Black History at Fordham Unviersity
Fordham University has been known as a predominantly white institution, also known as a PWI, since its inception in 1841. Despite Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus being located in the Bronx, New York, a borough with a high racial demographic. Fordham University has not been known as a university that caters to Black students, as well as those of color, over the years. This is evidently clear when looking at Fordham’s total enrollment of 16,986 students in nine schools, with only 5.4% of those students being Black or African American. Along with this, 17.4% of the student population is Hispanic or Latino. In spite of Fordham University's lack of racial diversity among its students, Black figures have made history at Fordham University and within society. As Black History Month comes to a close, I find it important to highlight individuals that have contributed to Fordham University's history, as well as their accomplishments.
Ruth Whitehead Whaley graduated from Fordham University School of Law cum laude in 1924. Whaley was the first Black woman to enroll at and graduate from Fordham Law School. Following this, she became the first Black woman to practice law in New York State. Despite experiencing discrimination from the university in her third year of law school, Whaley described her time, “for the most part pleasantly and profitably spent.” Whaley’s legacy still lives on; Today, Fordham Law School honors students in the top 25 percent of each class by naming them Ruth Whitehead Whaley Scholars.
Matthew Adams is believed to be the first Black student enrolled at Fordham university. Adams was a pre-med student who graduated in 1947. Additionally, Quinton Wilkes was the first Black man to earn a doctorate in psychology from Fordham in 1969. Wilkes was also one of the founders of Fordham’s Department of African and African American Studies following his help in organizing a sit-in at Cunniffe House. His actions and courage helped to ignite the creation of African American Studies at Fordham University.
Olivia Juliette Hooker lived through the Tulsa Race Riots in 1921 and experienced forms of racism as a child. The Tulsa Race Riots was a two-day-long massacre that involved the destruction of the homes and buildings of Black people in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by white individuals between May 31 and June 1, 1921. This event resulted in the death of thousands of Black people. For the survivors, this experience marked intergeneral trauma. Years later, Hooker became the first Black woman to enlist in the United States Coast Guard. She later taught psychology at Fordham from 1963 to 1985. After over 20 years at the institution, Hooker describes her time at Fordham by stating that, “Everybody helped each other and thought highly of each other and loved to be there.” Despite not making direct history at Fordham, she was still a woman of firsts and should be recognized.
The important figures mentioned above have acted as trailblazers for others to follow. Despite the racial demographic at Fordham being limited, Black figures have been and will continue to be an imperative part of Fordham University’s history. However, it should be noted that the lack of racial diversity among higher education campuses is not unique to Fordham alone, Universities nationally harbor the same issue. While many factors come into play when considering the racial makeup of a university, the history of Black people at Fordham should always be remembered.