Wilberforce University is the oldest Black University in the nation. Founded in 1856 and named in honor of the 18th Century abolitionist William Wilberforce, the school stood as a leader among the Historic Black Universities. In the early 1900’s, the campus was a draw to the intellectual minds of the time. Among its most noted alumni were Professors W.E.B. DuBois and Lieutenant Charles Young. Heavy weights of the day such as Booker T. Washington, founder of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute and Poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar were not strangers to the campus. Dr. DuBois became the co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and Lieutenant Charles Young went on to become the highest ranking Black Officer in the Armed Forces serving from 1889 until his death on January 8, 1922 in Lagos, Nigeria.
Lieutenant Young arrived at Wilberforce in 1894 following the death of Lieutenant John H. Alexander, the second Black Graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Lt Alexander was assigned to the University in the capacity of Professor of Military Science and Tactics. He died less than a month into the assignment. Lt. Young was his replacement and remained as the Professor of Military Science until 1898. The Colonel and his wife Ada, had a fondness for the area and adopted the community as their home.
In September 2014 working with the community of Maysville, Kentucky the National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations debuted the restored birth cabin of the Colonel. Between Maysville and Wilberforce lies the community of Ripley, Ohio where Charles Young lived his formative years. We have proclaimed the highway between the three cities as the “Colonel Charles Young Corridor.” Wilberforce University was an important part of the Colonel’s life. He would be proud in knowing that time has not eroded memories of past years. We salute the University for acknowledging our request for the posthumous recognition.
Those familiar with the Coalition’s advocacy know that we have sought an honorary presidential promotion for the Colonel to the rank of brigadier general. We have suspended those efforts until a more fitting time. We were disappointed the promotion did not happen under the Obama Administration. We never received an explanation as to why. However after the fact, the answer is not important. We are appreciative of former President Obama for designating the Colonel’s home in Wilberforce as a National Monument. We commend the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the former owners of the property for their foresight in donating it to the National Park Service for preservation purposes.
The area is equally blessed being the home of the National Afro American Museum and Culture Center. The museum contains the largest repository of the Colonel’s History in the nation. We currently have a bronze maquette of Colonel Young on horseback standing on display in the facility. The maquette is a replica of the statue the Coalition would like to see erected in Washington, DC, symbolizing the honor and dedication of all the Black Soldiers who served during the World War 1 Era. The statue will also memorialize his 1917 historic walk and horseback ride from Wilberforce, Ohio to Washington DC to demonstrate his fittest to serve on active duty in the Army. The epic ride covered a distance of 497 miles in sixteen days.
The honorary Doctorate from Wilberforce University will be a welcome acknowledgement of a Soldier who gave his full measure to Race and Country. He will always be a part of the University, the region and American history. The presentation will be made as a part of the 162nd Commencement Exercise to be held on May 5th. We look forward to receiving the honorary degree and placing it on display with the maquette at the National Afro American Museum and Culture Center.
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Shown below is Wilberforce University.
