Wilberforce University was established on August 20, 1856, in Ohio. It is the first private historically Black college and university (HBCU) in the United States. The university was named after William Wilberforce, a British abolitionist who played a key role in ending the transatlantic slave trade.
Wilberforce University was founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. It became a significant institution for educating African Americans before and after the Civil War, with leaders like Bishop Daniel A. Payne, who helped rebuild the school after financial struggles during the war.
The university continues to play a vital role in higher education, focusing on leadership, service, and social justice.
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