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Endowed
Chair Named
After Black
Labor Pioneers |
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Greg
Carr,
Ph.D.,
associate
professor
and
chair
of
the
Department
of
Afro-American
Studies,
thanks
the
John
and
Eula
Cleveland
family
during
a
ceremony
in
which
the
chair
is
named
after
the
couple. |
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WASHINGTON
(Aug. 10)
–The
first ever
endowed
chair in
the Department
of Afro-American
Studies
was named
Wednesday
in honor
of two “working
folks”
who were
also pioneers
in the fight
for better
standards
of living
for black
workers
in the nation’s
capital
and across
the country.
The
John and
Eula Cleveland
Chair in
Black History
Studies
was established
last year
with a generous
$1.2 million
gift from
the couple’s
estate.
The gift
will support
Afro-American
Studies
programs
and continue
Howard’s
tradition
of educating
students
in the dynamics
of the African-American
experience.
“This
is an important
day for
us, as we
celebrate
a sustaining
gift that
speaks to
the Howard
University
identity,”
President
Sidney A.
Ribeau said
during a
ceremony
in Howard
Hall to
honor the
couple and
recognize
their gift.
“Times
are tough.
America
is in crisis,
and the
world is
in turmoil,
but this
gift says
‘keep
doing the
work that
is important
to us all.’”
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John
Cleveland
was
the
first
African-American
to
take
over
a
major
union
at
the
local
level
and
the
first
black
man
elected
vice
president
of
the
1.5
million-member
International
Brotherhood
of
Teamsters.
His
wife,
Eula,
was
the
first
black
woman
to
sit
on
the
executive
board
of
a
local
union.
Together,
the
Clevelands
helped
create
the
Teamsters
National
Black
Caucus,
an
organization
of
black
Teamster
men
and
women
united
by
their
special
concerns
for
rights
and
conditions
of
workers.
John
Cleveland
was
inducted
into
the
Teamsters
Hall
of
Fame
in
2010.
“We
are
grateful,
because
the
Cleveland
Chair
is
given
by
a
family
committed
to
labor
and
to
education,”
said
Greg
Carr,
Ph.D.,
chair
of
the
Department
of
Afro-American
Studies.
“This
investment
in
Howard
will
free
us
to
have
conversations
taking
the
form
of
distinguished
lectures,
guided
research
and
public
presentations.”
Hugh
Beins,
the
attorney
representing
the
Cleveland
family,
said
the
dedication
and
recognition
were
fitting
and
will
help
cement
the
Clevelands’
legacy
for
years
to
come.
“John
Cleveland
was
the
Jackie
Robinson
of
the
Teamsters
Union,”
Beins
said.
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Joining the
Cleveland
family
for
the
naming
ceremony
were
Howard
University
officials
(from
left)
Carr,
Nesta
H.
Bernard,
vice
president
of
Development
and
Alumni
Relations;
James
A.
Donaldson,
Ph.D.,
Dean
of
the
College
of
Arts
and
Sciences,
and
President
Sidney
A.
Ribeau.
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