TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– On Saturday, a group of Black alumni from Indiana State met for a reunion. They celebrated seeing familiar faces, as well as the 50th year of the anniversary of the school’s African-American culture center, and Afro-studies program.
They also honored Fred Henderson, the first Black gymnast at ISU. Dr. Crystal Reynolds, an ISU alumna and local historian, said he was one of many “hidden history” stories that exist around the city.
“We’re going to talk about him, and we’re going to honor him, because we believe in honoring our own and telling those hidden histories,” she said.
That was a theme of the reunion on Saturday, which took place at the Vigo County Historical Museum. Reynolds said they took time to allow the alumni to tour the museum and see some of the documentation of African-American history in the area.
“This museum, unfortunately, does not have a lot of visitors who are African-American. We’re trying to change that. We want African-Americans to come here and look at their history, and also the history of everyone,” she said.
The African-American culture center was a product of the Black Student Union, which formed in the late 60’s.
“This is a testament to Indiana State, and a testament to Terre Haute. It was the Black student union that began to put some of this in motion, because as a result of their calling for Black studies, and calling for a culture center,” she said.
Herman Giles was a student at the university who graduated in 1971. He said, when he comes back for reunions, he sees the change in the community.
“Last time we were here on campus, I got to meet some of the younger people. You see how they relate, compared to how things were when we were here. And the University has changed so much,” he said. “In 50 years, the university has come a long way.”
Reynolds said Terre Haute deserves credit for harboring this community, that allowed for people like Henderson to succeed.
“He was only able to succeed, of course because of his gumption, but also because Indiana State embraced him, and because Terre Haute embraced him,” she said.
