by: Brenda Tindal

In the fall of 1748, Prince­ton University–then known as the Col­lege of New Jer­sey– held its first com­mence­ment. Dur­ing this cer­e­mony, six under­grad­u­ate stu­dents were grad­u­ated with Bach­e­lor of Arts degrees and the admin­is­tra­tion con­ferred the hon­oris causa (hon­orary degree) upon Jonathan Belcher, the Gov­er­nor of New Jer­sey. There­after, Prince­ton awarded hon­orary degrees to indi­vid­u­als who had made sig­nif­i­cant con­tri­bu­tions in var­i­ous sec­tors of soci­ety includ­ing reli­gion, aca­d­e­mics, arts and cul­ture, pol­i­tics, sci­ence, mil­i­tary, and finance, among other fields. How­ever, it would not be until 1951 that Prince­ton would con­fer this honor upon an African Amer­i­can. Since then, more than forty African Amer­i­cans have been hon­ored in this way. This post focuses on some African Amer­i­can activists and pub­lic ser­vants who have received an hon­orary degree from Prince­ton Uni­ver­sity.

Ralph John­son Bunche

Diplo­mat and scholar-activist Ralph John­son Bunche was the first African Amer­i­can awarded an hon­orary degree from Prince­ton in 1951, receiv­ing a Doc­tor of Laws degree.

“A polit­i­cal sci­en­tist on the fac­ulty of Howard Uni­ver­sity on leave since 1941 for gov­ern­ment ser­vice. Stafford Lit­tle Lec­turer at Prince­ton in 1950. Professor-designate at Har­vard. An expert ana­lyst of colo­nial areas and ter­ri­to­r­ial affairs for the State Depart­ment and advi­sor to the United States Del­e­ga­tion at the sev­eral Con­fer­ences that ini­ti­ated the United Nations. Now on loan from the State Depart­ment to be Direc­tor of the Depart­ment of Trustee­ship in the United Nations. Win­ner of the Nobel Peace Prize for 1950 as United Nations medi­a­tor in Pales­tine. Where human affairs need a know­ing appraisal and states­man­like lead­er­ship, peo­ple draft him because he can be believed. His sin­gle­ness of pur­pose brings peo­ple to the point of rec­on­cil­i­a­tion, and his sin­cer­ity and sim­plic­ity inspire in them con­fi­dent hope. A world cit­i­zen ‘ever will­ing to accept as great a share of haz­ard as of honor.’ ”

Thur­good Marshall

Judge and civil rights lit­i­ga­tor Thur­good Mar­shall received the hon­orary degree of Doc­tor of Laws in 1963.

Cita­tion read at Princeton’s 206^th Commencement:

Whit­ney Moore Young, Jr.

Leader of the National Urban League and civil rights activist Whit­ney Moore Young, Jr., received the hon­orary degree of Doc­tor of Laws in 1967.

Cita­tion read at Princeton’s 220^th Commencement:

Coretta Scott King

Human rights activist and widow of slain Civil Rights leader Dr. Mar­tin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King received the hon­orary degree of Doc­tor of Human­i­ties in 1970.

Cita­tion read at Princeton’s 223rd Commencement:

John Lewis

Con­gress­man and civil rights leader John Lewis received the hon­orary degree of Doc­tor of Laws in 1987.

Cita­tion read at Prince­ton 240^th Com­mence­ment:

Con­stance Baker Motley

Judge and civil rights lit­i­ga­tor Con­stance Baker-Motley received the hon­orary degree of Doc­tor of Laws in 1989.

Cita­tion read at Princeton’s 242^nd Commencement:

Dorothy Irene Height

Civic leader, activist, and edu­ca­tor Dorothy Irene Height received the hon­orary degree of Doc­tor of Laws in 1990.

Cita­tion read at Princeton’s 243^rd Commencement:

Robert Par­ris Moses

Edu­ca­tor and civil rights pio­neer Robert Par­ris Moses received the hon­orary degree of Doc­tor of Laws in 2002.

*Moses is cur­rently the 2011–2012 Vis­it­ing Fel­low in Princeton’s Cen­ter for African Amer­i­can Stud­ies (CAAS)