People
The
; I 11 of Dr. Stone
Scholar, teacher and leader. Dr. Sonja Haynes Stone
passes on her legacy to the university, the Black
Student Movement and the community.
It was not until 1955 that African-
American students were allowed
to attend the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since then,
African-American students have
experienced prejudice and unfair
treatment as inferior and less impor
tant students. In the 1970’s Sonja
Haynes Stone was one woman who
stood up for these students.
This incredible woman
came into the world Dec. 14, 1938,
in Chicago, 111. She earned a bache
lor’s degree in social science at
Sarah Lawrence College, a master’s
degree in social work from Atlanta
University, a master’s degree in
social and ethical philosophy from
the University of Illinois at Chicago
and a doctoral degree in history and
philosophy of education from
Northwestern University. Stone
also studied at the University of
Illinois at Chicago and earned a
By Davene Swinson
doctoral degree in history and phi
losophy of education from
Northwestern University. In addi
tion, Stone studied also at the Duke
University School of Divinity.
After getting her education,
she became a professor at
Northeastern Illinois University.
She was assistant director and act
ing director of its Center for Inner
City Studies in Chicago and
became chairman of the
Department of Inner City Studies.
In 1974, Stone came to UNC-CH as
the director of the Curriculum in
African American Studies until
1979.
Current Associate Dean of
Student Counseling Harold
Woodard said, “I was a freshman
here at an open house sponsored by
African American Studies the first
time I saw her. I thought she was
stunningly beautiful, very dynamic.
charismatic and regal in appearance
and garb. She was also very excited
about her discipline and getting oth
ers involved in learning about it.
She truly made me proud to be
Black.”
Stone was the founder of
the Southeastern Black Press
Institute and served as the director
from 1977 to 1979. She received
the National Council for Black
Students Dedicated Service Award
in 1978 and the Black Student
Movement Award for Excellent
Academic Achievement in 1980. In
1981, she won the NAACP Woman
of the Year and the Favorite Faculty
Award by the Class of 1990. In the
same year. Stone also won the first
Outstanding Black Faculty Award
from the UNC General Alumni
Association, an award that
recognizes professional and aca
demic achievement and service to
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Black Ink