The Atlanta University Center (AUC) is a consortium of historically black colleges and universities located in the West End neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. The AUC is made up of four institutions: Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, and the Morehouse School of Medicine. Each of these schools has a rich history and cultural heritage that has shaped the community of the AUC and the city of Atlanta as a whole.
The West End neighborhood, where the AUC is located, has a long history of African American culture and community. The neighborhood was originally settled by former slaves after the Civil War and was home to some of the first black-owned businesses in the city. The West End became an important center of African American culture and politics in the early 20th century, with figures like W.E.B. Du Bois and Martin Luther King Jr. frequently visiting the neighborhood.
Clark Atlanta University, the oldest institution in the AUC, was founded in 1869 as Atlanta University. It was established to provide higher education to newly freed African Americans during the Reconstruction Era. The university has a strong legacy of scholarship and activism, with graduates like Maynard Jackson and Julian Bond playing important roles in shaping the civil rights movement.
Morehouse College, founded in 1867, is the oldest historically black men's college in the country. It has a long history of producing leaders in the African American community, including Martin Luther King Jr., Spike Lee, and Samuel L. Jackson. The college has a strong tradition of activism and social justice, with students and alumni playing key roles in the civil rights movement.
Spelman College, founded in 1881, is the oldest historically black women's college in the country. The college has a strong tradition of educating and empowering black women, with graduates like Marian Wright Edelman, C. DeLores Tucker and Angela Davis. Spelman has also been a leader in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math education for Black women.
The Morehouse School of Medicine, founded in 1975, is the only independent, historically black academic health science center in the United States. The school has a long tradition of training primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals to serve in underserved communities.
Together, these four institutions make up the Atlanta University Center, a vibrant and important community of historically black colleges and universities. The AUC has played a critical role in shaping the African American community and culture in Atlanta and the nation as a whole, and continues to be a vital part of the city's history and heritage.
The Atlanta University Center is a unique and important institution in the city of Atlanta. The AUC's four institutions have a rich heritage and a long history of educating and empowering African Americans. The West End neighborhood, where the AUC is located, has a long history of African American culture and community. The AUC continues to play a vital role in shaping the African American community and culture in Atlanta and the nation as a whole.