Professors, students remember trailblazer

The countless contributions Herman Hudson made to IU do not end with advancements in African arts or strides in diversity. Some of Hudson's most valuable treasures are the distinguished African-American professors he recruited at a time when positions for black educators were few and far between.\nWilliam Wiggins, professor of African and African-American Diaspora Studies, was one of Hudson's first hires and became the first associate professor in the Afro-American studies department. Wiggins recalls the creativity and innovation Herman Hudson demonstrated as a teacher.\n"Dr. Hudson used to teach a course on African-American political activism," Wiggins said. "And occasionally he would bring in black elected officials from all office levels as guest speakers. Or in his African American aesthetic class he always invited black writers and actors from Chicago to come visit with us. His teaching style was so innovative. He really inspired me."\nPortia Maultsby remembers Hudson's relentless determination in achieving his vision.\n"Dr. Hudson began recruiting me when I was a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin," Maultsby, a professor of ethnomusicology, said. \n"When he sent me a teaching contract I didn't respond right away. Well, after about one week, Dr. Hudson began calling me every day at eight in the morning and encouraged me to come to IU. It worked. I became a faculty member in 1974."\nA day after Hudson's death, Wiggins said a great sense of loss was felt among faculty members.\n"There was a great feeling of sadness within the department today," Wiggins said. "Even though Dr. Hudson was retired, we still thought of him as a member of the faculty, and he is still connected to all of us."\nWiggins even noticed that some of his students were aware of the University's loss.\n"Many of the students were definitely of our loss," Wiggins said. "They recognized that a major figure at IU was gone even though they never knew him. That's how important he was."\nMany of the achievements Hudson made in the advancement of the African cultural arts remain as some of his most important contributions to IU.\n"My father could always recognize great talent, and he strongly appreciated all of the black arts," said Hudson's oldest daughter, Brendon Marie. "The cultural arts were very important to him."\nHowever, Hudson's interest in the arts did not come without its criticism. Maultsby admires the strength Hudson demonstrated in his interest for the arts at a time when others felt politics were more important. \n"(Hudson) took a lot of criticism for developing the department curriculum around the arts instead of politics," Maultsby said. "But he supported the arts because he knew the department wouldn't always have the necessary funding to finance a curriculum in the arts. That was his vision at work."\nHudson was also strongly devoted to students. Maultsby said Hudson always wanted students to have a central gathering place where they could all meet and share ideas. This idea influenced Hudson to establish the Black Cultural Center.\n"(Hudson) had a strong interest in students and he knew they needed a place where they could gather and work together," Maultsby said. "He wanted to extend his goals to all students." \nHudson realized his vision would not stop at his retirement. The faculty members he recruited in the 1970's held the potential to continue his vision and develop the academic and cultural richness of IU, Maultsby said. \n"Dr. Hudson was very supportive of us and a strong mentor," Maultsby said. "He saw us as the next generation of black educators. He had faith in us and believed that we would make an educational impact and continue his vision for IU"