History
Center founder Christine Lincoln
The Center for Black Culture began as a dream for many minority students and as a result of a massive year and half, community wide effort it materialized in August of 1998. The Center for the Study of Black Culture has six student founders: Bennie F. Adams IV, Brock M. Hayslett, Eric B. Johnson Jr., Christine R. Lincoln, Ricky L. Morgan and Colleena D. Wiseman. These people worked tremendously hard to realize this shared dream.
Its first director was one its founders Christine R. Lincoln, who graduated from Washington College in 2000 and is now a published writer. The Center's second director was Penny A. Tilghman, who graduated from Washington College in 2001 and was most notably the college's first African-American president of the Student Government Association. The Center's third director was Angela F. Crenshaw, who graduated from Washington College in 2004 and is now attending Graduate School. Mark D. Stevens was the Center's fourth director, an honor which makes him the first male director in the history of the Center for the Study of Black Culture. Currently, Sonya Thomas is the Center's 5th director. Ms. Thomas is a third year psychology major. She is a member of the Washington College's Student Government Association, Academic Standing and Advising Committee, and Society of Junior Fellows.
After being relocated numerous times, the Center for the Study of Black Culture is now located on-campus in the Spanish House. The Center for the Study of Black Culture currently has an impressive library of several hundred books covering numerous topics, videos, CDs, video tapes (with many more on the way), and soon more internet accessible computers.
Other Campus Diversity Organizations
The Black Student Union is a multi-cultural organization whose purpose is to unite the Washington College community and to offer a better understanding of African heritage. The club sponsors lectures, movies, social activities, cultural displays, and events such as a Black History Month celebrations. The organization's objective is to promote cultural awareness throughout the WC campus, Chestertown and beyond.
Cleopatra's Daughters is a support group for women, focusing on issues facing minority women in particular. It is directed towards, but not limited to minority women in the Washington College community. They have teamed with the Black Students Union, Diversity Planning Task Force, Gender Studies and other campus entities to host activities for perspective students and to co-sponsor outstanding speakers.
Office of Multicultural Affairs
Multicultural Affairs at Washington College seeks to create a support system for minority students to foster a sense of belonging, help students achieve academic excellence, assist in providing leadership development for aspiring student leaders, and heighten campus awareness and understanding of diversity.
The W.E.B. DuBois Society is a student organization formed to promote the social, academic, and professional advancement of African American men in the Washington College community and beyond.