My Mother Touted This Historical Black University

Here’s Why

My earliest understanding of Black pride wasn’t learned from a book or a classroom. It came from the gleam in my mother’s eyes when she spoke about her friend, Dr. Charles Taylor.

She boasted about him as though he were a statesman, a prophet, a steward of a legacy too vast to put into words. Taylor, at the time President of Wilberforce University in Wilberforce (Dayton) Ohio, was an foreign name to my brother and me growing up in nearby Columbus. Yet, my mother—a proud graduate of Virginia Union, another historically Black college—made sure we knew what he represented.

Wilberforce University was more than just a higher ed institution, she told us. It was history personified. Founded in 1856, it is the oldest private, historically Black university in the United States

Wilberforce continues to stand as a symbol of what Black excellence could achieve, even amid the shadow of slavery. Of course my young mind couldn’t quite grasp the depth of that at the time, but the way she told the story made it sacred.

She explained how Wilberforce, named after British abolitionist William Wilberforce, was reputed to be the first Black-owned and operated university in America. Initially established by the Methodist Episcopal Church, it became a beacon of opportunity for freed slaves and their descendants.

I later learned that it was the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church that rescued the institution from financial hardship during the Civil War, ensuring that it would remain a lifeline for generations of Black students.

It was through my mother’s stories—and the subtle pride in her voice—that I began to see Wilberforce not just as a university, but as a metaphor for resilience.

As I grew older, I sought to understand more about this institution that had so captivated my mother’s imagination. I discovered that Wilberforce was as much a spiritual endeavor as it was an educational one.

Wilberforce wasn’t just about academic rigor; it was about empowering a people who had been historically disenfranchised. Wilberforce fostered leaders who would go on to defy systemic barriers: doctors, lawyers, teachers, and activists.

And Charles Taylor? He was part of that lineage. I never met him personally, but his presence loomed large in our household. My mother would tell us about his vision, his commitment to preserving the dignity of Wilberforce, and his role in sustaining its legacy during turbulent times. It was through Taylor, she said, that Wilberforce remained a bridge to the future.

Reflecting now, I realize that those conversations with my mother were my first lessons in Black consciousness. They were an introduction to the power of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)—institutions born out of necessity but imbued with a purpose far greater than survival.

The History and Evolution of Wilberforce

The story of Wilberforce is one of defiance against the odds. In its earliest days, it served as a sanctuary for Black intellectualism at a time when such aspirations were often met with hostility. By the time the AME Church took ownership, the university had already begun to carve out its place as a vanguard for Black self-determination.

The university’s curriculum wasn’t limited to theology or liberal arts; it included training in trades and agriculture—practical knowledge that equipped students to thrive in a segregated economy.

But it wasn’t just about survival. Wilberforce instilled in its students a sense of collective responsibility, urging them to uplift their communities and challenge the status quo.

Figures like W.E.B. Du Bois, who lectured at Wilberforce, and Daniel Payne, the university’s first Black president, further cemented its reputation as a cradle of leadership. Payne’s legacy is particularly striking; as the first Black college president in the United States, he symbolized the transformative power of education in the fight for racial justice.

Wanting to dive deeper into the history and legacy of Wilberforce. Then here are two books stand out:

The Annual Catalogue of Wilberforce University 1905/06, 1907/08

This rare historical document offers a compelling look into the early years of Wilberforce University, a historically Black college founded in Ohio in 1856. Featuring detailed information on students, faculty, courses, and expenses, as well as photographs and testimonials, it provides valuable insight into higher education for African Americans in the early 20th century. It serves as a critical resource for historians and genealogists, highlighting the resilience and achievements of African Americans during a pivotal period in history.

Recognized as culturally significant, this work has been preserved and made available as part of the public domain in the United States and potentially other countries. Scholars agree on the importance of safeguarding this knowledge to ensure its accessibility for future generations, and this effort underscores the broader commitment to preserving our shared history and cultural legacy.

Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery by Eric Metaxas

Amazing Grace delivers a gripping and uncompromising account of British abolitionist William Wilberforce (1759–1833), a revolutionary who redefined human rights and altered the trajectory of history. Far from a mere politician, Wilberforce was a radical reformer whose fearless twenty-year battle against the British slave trade culminated in a landmark victory in 1807. His fight didn’t stop there—he relentlessly pursued the abolition of slavery in British colonies, achieving success just three days before his death in 1833.

Eric Metaxas unearths a firebrand visionary who dismantled the moral apathy of his time. Before Wilberforce, slavery was a norm few dared to challenge. After him, the moral compass of the world shifted, forcing societies to confront slavery as an egregious stain on humanity. Wilberforce didn’t just change laws—he changed minds, igniting a global reckoning that reverberated through history.

Published in tandem with the 200th anniversary of the British slave trade’s abolition, this biography accompanies the groundbreaking film Amazing Grace, offering a deeper dive into the life of a man who inspired Abraham Lincoln and electrified the anti-slavery movement in America. Provocative and inspiring, Amazing Grace isn’t just a biography—it’s a manifesto for justice, reminding us that one person, armed with courage and conviction, can reshape the world.

The Significance of Wilberforce Today

Looking back, I realize that my mother’s pride wasn’t just about Dr. Charles Taylor or Wilberforce. It was about instilling in my brother and me a sense of belonging to something greater. She wanted us to know that we stood on the shoulders of giants—people who, against all odds, built institutions that affirmed our worth.

Wilberforce is more than a university; it’s a testament to what is possible when vision and determination converge. It’s a reminder that Black history is not just a story of struggle but one of boundless ingenuity and triumph.

My mother’s stories were a seed planted in my young mind. Today, I write this piece as proof that the seed has grown. And I hope, like Wilberforce itself, these reflections inspire others to honor the legacies that have brought us here.

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