History
The business school’s first African American graduate was Benjamin Tanner Johnson, class of 1921. Upon arrival on campus, he faced a unique situation: racial segregation meant that there was nowhere for him to eat or sleep. Though accommodation was ultimately found, he endured two years of isolation and separation at HBS.
For nearly five decades after HBS admitted its first black student in 1919, the number of African Americans on campus remained in the single digits. Change came about in the fall of 1967 when five black students, now known as the “Founding Five”, met with Dean George Baker to express their concern about the dearth of African-Americans at HBS. When Baker responded that he didn’t know where to find them, the students began to partner with the administration to recruit African Americans from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In February 1968, the Founding Five established the Association of Afro-American Students (AASU) and committed themselves to improving diversity on-campus.
In the late 1960s, newspapers were rife with articles about demonstrations on college campuses against war, racism, and sexism. Not surprisingly, Harvard University was not immune to the turmoil going on throughout the country. These tumultuous years ended with AASU going on strike in the beginning of May to demonstrate what the Harbus described as “their outrage over a variety of issues relating to them, both as students and as Black Americans.” While the open racial debates of the early 1970s seem like ancient history, many of the controversial issues of 30 years ago are still with us. AASU and the HBS African American Alumni Association have continued to work with the HBS administration to realize the vision of the Founding Five.
For nearly five decades after HBS admitted its first black student in 1919, the number of African Americans on campus remained in the single digits. Change came about in the fall of 1967 when five black students, now known as the “Founding Five”, met with Dean George Baker to express their concern about the dearth of African-Americans at HBS. When Baker responded that he didn’t know where to find them, the students began to partner with the administration to recruit African Americans from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In February 1968, the Founding Five established the Association of Afro-American Students (AASU) and committed themselves to improving diversity on-campus.
In the late 1960s, newspapers were rife with articles about demonstrations on college campuses against war, racism, and sexism. Not surprisingly, Harvard University was not immune to the turmoil going on throughout the country. These tumultuous years ended with AASU going on strike in the beginning of May to demonstrate what the Harbus described as “their outrage over a variety of issues relating to them, both as students and as Black Americans.” While the open racial debates of the early 1970s seem like ancient history, many of the controversial issues of 30 years ago are still with us. AASU and the HBS African American Alumni Association have continued to work with the HBS administration to realize the vision of the Founding Five.