By Trinity Kinslow
Howard University is known for its rich African American history, notable alumni, and staff.
Many of the buildings on-campus are named after those that made great contributions to not only the campus, but the African American community as well.
Locke Hall, which is home to the College of Arts and Sciences, is no different.
Alain LeRoy Locke was a notable African American writer, philosopher, and educator. His books about contemporary Black culture, and promotion of the Harlem Renaissance, established him as a leading authority on Black culture.
His book, The New Negro: An Interpretation, coined the term “The New Negro Movement” and is still taught on Howard University’s campus today.“A pioneer in the field of comparative race studies, he envisioned Howard as a center for research on problems related to race and culture contact, as well as a center for Black culture and ‘incubator’ of Black intellectuals,” according to a plaque on an exhibit dedicated to him in the university’s well-renowned Founder’s Library.
Locke dedicated his life to increasing the awareness of Black equality and artistry.
“Earning his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1918, Locke was one of the best-known Black scholars in the United States, who profoundly influenced the Black intellectual tradition,” the plaque said.
Locke was also the first African American to be selected as a Rhodes Scholar, a scholarship fund and fellowship some Howard University students benefit from today.
Locke’s contributions to Howard University, and the African American community, will live on through his legacy on the campus and the students he has inspired.