Penn State Black History
I found this chronicle to be quite moving and I truly appriciate the work that was done on our Black History at PSU.
I am the Rick Collins who was the 3rd President of the Frederick Douglass Assn and the 1st President of the Black Student Union. The fact that there are 20 times more Black students at PSU than during my time period (1965-1969)
is almost beyond belief!
Please put me on the mailing list!
Rick Collins, '69 Liberal Arts, Omega Psi Phi, NU Chapter
Thank you for setting up such an excellent resource for all Penn State students and alumni. I just graduated May 16, 2009 and after looking at the webiste, feel even more a part of such a fine establishment as PSU. It will definitely help those who are coming to and are at Penn State to realize there were many before who paved the way to where we are now! It is vital that all parts of PSU history be shared, and you are doing that! WE ARE... making history!
Mr. Daisey,
OUTSTANDING LABOR OF LOVE. I really enjoyed reading the WHOLE document. It brought back memories of my time on the Mont Alto campus as well as University Park. It has also increased my interst about the number of African Americans who completed the ROTC programs at Penn State like I did and where did their service take them. Fortunately, my daughter is now a second year architecture major at Penn State. I remind her that she is standing on the shoulders of giants who blazed a trail for her. It has not made it any easier in the architecture environment, but she is a determined young lady. As a matter of fact she is in the picture taken of now President Obama. I would be happy to provide a donation to help continue this research and believe others would be interested as well. Where can money be sent?
I attended PSU during the '65-'67 years. However, I graduated from Temple years later. PSU is still dear to my heart. I would like to be added to the alumni list.
we have one of the early Penn State African American football players working at Hershey Medical Center - Charles Wilson is director of Human Resources for the med center.
Chlares was a 1964 or 1965 football recruit for PSU - when no one in his home state of Flroida would let him play.
A great testament to PSU.
Darryl,
Great job on the chronicles. Have you documented any resources such as the Black Experience at Penn State by Lisa Roney for the Alumni Association (1989 Penn Stater Part I, II, III, and IV) and the 1988 1st Black Greek Alumni Reunion at the Days Inn Sheraton when we endorsed Cynthia Baldwin and Barry Robinson for the Board of Trustees and the 2000 Black Greek Reunion DVD sponsored by the Alumni Association?
I'll ask Ed Wilson our GAIG Treasurer to mail you a copy as well as Roger Williams.
One of our student interns turned me on to this site and it's fantastic. When I first started volunteering for Voices of Central Pa we were hard pressed to find Black History documented at PSU. This is great work, and we'd love to link to your site and run some blurbs on the Voices site to help get the word out - Voices was formed in 1993 in reaction to a conservative, racist and homophobic newspaper launched on campus. It's long gone, but we're still here. Let's team up!
I really appreciate what you have done thus far. It's amazing work, time, and effort, and I want to applaud your diligence. I was having this discussion with a friend about the start of revitalization in the Black community and my answer was that Blacks, not African Americans, need a new, positive, and progressive identity. How do you feel about the subject. How do we increase the number of "culturally responsible Blacks that succeed professionally, excel academically, and positively impact the community?" (National Society of Black Engineers mission statement)
Darryl
Thanks for your efforts. The information brings a lot of pieces together and creates a fuller picture. John Kiernan PSU 1972-2002
Advisor BSU
Dear Darryl: Congratulations! I was delighted to see the site. I graduated in 1946 and attended my 25th reunion, only returning for the 60th. It was my pleasure to meet Justice Cynthia Baldwin, then chairman of the Board of Trustees. I hardly recognized the campus. Women's Bldg. (where the three Black women students were housed) was gone, but Jordan Hall( for women during the war) and Atherton were still there. I pledged Delta in Pittsburgh as there were no Black sororities on campus; however there was Omega Psi Phi when I returned for Grad school. There are so many memories and I would like to be in touch with others who were there during my time.
Best,
Anna Atkins Simkins; '46, Grad, '50, Omicron Nu, Louise Carnegie Fellow, Delta Sigma Theta
I want to thank all for their comments, suggestions, and words of encouragement both here and to my e-mail address.
Brian - Your point is valid that the "Penn State University African American Chronicles" does not attempt to "deep dive" into the emotional aspects of various events. I believe all the events (threats against student-leaders, football players and even the one Black Board of Trustee member)during the referenced period were chroniciled in the document. If something is missing, please let me know. Also note that a much more detailed document on protests, "History of Black Protests at Penn State," can be found on the HISTORY and RESEARCH tab.
The plan is for the Africana Research Center, and the African & African American Studies Department to coordinate more detailed research (including video and audio interviews) into a number of the identified events/areas. This is a "work in progress" so any information any of you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
If anyone believes an important event, person, or subject matter is missing, please send us as much information as you can on that topic. Once verified, it could be included in this record.
We are attempting to chronicle the entire experience (good and bad).
Again, Thanks!
Darryl Daisey
Class of 1983
Hello Darryl,
I was a graduate student and staff member at PSU from 1997-2001 and was part of a huge struggle to address racism during my last few years. I advised the Black Caucus and faught to bring light to death threats against student-leaders, football payers and even the one Black Board of Trustee member. I think this site would really benfit from some links that tie folks to the various racial struggles that students and staff like myself have had to go through in "Happy Valley". This is nice, but seems to be a safe and watered down depiction of a school that has a great history of racial discrimination, intolerance and cover ups from the administration as well as the State College Community. Malcolm X's quote reminds us to tell the truth even if it hurts. Many alum like myself who went through the late 80's and the time period I was there have a variety of painful experiences that should acknowledged if we're talking about the true Black History of PSU.
Darryl,
I appreciate you and your brother for being role models to me while at Penn State. I especially appreciate that you have not lost that PSU Spirit and continue to serve as role models for our Black Students and grads even today! THANK YOU!
Forrest (aka "Bill")
Great resource! I wish I would have known some of this while I was AT Penn State. Either way, I think this is a great effort and I will let other alums and other possible students know that PSU truly does have a rich well-rounded history.
- Sherlly
Darryl,
This is well overdue… well done my brother!!!!
Wow! How come I didn't know much about any of this when I was in school?
I was so excited when I start reading this at the 2008 BW:BAR. An outstanding job. I will keep your "work of art" safe and treasure it. Thanks so much, Darryl Daisey!
Thanks for the sharing this. What a wonderful resource!
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