The History of the African American Society
The African American Society was founded in 1971 as the Afro-American Student Association. Over the years it has been called the Afro-American Study Group, the Afro-American Society, and finally the African-American Society.
It was the concept of Joseph Shine ’71 and Larry Ferguson ’73. In the 1972 yearbook where the organization made its debut, the caption underneath reads that it was founded for “the purpose of providing members with a spectrum of Black History, fine arts, and American lifestyle. Members are involved with social work, which gives them knowledge and insight about problems facing Black people today.”
Over forty years later, its purpose is still the same with an emphasis on leadership, character development, and community service.