Black History month brings a collection of emotions and history about this country that may not have been highlighted otherwise.
Otterbein takes plenty of effort through the Office of Diversity to keep the history of African-Americans on this campus alive and thriving. A great example of this is the Black History Month dinner that took place this past weekend. This dinner brought together students, staff and alumni. At the event, students networked and commingled with African-American individuals who graduated and left a strong legacy on Otterbein’s campus. Students at the dinner learned how paths have been opened, so they can continue legacies and make a difference in their time at Otterbein and in the workforce.
Nights like these allow students of color to reflect on who had to come beforehand to make the sacrifices and take the hard road so that future generations like this one would be able to be educated just like anyone else.
One of the most significant people in the history of African Americans on Otterbein’s campus was the first African-American graduate, William H. Fouse. He arrived at Otterbein in fall 1888 as the only black student on campus.
Otterbein archivist, Stephen Grinch, explained how Fouse came to Otterbein after the Civil War period, when there was more acceptance in the culture throughout the country, but especially on campus.
“The abolitionist welcomes him with opened arms,” Grinch said.
Grinch went on to explain how Fouse was able to pay for and just like other college students, Fouse had to work his way through school. Fouse worked at a nearby hotel, his duties ranging from waiting on tables to shining shoes, Fouse did what he had to do to keep himself in school. But all of that time and money later paid off when he graduated Cum Laude in 1893 and became the first African American to receive an honorary doctorate in the late 1940s. In the time that he did have away from his books and work, Fouse joined the school band where he played the clarinet.
Fouse was an innovator, taking the knowledge he acquired at Otterbein, and became an educator. Though he taught in various states including Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, he finally settled in Lexington, Ky. where he was a principal at Dunbar School, an all-black school, for 24 years.
The “Harambee” the African-American Student Union Magazine in the ’90s,explains that while Fouse was in Kentucky he established a number of programs that helped the community. This included leading Dunbar School into the modern age, introducing Penny Savings Bank Plan in schools and organizing the Bluegrass Oratorical Association and Bluegrass Athletic Organization.
Fouse’s parents, Squire and Martha Fouse, also hold an important factor in the history of African-Americans at Otterbein. Though they did not attend the school themselves, these two former slaves, bought and lived in The Hanby House in 1889. This exact same house was once owned by former Otterbein professor and abolitionist Benjamin Hanby and was a part of the Underground Railroad.
After receiving his M.A. from University of Cincinnati, Fouse died on June 19, 1994. In the late 1980s, the decision was made to name the House of Black Culture after him. Buried in the Otterbein cemetery, just like his parents were, Fouse will always be remembered as an outstanding individual who paved the way for students of all backgrounds and diverse lives to come to school together, learn from each other and take the knowledge we obtained to change the world.
