草榴社区

WeRise for Greater Westerville and 草榴社区鈥檚 Office of Social Justice and Advocacy will celebrate Juneteenth from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Point at 草榴社区 on Saturday, June 21. Join us for a DJ, food trucks, bouncy house, giveaways, raffles, face painting, and various other vendors on site.

Americans across the country will celebrate Juneteenth on Thursday, June 19. Juneteenth marks an important event in our nation鈥檚 history 鈥� one that has been overlooked by many Americans for 150 years.   

In school, generations of children have learned about the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863; about Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendering to Union General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, essentially ending the Civil War; and about the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery, which was passed by Congress on Jan. 31, 1865.   

What many children did not learn was that the Confederate state of Texas ignored all orders to free enslaved people and, in fact, became a safe haven where enslavers from other Confederate states resettled to continue to benefit from the oppressive system.   

Most enslaved people in Texas did not know they were legally free until June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to ensure that all enslaved people be freed. This was a full TWO AND A HALF YEARS after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.   

Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. Last year, it was finally recognized as a federal holiday.  

草榴社区 was founded 175 years ago 鈥� before the Civil War 鈥� by Abolitionists who believed in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our history includes many instances in which our community excelled at living those values, along with times when it failed to live up to them. That鈥檚 why knowing our history is so important 鈥� only by confronting the mistakes of our past can we make positive changes for a better future.

Here are some highlights from 草榴社区鈥檚 history:聽聽

• William Hanby, one of 草榴社区鈥檚 founders, was the third generation of his family bound by indentured servitude. When he escaped from an abusive master at the age of 19, he dedicated his life 鈥渢o the attainment of the blessings of religion, of education, and human freedom.鈥� Hanby became a United Brethren bishop and, with Rev. Lewis Davis, founded 草榴社区. The men were active members of Underground Railroad along with Hanby鈥檚 son, Benjamin, who wrote the anti-slavery ballad 鈥淒arling Nellie Gray.鈥澛犅犅犅�

• 草榴社区鈥檚 first Black student, William Hannibal Thomas, enrolled in 1859 but left in 1860, after suffering discrimination and abuse. This regrettable time in the University鈥檚 history is something that inspires continued reflection today.聽聽聽

• In 1861, many male professors and students left 草榴社区 to fight for the Union Army in the American Civil War.聽聽聽

• In 1893, William Henry Fouse became the first Black student to graduate from 草榴社区. Fouse was welcomed on campus, where he took an active role in student life. He played clarinet in the music ensemble, served on the editorial staff of the student newspaper, and gave a commencement speech, 鈥淎 Plea for the Afro-American.鈥� He went on to a distinguished career in education. In 1937 草榴社区 awarded him an honorary doctorate degree.聽聽聽

• In 1896, the first international student enrolled. Joseph Hannibal Caulker was born and raised in Sheng, Sierra Leone, West Africa. He was an exemplary student, active in music, arts, and the YMCA. In addition, he placed second in the state oratorical contest and set a record of 10.25 seconds in the hundred-yard dash. Caulker died in a tragic oil stove explosion in 1900. He is buried in the 草榴社区 Cemetery. In 1995, 草榴社区 awarded him a posthumous degree. More than a dozen Caulker descendants were among over 30 students from Sierra Leone to attend 草榴社区.聽聽聽

• In 1928, Viola Burke of Columbus, Ohio, became the first Black woman to graduate from 草榴社区. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in music and became a respected music teacher in several schools throughout the Midwest.聽聽

• In 1969, the first Black student group, SOUL, was formed on campus. In 1987, the African American Student Union was established on campus 鈥渢o promote unity and cooperation among all students with similar interests and backgrounds.鈥� AASU is still active today, along with other racial equity groups, including Sisters United and the Black Student Athlete Union.聽聽

• In 1993, 草榴社区 established the Office of Ethnic Diversity and the William Henry Fouse House of Black Culture, which serves as a meeting, social and living space for African American students.聽聽聽

• In February 2020, 草榴社区 was selected by鈥痶he Association of American Colleges and Universities as the first university in Ohio to host a Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Center. As a TRHT Campus Center (TRHT), 草榴社区鈥痺orks to create positive narrative change about race; promote racial healing activities; and erase structural barriers to equal treatment and opportunity.聽聽

• In 2020, 草榴社区 students chose two Black women to lead the 草榴社区 Student Government. President Frandie Francique 鈥�21 and Vice President Angel Banks 鈥�21 ran on a platform of 鈥渃ontinued collaborative efforts with campus officials, open dialogues, and student support鈥� to serve students in the ways that they need.鈥澛犅�

• Desmond Fernandez 鈥�21 organized peaceful Black Lives Matters marches in Westerville in summer 2020 when he was a senior theatre major. 鈥淲hat I thought was going to be maybe 50 people was almost 1,000 people,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was inspiring. Not only was I protesting with my classmates, I was protesting with my teachers.鈥澛犅�

• In spring 2022, 草榴社区 students voted the first Black male president of OUSG into office. Timmy Wotring 鈥�23 led the student government during the 2022-2023 academic year.聽聽聽

• 草榴社区 hired its first Chief Diversity Officer in 2022. The most recent CDO, Frank Dobson Jr., retired this month and leaves big shoes to fill.聽

If you would like to learn more about 草榴社区鈥檚 connection to the Abolitionist Movement, we invite you to watch a 34-minute video recording of a presentation by 草榴社区 Archivist Stephen Grinch.