Cornell University has a long and significant history in relation to Black history. It was one of the first universities in the United States to admit Black students, with the first African American student, George B. Kelly, enrolling in the law school in 1890. Throughout its history, Cornell has been a place of activism and advocacy for Black rights and equality.

During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, Cornell students played a prominent role in advocating for racial justice. The university was also the site of significant protests and demonstrations, including the Willard Straight Hall takeover in 1969, where Black students occupied the building to demand increased support for minority students on campus.

Additionally, Cornell has been home to notable Black alumni and faculty members, including Toni Morrison, the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, who taught in the English department at Cornell for many years. The university has also been a hub for research and scholarship on Black history and culture, with programs and initiatives dedicated to the study of African American experiences.

Overall, Cornell University has been a pivotal institution in Black history, fostering a legacy of activism, academic excellence, and social change within the Black community and beyond.