Today in Black History: October 3rd
1887- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) Is Founded
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) is a historically black public institution in Tallahassee, Florida, covering 419 acres. Founded on October 3, 1887, as the State Normal College for Colored Students, it began with 15 students and two instructors. Initially housed in a single building, the school was designated Florida’s land grant institution for colored people and later renamed several times, becoming FAMU in 1953.
By the early 1920s, FAMU offered degrees in various fields. It reached an enrollment peak of 11,848 students during the 2008-2009 academic year, with a diverse student body. FAMU offers 62 bachelor’s, 39 master’s, and 11 doctoral programs across 13 schools and one institute. Notable alumni include Althea Gibson and Leander Shaw, Jr. The university is also known for its renowned marching band.
1904 – Bethune-Cookman University Founded as Daytona Training School
Bethune-Cookman University was founded on October 3, 1904, as the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls by Mary McLeod Bethune, starting with $1.50 and five students. The school expanded into an accredited high school, merging with the Cookman Institute in 1923 to become coeducational. It transitioned to a junior college in 1931 and a four-year institution in 1941.
Mary McLeod Bethune served as president until 1942, followed by other leaders. In 2007, the university achieved its current status and now enrolls about 3,600 students. It has graduated over 13,200 students since 1943 and offers 35 undergraduate programs and a Master’s in Transformative Leadership.
1949 – Atlanta’s First Black Radio Station, W.E.R.D., Begins Operation
W.E.R.D. was founded on October 3, 1949, by Jesse B. Bl
ayton, Sr., making it the first African American-owned radio station in the U.S. Located in Atlanta, W.E.R.D. focused on “Negro appeal” music, featuring early rhythm and blues that other stations ignored. Blayton hired his son as the first program director and four black announcers, including popular figure “Jockey” Jack Gibson, who engaged the community with relevant news and interviews.
W.E.R.D. also played a crucial role in publicizing the emerging civil rights movement, benefiting from its location in the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge, home to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. often made public statements. Blayton sold the station in 1968 and passed away on September 7, 1977.
