Edward W. Crosby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dr. Edward W. Crosby
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Dr. Crosby attends a Kent State graduation ceremony in the mid-1980s.
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| Born | November 4, 1932 |
| Died | February 10, 2021 (aged 88) |
| Occupation | Administrator Professor Philosopher Author Scholar |
| Spouse(s) | Shirley G. Crosby (m. 1956) |
Dr. Edward Warren Crosby (born November 4, 1932 – died February 10, 2021) was an important African-American professor and leader. He worked at Kent State University (KSU) in the Department of Pan-African Studies.
Dr. Crosby was a pioneer in Black education. He helped create Black History Month. He also started the Department of Pan-African Studies at KSU. He founded the Institute for African American Affairs (1969) and the Center of Pan-African Culture (1970). These were some of the first groups of their kind at universities.
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Dr. Crosby's Early Life and School
Edward Crosby was born and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the fourth child of Frederick Douglass and Marion G. Crosby. He went to Catholic schools when he was young.
He was a very good student at first and wanted to become a priest. But when he moved to public schools, his grades dropped. He also skipped school sometimes and got into trouble. Later, he joined the United States military and was stationed in England.
After his military service, Dr. Crosby went back to school. He earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish in 1957. In 1959, he got a master's degree in German. Both degrees were from Kent State University. In 1965, he earned his PhD from the University of Kansas. His PhD was in medieval German languages, literature, and history.
He started teaching at Kent State in 1957. He also taught at other schools. These included Hiram College, Tuskegee Institute, Southern Illinois University, and the University of Washington.
Dr. Crosby's Career at Kent State
Dr. Crosby started the Institute for African American Affairs (IAAA) in 1969. He was its director until 1976. In 1976, the IAAA became the Department of Pan-African Studies (DPAS). This was a big step forward. Dr. Crosby was the first leader of this department for 18 years. The IAAA still helps the community and does research at Kent State today.
The IAAA used a special way of teaching. It was based on Dr. Crosby's earlier work. He created a program called "Experiment in Higher Education" (EHE). This program helped students from cities who might not have finished high school. It was like another program called Upward Bound.
The EHE program helped students get ready for college. Teachers in the EHE program were also trained as counselors. They used a method called "Each One Teach One." This meant students often taught each other. The EHE program also valued the students' own cultures. It used examples and language that students knew to teach them. This made learning easier and more relatable.
Important Things Dr. Crosby Did
Creating the East St. Louis Black Studies Model
Dr. Crosby's work in Black education really took off in East St. Louis, Illinois. He had worked at Tuskegee Institute and in Akron, Ohio before this. As the education director for the Experiment in Higher Education (EHE), he and his team created a unique way of teaching. They taught students what they needed for college. But they also made sure to respect and include the students' cultures.
This program in East St. Louis was very important. It is seen as the first college program in the U.S. that focused on African culture. Black studies programs grew across the country because Black communities wanted them. East St. Louis had a large Black community, so it was a perfect place for this.
The EHE program helped shape Black studies at many universities. They had many resources and smart people working together. They created a teaching style that put the student first. This group also offered advice to universities all over the U.S.
One key lesson from East St. Louis was the importance of a complete approach to Black education. In East St. Louis, EHE worked with Katherine Dunham’s Performing Arts Training Center. This teamwork brought educators and artists to East St. Louis. It created a lot of excitement in the community.
When Dr. Crosby came to Kent State, he knew this teamwork was valuable. He created an academic program like the one in East St. Louis. He also started a cultural center. This center worked with the new Institute for African American Affairs (IAAA). For 23 years, these two groups worked together. Their goal was to support African-American culture. They also helped students learn skills to graduate from college. Many students who might not have succeeded otherwise graduated. Many of them now work to help Black communities across the U.S.
Pioneering Black History Month
Soon after arriving at Kent State, Dr. Crosby helped organize the first Black History Month celebration in the U.S. This happened in February 1970. Six years later, in 1976, the U.S. was celebrating its 200th birthday. That's when President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History Month across the nation.
Since then, Black History Month is celebrated every year. Schools, cities, and government buildings across the country observe it. The idea has even spread to many countries overseas, especially in Europe.
The first celebration in 1970 was a big event. It included famous cultural figures. These included Babatunde Olatunji and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks. Poets Eugene Redmond and Quincy Troupe also took part. Dr. Donald Henderson spoke about Black art and culture. The celebration also featured Jimmy Garrett and Chief Fela Sowande. They both helped create new groups focused on Black culture. Jimmy Garrett was important in starting the first Black Student Union. Fela Sowande was a Nigerian philosopher and musician. He wrote Nigeria's first national anthem. He later taught at Kent State University.
Using Technology in the Classroom
The Institute of African American Affairs had a small budget. So, Dr. Crosby needed new ways to teach that didn't cost much. In East St. Louis, he had already started using new teaching methods. These included videotaped lessons and different kinds of films. He also used the "Each One Teach One" method.
All these methods were used at Kent State. This helped create courses that could be taught by graduate students. Many of these students later became full-time professors. This is how Dr. Crosby built a team of professors dedicated to Pan-African Studies. University leaders had not expected this. They thought professors would come from other departments. But Dr. Crosby's approach created a strong, united team.
Other new ideas included using desktop computers. The Department of Pan-African Studies was one of the first to have computers in its main office. It also had one of the first computer labs for students. This was special because it wasn't for science or business classes.
The Black Culture Center
When Dr. Crosby arrived at Kent State, students had many requests. One big request was for a Black Culture Center. University leaders had not thought of this idea. They didn't give much money to the center to promote Black culture.
The center moved to different buildings over time. It finally ended up in Oscar Ritchie Hall. Dr. Crosby believed the center and the Institute should work together. The Center of Pan-African Culture was started in 1970. Dr. Crosby, his staff, and student leaders worked together to create it. It gave students a place for cultural activities. It also became a home for the IAAA.
Today, the Center of Pan-African Culture is still in the newly updated Oscar Ritchie Hall.
Books and Articles by Dr. Crosby
Dr. Crosby wrote several books and articles. These shared his ideas about education and African-American culture.
- The African Experience in Community Development, with L. Davis and A. Adams Graves, Vol. I, 1982.
- The African Experience in Community Development, with L. Davis and A. Adams Graves, Vol. II, 1983.
He also wrote many articles for different journals and publications. These articles covered topics like Black studies, African education, and the experiences of African Americans.
