In July of 1963, President John F. Kennedy appealed to college and university board presidents to extend equal educational opportunities to the nation’s black students. In response, Lafayette College increased efforts to recruit minorities. By the late 1960s, approximately forty black students joined a predominantly white, all-male campus community. In response to this culture shock, black students organized the Association of Black Collegians.
The ABC constitution was approved in January of 1969 and members promptly organized a list of concerns to present to the administration. By the following October, before a crowd packed into Colton Chapel, the ABC issued its Black Manifesto. Demands focused on the preservation of black students’ identity and culture. In response, at a meeting on April 11, 1970, the Board of Trustees responded to the ABC’s demands and approved the establishment of the first Black Cultural Center at Lafayette College.
This online exhibition features iconic images and documents from the Lafayette College Archives tracing the early history of the ABC.
ABC members gather in front of Soles Hall with Reverend Isaac Newton Patterson IV. Patterson, hired in 1969, taught the newly launched “Black Man in American Civilization” course.
Left to right:
Riley Temple ’71; Reverend Patterson; Vince Henderson ’73; Chuck Lambert ’73
Assistant Dean of Students, David A. Portlock, advises ABC members in the Spring 1969.
Left to right:
David A. Portlock; Gerry Gill ’70; John Cann ’70; James “Hap” Hairston ’71; Garry Moorer ’71; Charles Gordon III ’69; Hubie Clemmons ‘70
ABC members introduce the Black Children Can program to Easton in 1971 to provide culturally stimulating experiences and tutoring for local black children
At center:
Darlyne Bailey ’74
Students gather in front of the Black Cultural Center on the Quad.
Left to right:
unknown; Linda Jackson ‘74; Darlyne Bailey ’74; Paula Stringer ’74; unknown
On the porch of the Black Cultural Center
Unknown students – can you help us identify anyone in this exhibition? Email archives@lafayette.edu
Larry Lennon ’71, founding member of the ABC
“We looked at the situation from where we were coming from, some from the South, some from urban areas…and for most, it was just a culture shock in terms of coming into the campus and being part of a white culture.”
Riley Temple ’71, emeritus member of the Lafayette College Board of Trustees and founding member of the ABC
“We came, those black students...we came here to integrate America, and we came here to make it work. And to weave ourselves into the fabric of the college…and while we were here it evolved into what we needed to express ourselves and our culture."
During a February 1969 a press conference broadcast over Lafayette student radio station WJRH, the ABC clarify their goals and prepare the campus for the Black Manifesto.
The ABC collaborated with the Admissions Office in 1970 to develop brochures for minority student recruitment. Featuring photos and statements from ABC members, Rapped in Black is credited with raising black student applications three times the previous year. In addition, ABC member Larry Lennon ’71, selected to serve on the Faculty committee on admissions, wrote a letter to every black student applicant and maintained ongoing conversations with them throughout the application process.
Contact archives@lafayette.edu to learn more about the history of the Association of Black Collegians at Lafayette College