Our History

The LSU Clarence L. Barney Jr. African American Cultural Center, also known as the AACC, was dedicated and opened on January 17, 1993. A concept that was over 50 years in the making, the AACC has now been serving the students, faculty, and staff of LSU and the Baton Rouge community for over 20 years.

With the opening of the new Center in May of 2013, we have been able to provide more services for the campus and community. The more than 5,600 square foot space has six offices, which includes our new Multifaith/ Prayer meditation room, a courtyard, a large multipurpose rooms, break room, library, three gender neutral restrooms and a changing room. As the only free standing Clarence L. Barney Jr. African American Cultural Center in the state of Louisiana, we are proud to be a space that can now host classes, conferences and meetings. We continue to be able to rent out audio and visual equipment and provide the campus and community access to our library that houses books, videos and cultural artifacts. The LSU Clarence L. Barney Jr. African American Cultural Center remains one of the most precious jewels of the university, and the opening of this newly renovated facility almost 4 years ago ensures a prosperous future.

Signature Programs

We currently boast six signature programs: Umoja, Multicultural Student Leadership Conference (MSLC), Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration, Black History Month Celebration, Robing Ceremony and the Annual Juneteenth Celebration.

These events have continued to grow and expand over the years and have provided students with the opportunity to develop into some of the university’s strongest leaders by helping to plan and conceptualize these, and numerous other, events.

Treasured Traditions at LSU

Robing Ceremony

Day of Service

students at day of service

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

Juneteenth Celebration

Moments in the History of LSU

"A. P.” Tureaud, Jr.

"A. P.” Tureaud, Jr., first black undergraduate to enroll at LSU

AACC Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Eli Jones, first Black Dean of the E. J. Ourso College of Business

Renee Boutte

Reneé Boutte Myer, first black crowned LSU Homecoming Queen

Isiah Warner and Ebony Spikes

Isiah Warner, first black LSU Boyd Professor and Ebony Spikes, first black British Marshall Scholar at LSU

Black History at LSU

1950

LSU Board of Education enrolls Black student into the law school (Roy S. Wilson)

1952

First Black to earn a degree from LSU [Masters of Education] (Charles E. Harrington)

1953

First Black undergraduate enrolls at LSU ("A. P." Tureaud, Jr.)

1954

First Black to graduate from LSU Law School (Ernest N. “Dutch” Morial)

1956

First Black woman to graduate from LSU [Masters of Education] (Pearl Henry Payne)

1957

First Black to graduate from the LSU School of Library and Information Sciences (Ollie H. Burns)

1964

First group (6) of Black students enroll at LSU
First Black woman to attend LSU (Freya Anderson Rivers)
First Black (man or woman) to live in a LSU residence hall (Maxine Crump)

1965

First Black Tiger Band member (John Sibley Butler)

1967

First Black (man or woman) to earn her Ph.D. from LSU (Pinkie Gordon Lane)

1969

First Black baseball player (Henry LeBoyd)

Kerry Pourciau

1971

First Black wrestler (Joe Lee Lott)
First Black LSU professor (Julian T. White, Architecture)

1972

First meeting space for Black students was established (Harambeé House)
First Black LSU Student Government President (Kerry Pourciau)
First Black Ph.D. graduate in Chemistry (Richard Evans)
First Black LSU varsity football players (Lora O. Hinton, Jr. and Mikell Williams)
First Black man gymnast (Mike Carter)
First Black Tigress Pom Pon (Elma Walker)

1973

First Black graduate of the School of Renewable Natural Resources [Masters in Fisheries] (Albert J. Doucette, Jr.)

1974

First Black LSU basketball player (Collis Temple, Jr.)
First Black quarterback for LSU (Carl Otis Trimble) [1974-76]

Lora O. Hinton, Jr.

1975

First Black cheerleaders (Ladeta Crowley and Herman Harris)
First Black women's volleyball and women's basketball player (Joanette Batiste Boutte)

1976

First Black LSU woman tenured professor (Christine Minor)

1978

First Black softball players (Myra Burrell Brown and Paula Edwards)
First Black woman tennis player (Kyle Copeland Muse)

1980

First Black Golden Girls (Paula Jackson and Saundra Mims)
First Black woman gymnast (Debra Ross)

1989

First Black (man or woman) LSU dean of an academic college (Carolyn Collins)

1990

First Black woman president of the LSU Union Governing Board and Programming Council (Nicole Moliere)

1991

First African American head coach of any sport (women's tennis) (Tony Minnis)
First Black crowned LSU Homecoming Queen (Reneé Boutte Myer)
Minority Services is established (In 1993, it becomes the Office of Multicultural Affairs)

1993

Establishment of the LSU Clarence L. Barney Jr. African American Cultural Center

1995

Establishment of the LSU Women’s Center

1999

First Vice Provost of Campus Diversity is appointed (Gregory Vincent)

Dr. Isiah Warner with a group of students

Dr. Isiah Warner with students.

2000

First Black LSU Boyd Professor is named by the LSU System (Isiah Warner)
First Black woman soccer players (Fallon Buckner and Somolia Lindsay)
Safe Space Campaign begins

2001

Office of Strategic Initiatives forms

2002

First Black woman Corp Commander for the LSU Corp of Cadets (Daphne LaSalle)
First Black (man or woman) British Marshall Scholar at LSU (Ebony Spikes)

2004

First Black Women's Basketball Head Coach (Dana "Pokey" Chatman)

2006

First Black (man or woman) to complete the LSU MBA/JD joint program (Natasha U. Francis)
Black Faculty Association forms

2007

First LSU student to be named as a Morris K. Udall Scholar (Nita Anne Clark)

2008

First Black Men's Basketball Head Coach (Trent Johnson)
First Black Dean of the E. J. Ourso College of Business (Eli Jones)

2009

First Black LSU student to receive a bachelor's degree in coastal environmental science (Nita Anne Clark)

Our History

Signature Programs

Treasured Traditions at LSU

Robing Ceremony

Day of Service

Juneteenth Celebration

Moments in the History of LSU

Black History at LSU

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1960s Expand accordion

1970s Expand accordion

1980s Expand accordion

1990s Expand accordion

2000s Expand accordion