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7 Black Male Educators Who Shaped History

Throughout history, Black male educators have played a major role in shaping education, advancing civil rights, and challenging academic barriers. From founding institutions to pioneering research, we honor the impactful contributions of these seven Black male educators. May their efforts highlight the transformative potential of education.

1. Octavius V. Catto

Octavius V. Catto (1839–1871) was a prominent civil rights activist, educator, and leader in Philadelphia during the 19th century. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, he moved to Philadelphia as a child, excelling academically and graduating as valedictorian from the Institute for Colored Youth. Later in his life, Catto became the principal of the very same school he graduated from, now known as Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. 

Catto dedicated his life to advancing the rights of African Americans, co-founding Pennsylvania’s Equal Rights League, a civil rights organization that focused on securing political rights, supporting education, and protecting Black American from racial prejudice and violence. He was also a fierce advocate for the desegregation of public transportation and mobilization of black voters after the 15th Amendment’s ratification. Catto also played a key role in organizing black troops during the Civil War and was a community leader in sports, founding the successful Pythian Baseball Club. 

Tragically, Catto was assassinated on October 10, 1871, by Frank Kelly, who sought to suppress Black voter turnout during election day. Although his killer was never punished, Catto’s death became a rallying point for civil rights and strengthened the Black community’s political influence in Philadelphia. In 2017, he was honored with a statue at Philadelphia’s City Hall, the first in the city dedicated to an African American.

2. Kelly Miller 

Kelly Miller (1863–1939) was the first Black graduate student in Mathematics from Howard University. After graduating from Howard in 1886, Miller secured a position in the U.S. Pension Office, where he clerked as an undergraduate. Miller then became the first Black man admitted to study at Johns Hopkins University, where he completed postgraduate work in mathematics, physics, and astronomy. Miller returned to Howard University the following year as a professor. He became the first person at Howard to teach Sociology. 

3. Carter G. Woodson

Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950) was a scholar whose dedication to celebrating the historic contributions of Black people led to the establishment of Black History Month, marked every February since 1976. Woodson fervently believed that Black people should be proud of their heritage and all Americans should understand the largely overlooked achievements of Black Americans. Woodson’s devotion to showcasing the contributions of Black Americans bore fruit in 1926 when he launched Negro History Week in the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Woodson’s concept was later expanded into Black History Month.

4. Charles Hamilton Houston

Charles Hamilton Houston (1895-1950) was a lawyer, educator, and lifelong civil rights activist. He enrolled in Amherst College at the age of 16 and was the only Black student in his class. After graduating, he taught in Washington DC for two years, then joined the U.S. Army as an officer. He then went to Harvard Law School, earning top grades, and became the first Black editor of the Harvard Law Review. After graduating from Harvard, he returned to D.C. to join his father’s law practice, “Houston & Houston,” one of the first Black law firms in the city. Charles was involved with almost every civil rights case between 1930 and 1954, granting him the nickname “The Man Who Killed Jim Crow.” He also taught part-time at Howard Law School and later became Howard’s first Black president. 

5. Antonio M. Smith

Antonio Maceo Smith (1903–1977) was an educator, entrepreneur, and civil rights activist from Texarkana, Texas. After earning an A.B. degree from Fisk University, an MBA from New York University, and master’s degrees in economics and business law from Columbia University, Smith opened an advertising agency in New York. In 1932, he moved to Dallas to teach in the segregated Dallas Independent School District. He became the editor of the Dallas Express and led the Dallas Negro Chamber of Commerce, where he promoted black economic empowerment and voter registration.

Smith played a key role in civil rights, working with the NAACP on the landmark Smith v. Allwright voting rights case and participating in the successful fight to end educational segregation in Texas through the Sweatt v. Painter case. He also served as president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and was a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Dallas.

6. Dr. Edmund Gordon

Dr. Edmund Gordon (1921-Present) is a pioneering psychologist whose work has profoundly influenced education, psychology, and social policy, especially for underserved children of color. A graduate of Howard University, American University, and Columbia University, he helped design the Head Start Program in 1956, scaling it to serve nearly half a million children in just six months. Over his career, he has written 18 books and published over 200 articles addressing the achievement gap and equitable education. His research was also used as evidence to the Supreme Court on how segregation harms children. 

Dr. Gordon has held positions at institutions including Yeshiva, City University of New York, Howard, Yale, Columbia, and the Educational Testing Service. His contributions have earned him widespread recognition, including being named Honorary President of the American Educational Research Association in 2021. At 103 years old, he remains active as Scholar-in-Residence at AU’s School of Education, embodying his lifelong dedication to advancing educational equity.

7. Dr. Ramon Goings

Dr. Ramon Goings (1986-Present) began his career as a music and special education teacher in urban school districts, including Baltimore City Public Schools. He also worked as a foster care and youth probation counselor in New Haven, Connecticut. He is now an Associate Professor in the Language, Literacy, and Culture doctoral program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), and the founder of Done Dissertation®, a consulting organization helping doctoral students navigate the dissertation process.

Dr. Goings’ research focuses on the experiences of high-achieving Black males PK-Phd, and diversifying the teacher and school leader workforce. He has authored over 60 scholarly publications — with his work featured in Teachers College Record, Inside Higher Ed, and Education Week. His recent research on Black male adult learners won the 2019 Imogene Oaks Award from the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education. Dr. Goings also served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of African American Males in Education from 2017 to 2020 and was named an Emerging Scholar by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education in 2017.

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