WASHINGTON, D.C., February 4, 2021– I had to share this Black History Month historical gem posted by HBCUgrads Media/News Company on its Facebook page with the following narrative:
“In 1854, John Mercer Langston became one of the first black lawyers in the United States. In 1868, Langston helped establish America’s first black law school at Howard University. He went on to become the first dean of the program and briefly served as the president of Howard in 1872
He was the first president of Virginia State University. Langston University is named in his honor. He was the great-uncle of poet Langston Hughes, who was a graduate of Lincoln University of PA. He was one of the first to push extremely hard for reparations. He was one of the men in the room when Sherman and Stanton asked the freedmen what they wanted. Their response was what led to Sherman Order No 15, better known as 40 acres and a mule.”
