Howard University Essay Example

distinguished individuals, who are now acknowledged as members of America's privileged class, clearly demonstrate its prestigious history.

Howard University has produced a remarkable roster of accomplished individuals that include Thurgood Marshall, the first black member of the Supreme Court, Jessye Norman, a renowned opera singer, and Andrew Young, who served as Ambassador to the United Nations. These exceptional figures exemplify the success that Howard cultivates. Moreover, Howard has nurtured numerous other notable personalities such as Phylicia Rashad (known as Mrs. Huxtable from T.V.) and Toni Morrison (an esteemed author). The legacy of achievement at Howard is extensive and far-reaching, exceeding the initial aspirations set forth by its founders.

Just looking over this small list of a few of Howard’s alumni shows this. Major General Oliver Otis Howard, of Leeds Maine is the gentleman who receives credit as this prestigious school is named after him. This is primarily because of the diligence he is given credit for in trying to assist people who had been slaves after the war and for his leadership of the Freedmen’s Bureau also after the war. Howard University, Washington D. C. “…was named in recognition of his work in the bureau and as one of the university’s founders. He served as the university’s president (1869–74). Howard University is considered a very historical school of higher education for blacks. What I thought is interesting is that Howard is named for Major General Oliver O. Howard who had been a student from the famous West Point Military Academy, which is still active today and producing many of our current military leaders. As Major General Oliver O. Howard was listed as one of the early presidents

of this exemplary school for blacks, but he was not a black man at all. I wanted to research others that had also held the leadership for this University along with Major General Howard and what their leadership philosophy was.

The University was chartered on March 2, 1867, and later amended in 1928. Howard University, www.howard.edu, is one of the oldest schools in the United States to primarily serve the freed people. In the early beginnings, many individuals responsible for educating these newly freed people through Howard University showed diligence and a genuine desire to provide the best education possible. However, there were also reported irregularities in the Freedmen’s bureau, which temporarily oversaw Howard University during its early years.

The vibrant culture and nightlife of DC's famous districts, including U Street, attracted renowned entertainers and scholars, making it an optimal setting for Howard University to establish itself as a leading academic institution. Its strategic location near the government center and numerous influential foundations and policy organizations played a significant role in its success. Additionally, the university flourished thanks to the presence of a prosperous black community. Students at Howard University voiced their viewpoints through different forms of protest like sit-ins, rallies, and other movements.

Howard University, a historically significant institution in American history and the Civil Rights Movement, has a rich legacy. Notable figures such as Alain Locke, the Chair of the Department of Philosophy and the first African American Rhodes Scholar, made an impact with his influential work The New Negro during the Harlem Renaissance. Additionally, students like Diane Nash, Rev. James Morris Lawson Jr., Rev. William Sloane Coffin Jr., and James Leonard Farmer were actively involved

in the "Freedom Ride."

In 1926, Dr. Mordecai W. Johnson became Howard University's first black president when it had less than 2,000 students and funding of just over half a million dollars.Serving as president until 1960, he achieved numerous milestones including accrediting all schools and colleges within the university, increasing enrollment to 6,000 students, establishing an $8 million budget, expanding faculty with prominent black scholars and introducing PhD programs.

After Dr.Johnson's departure in 1969 ,Dr.James M.Nabrit Jr., who previously held positions as Secretary of the University and Dean of Law School at Howard University took over as president.Dr.Nabrit established a groundbreaking civil rights course at Howard University in 1938 which is considered noteworthy among American law schools according to Britannica (source: Britannica). Remaining true to its motto "Equal Rights and Knowledge for All," Howard University continues to prioritize its primary goal successfully.Howard University, currently classified as one of the 48 private Doctoral/Research Extensive universities in the United States, is composed of twelve schools and colleges. It has a student population of approximately 10,500 individuals. The university offers academic programs in over 120 areas of study and grants undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. Howard University is well-known for attracting top students from across the country and holds the record for producing more African American Ph.Ds on campus than any other university globally. Since 1998, it has been home to prestigious scholars such as Rhodes Scholars, Truman Scholars, Fulbright Scholars, and Pickering Fellows (www.howard.edu). To gather more information about Howard University's history and background, you can refer to sources such as "Brief History of Howard University" retrieved from http://www.howard.edu/explore/history.htm or "Four Freedom Riders" published on June 2nd, 1961

in Four Freedom Riders magazine; or even explore topics like Freedmen's Bureau (American history) using Encyclopedia Britannica Online.Retrieved February 20th ,2012 from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/218498/Freedmens-Bureau - Howard University.(n.d.).- Wikipedia ,The Free Encyclopedia . Retrieved February 20th ,2012 from http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_University - Howard University (university,Washington,District of Columbia ,United States)

"The Encyclopedia Britannica Online provides information about Howard University and its founder, Oliver O. Howard, a military officer in the United States."
You can access the article for Howard University at http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/273482/Howard-University and information about Oliver O. Howard is available at http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/273459/Oliver-O-Howard.
Additionally, you can explore the rich tradition of historically black colleges and universities in the article 'The History of Historically Black Colleges and Universities' located at http://www.collegeview.com/articles/article/the-history-of-historically-black-colleges-and-universities.