For Members Only

Carter Godwin Woodson
(December 19, 1875 – April 3, 1950)

He was an African-American historian, author, journalist and the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Woodson was one of the first scholars to study African-American history. A founder of The Journal of Negro History in 1915, Woodson has been cited as the father of black history. In February 1926 he announced the celebration of "Negro History Week", considered the precursor of Black History Month.

Born: December 19, 1875, New Canton, VA

Died: April 3, 1950, Washington, D.C.

Education: Harvard University, University of Chicago, Berea College

Occupation: Historian

Known for: Founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called Association for the Study of African American Life and History). Established Negro History Week.

Quotes: "The mere imparting of information is not education.When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions.I am ready to act, if I can find brave men to help me."

FMO LEGISLATION: This unanimously passed in Associated Student Government.

Northwestern Stands in Solidarity with the University of Missouri

Whereas, the Northwestern student body bears responsibility for the institutional and direct racism that pervades our campus;

Whereas, bringing together students of different backgrounds and different perspectives improves the intellectual environment of higher education;

Whereas, institutions of higher learning should be held accountable for the environment that their students, faculty and staff create;

Whereas, no student, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or economic status, should feel unsafe on their own campus;

Whereas, at the University of Missouri, undergraduate students in pursuit of justice and safety on their campus have been met with threats of violence and terror;

Whereas, the fight of undergraduate African-American students at the University of Missouri reflects a pattern of systematic injustice at universities, which perpetuates a racial climate that permits oppression and violence against minority bodies around the United States,

Be it resolved by the Associated Student Government here assembled, the Northwestern undergraduate community stands in solidarity with the undergraduate students at the University of Missouri who are fighting for racial justice on their campus;

Be it further resolved, the Northwestern student body stands with our fellow students at Northwestern who have pursued and continue to pursue justice and safety on our campus;

Be it further resolved, the Northwestern student body reaffirms its commitment to ensure that Northwestern is an environment where all students can pursue their dreams, void of racism and intolerance;

Be it further resolved, the Northwestern student body must continue to bring powerful, collective efforts to campus and act to end the marginalization that plagues students of color daily.

For Members Only, Northwestern’s Black Student Union, sends its support and solidarity to the students at the University of Missouri whose peaceful protest against racial injustice on their campus has been met with threats of violence and terror.

Their struggles against racial injustices affects their mental, psychological, and in many cases physical health, and cannot be ignored or silenced. These institutions of higher learning should be held accountable to the environment that their students, faculty, and staff create, so that no student regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or economic status, feels unsafe on their own campus.

The fight of African American students at Missouri is not isolated. These occurrences reflect a pattern of systematic injustices at universities around the United States that parallel a racial climate that permits oppression and violence against minority bodies.
We reflect on Missouri’s struggles, and realize that we must bring action to our own campus. Northwestern must take this time to understand its own hand in the marginalization that plagues students of color on a daily basis. Until we can address our own issues, we continue to be part of systems that perpetuate oppression. We must work to ensure that Northwestern can be an environment where all students can pursue their dreams void of racism and intolerance.