSC) is a historic pillar of the Douglass community. As discussed in The Douglass Century book, the Douglass Black Students’ Congress (DBSC) was founded in 1968 and was instrumental in accomplishing changes in policy at Douglass. Today, DBSC continues to advocate for equality on campus by providing community, offering diversity and cultural education, and hosting signature events—such as the Annual Kwanzaa Ball—for Douglass students.

3. The Africana House 

The Africana House, formerly known as the Afro-American House, was founded in 1969 through the activism of Douglass students. Now part of The Global Village, the Africana House provides a celebratory community on campus for students interested in exploring black identity, history, and culture.

4. The Afro-American Studies Choir 

Featured above is the Afro-American Studies Choir in 1968 (credit Rich Costello). The Afro-American Studies Choir was a group that fostered celebration, artistic expression, and creativity on campus. Professor Cecelia Hodges Drewry, conducting the choir, was a faculty member of the Department of Speech and Dramatic Arts and served as the first director of the Afro-American Studies Program at Douglass.

Interested in Rutgers digital archives? Check out the Scarlet and Black project here.