Cornell University has a rich history related to Black Americans and their contributions. Established in 1865, shortly after the end of the Civil War, Cornell was one of the first universities in the United States to welcome Black students. One notable early Black student was George Washington Fields, who graduated from Cornell's law school in 1890 and went on to become an influential civil rights lawyer.

In the early 20th century, Cornell was also home to important Black scholars and activists like Alain LeRoy Locke, who became the first African American Rhodes Scholar and later a professor at Howard University. Locke is often considered the "Father of the Harlem Renaissance," a cultural movement that celebrated Black art, literature, and music in the 1920s and 1930s.

In more recent years, Cornell has continued to be a center for Black excellence and activism. The Africana Studies and Research Center, founded in 1969, has been a hub for scholarship on the African diaspora and Black experiences. Additionally, Cornell has seen numerous Black alumni go on to achieve great success in a variety of fields, including government, academia, business, and the arts.

Overall, Cornell University has played a significant role in Black history by providing opportunities for education and advancement to Black students and by fostering a supportive environment for Black scholarship and activism.