On September 6, the House approved, 400-0, a resolution (H. Res. 875) sponsored by Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) congratulating Spelman College on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.
Spelman College was established in Atlanta, Georgia in 1881 to provide education for African American women and girls at a time when black women seeking higher education were turned away from many colleges and universities throughout the South. Today, Spelman College, one of two historically black women’s colleges in the nation, ranks among the top 75 Best Liberal Arts Colleges according to U.S. News & World Report.
Rep. Lewis said, “Not so long ago, 50 years ago, in many parts of the American South, black women had limited options when it came to furthering their education after high school…Since 1881, Spelman College has been here to provide hope, opportunity and a bright future for women of color.” He went on to say that “students [at Spelman College] are encouraged to pursue the study of fields where minorities and women are often underrepresented. This is evident in Spelman’s continued emphasis on exposing black women to the fields of science and engineering.”
Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-OH) stated that since its founding 125 years ago, “Spelman College has maintained a tradition of producing African American women of excellence who have gone on to serve in various capacities throughout the world and has empowered its daughters to make a difference in their communities while shattering stereotypes. Spelman is an institution within the African American community and remains an intricate part of American history.”
