Notable Alumni of Shaw University

Ida B. Wells 1862–1931

Journalist, civil rights leader and NAACP co-founder

Also attended: Rust College, Fisk University, Le Moyne-Owen College

Spouse: Ferdinand Lee Barnett (Northwestern University)

Ella Josephine Baker 1903–1986

Civil rights and human rights activist

Bachelor's degree

Angie Brooks 1928–2007

Liberian diplomat, first African woman UN General Assembly president

Doctor of Philosophy

Also attended: Howard University, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Julian Bond 1940–2015

Civil rights leader, co-founder of SNCC

Also attended: Morehouse College

Adam Clayton Powell Jr. 1908–1972

Harlem congressman and Baptist pastor

Attended until 1934

Also attended: Colgate University, Columbia University in the City of New York

Spouse: Hazel Scott (The Juilliard School)

Father: Adam Clayton Powell (Yale University)

Henry P. Cheatham 1857–1935

African American U.S. Representative from North Carolina

Rita Walters 1930–2020

American politician

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Edward A. Johnson 1860–1944

Lawyer, first African American in New York Assembly

Also attended: Clark Atlanta University

José Antonio Price 1890–1951

Afro-Panamanian physician and Liberal politician

William Henry Steward 1847–1935

Civil rights activist, Kentucky's first black letter carrier

Also attended: Alabama A & M University

Celeste Beatty 1964–

Founder of Harlem Brewing Company

Attended until 1984

Louise Celia Fleming 1862–1899

African-American physician and missionary

James E. Cheek 1932–2010

President of Howard University from 1968 to 1989

Bachelor of Arts

Also attended: Drew University, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School

Benjamin Arthur Quarles 1904–1996

Historian of Black American social and political history

Also attended: University of Wisconsin-Madison

James B. Dudley 1859–1925

President of North Carolina A&T State University

Also attended: Harvard University, Wilberforce University

James E. Shepard 1875–1947

Founder of North Carolina Central University

Tashni-Ann Dubroy 1985–

Executive vice-president and COO of Howard University

Also attended: CUNY Kingsborough Community College, North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Shirley Caesar 1938–

Gospel singer and evangelist

Joe Garland 1903–1977

Jazz saxophonist who wrote "In the Mood"

Shelia P. Moses 1961–

Writer and National Book Award nominee

James Tim Brymn 1881–1946

Jazz conductor, composer and pianist

James Smith 1953–

Former WBA heavyweight boxing champion

Also attended: James Sprunt Community College

Radovan Trifunović 1973–

Slovenian basketball coach and former player

Madie Hall Xuma 1894–1982

African American educator and activist who emigrated to South Africa

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, Teachers College at Columbia University, Winston-Salem State University

Spouse: Alfred Bitini Xuma (Northwestern University, Minnesota State University-Mankato)