Neal-Marshall celebrates its 40th anniversary

The Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center has seen its share of sacrifice and struggle during the past four decades.

The center continued to celebrate a year-long celebration of their 40th anniversary Thursday with an art exhibit featuring works from local student artists, a tour of the building, a panel discussion about black culture centers, student entertainment and a reception dinner.

The early version of the center was established in 1968 after student activists pushed a program on administration that would provide more black students, faculty and oriented programs on campus. The center was originally called “Black House” – one with “poor conditions” that was located in a former fraternity house on North Jordan.

In 2001 the center was built at 275 N. Jordan Ave., its current location. Today the center is home to the African American Arts Institute and to a variety of student organizations.

“It is said that nothing comes without sacrifice or struggle,” said Edwin Marshall, IU vice president for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs.

Marshall and IU Chancellor Ken Gros Louis both spoke at the reception dinner that concluded the day’s events.

Thursday was a celebration of the center’s achievements and institutions.

Attendees included Yvonne Hudson, the widow of the center’s creator, Herman Hudson; Caramel Russell, the center’s first director; and her husband, Joseph Russell, former dean of what was then called Afro-American Affairs.

Graduate student Muhammad Saahir, a panelist for the discussion, said black culture centers serve as a reminder of the work and struggles that the students had to go through, but also as a home away from home.

“It’s a place to relate to others,” Saahir said. “Right now I’m not in the same stage of protests, not being denied as I have in the past. I feel it’s more of a home, a facility to promote awareness, to value one another’s culture.”

Caramel Russell said the original vision of the center was to spark student interest in African American programs and cultures. She said she felt proud that the center was serving a role in the community.

“I’m so glad it’s here,” Russell said. “I tried to carry out the vision as far as I could. Continue on.”

The center’s director Audrey McCluskey said the center’s current vision is to aim for equity.

“Students should understand it’s a place where they belong – a place for black culture and to disseminate it to the world.”

Yvonne Hudson, who was married to Herman Hudson in his later years, said her husband was an advocate of the students and he always had them in mind.

She said that the students were a “different type” when the center was founded, and that it is still a place they can call home.

“It’s a place where black culture is fostered and perpetuated,” Hudson said. “Students can have a home that they can relate to. I think students need to use the center and make it better than what it is.”