By Allie Richmond, M.A. ‘26, Art History
Lucy Diggs Slowe was a trailblazer in education, civil rights and women’s leadership. Born on July 4, 1883, in Berryville, Virginia, she became a passionate advocate for expanding access to higher education and a champion of social justice. In a D.C. Mondays program on November 4, 2024, hosted by the Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies, Howard University Professor Amy Yeboah Quarkume reflected on Slowe’s influential career by sharing how Slowe transformed Black students’ education in Washington D.C.
Quarkume is an associate professor of Africana studies at Howard University, where she serves as graduate director of the Center for Applied Data Science and Analytics and director of student engagement for the Center for Women, Gender and Global Leadership. As editor of Her Truth and Service: Lucy Diggs Slowe in Her Own Words (Columbia University, 2024), Quarkume organized a collection of Slowe’s speeches, letters and articles underscoring Slowe’s impressive accomplishments and unwavering dedication to education and equality.
An excellent young student in Baltimore, Slowe earned a full scholarship to Howard University in 1904. She became a leader on Howard’s campus, fostering a lasting community for Black women in higher education as a founding member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Slowe graduated from Howard as valedictorian of her 1908 class with a bachelor’s degree in English.
Slowe moved back to Baltimore to begin her career as an educator with an innovative, impactful approach. She understood her role not only academically but also in shaping future leaders by instilling moral principles and a strong work ethic in her students. D.C.’s first Black junior high school opened in 1919 with Slowe as the principal, and her curriculum and teacher training systems attracted attention from Howard University.
Slowe’s alma mater asked her to return in 1922 as the university’s first dean of women. She exceeded expectations, further establishing a place for women in higher education and serving as a national model of how to empower women with tools to succeed on college campuses. But Howard’s male leadership consistently undervalued and underpaid Slowe, despite her committed, groundbreaking service.
In her lifetime, Lucy Diggs Slowe was denied the recognition she deserved for her tireless dedication as an educator and leader confronting social barriers. With Her Truth and Service, Quarkume spotlights Slowe’s legacy and reaffirms the far-reaching impact of her work in Washington and beyond. You can watch a video of this D.C. Mondays program below and browse upcoming talks on the website.
About the Author
Allie Richmond has a B.A. in art history and history and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in art history with a concentration in museum studies at GW. Interested in art historical research and museum management, she is the digital media editor for the Albert H. Small Center for National Capital Area Studies.