CCSU’s Ebenezer Bassett Hall to Be Dedicated

Central Connecticut State University has announced the dedication ceremony of the Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett Social Sciences Hall, in honor of University’s most accomplished graduate.

Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett is also a luminary of New Britain history, a leader for civil rights who worked with Frederick Douglass and was the first African American Ambassador from the United States.

CCSU and its President, Zulma R. Toro, have announced that the naming ceremony will be held on March 20, 2019 at the new Bassett Hall on the campus of CCSU. It will be held at 6:00pm. The university is asking for RSVPs for attendance at the event by March 15th to 860-832-3000 or [email protected].

One day after the dedication, on March 21st, the CCSU Center for Africana Studies will be holding it Twenty-Fifth Annual Africana Studies Conference. The conference will be held from 10:00am to 7:00pm in the CCSU Student Center’s Alumni Hall.

First African American CCSU Graduate and Educator

Bassett (1833-1908), was the first African American graduate of the New Britain Normal School, the institution that would become CCSU.

After graduating from New Britain’s institution of higher education, Bassett would go on to a life of great accomplishment. He was an educator, teaching in New Haven and serving as principal at the Institute for Colored Youth in Philadelphia, the school that would become Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.

Under Bassett’s leadership as principal, the Board of Regents noted, the Institute, “established a Normal School division whose pedagogy was based on the educational reforms initiated by the Connecticut State Normal School.”

Abolitionist Leader

A prominent abolitionist, Bassett met and befriended Frederick Douglass while he was a teacher in New Haven.

According to an article by Chris Teal in the Foreign Service Journal, during the Civil War, Bassett rallied African Americans to join in the fight for justice, by joining the Union army, saying,

Men of color, to arms! Now or never! This is our golden moment. The government of the United States calls for every able-bodied colored man to enter the army for three years of service, and join in fighting the battles of liberty and the Union. A new era is open to us. For generations we have suffered under the horrors of slavery, outrage and wrong; our manhood has been denied, our citizenship blotted out, our souls seared and burned, our spirits cowed and crushed, and the hopes of the future of our race involved in doubts and darkness.

But how the whole aspect of our relations to the white race is changed! Now, therefore, is the most precious moment. Let us rush to arms! Fail now, and our race is doomed on this soul of our birth.

Ambassador and Trailblazer for Human Rights

In 1869, President Ulysses S. Grant, appointed Bassett as U.S. Minister to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the head of the diplomatic mission.  This made Bassett the first African American Ambassador level diplomat, ever, from the United States.

According to Teal, Bassett served with distinction after President Grant appointed him as Ambassador. Teal described that Bassett advocated for the safety of refugees from a raging civil war. “Bassett not only negotiated safe passage for the refugees but personally escorted them to safety.”

“Bassett’s courage in literally placing himself in the line of fire to protect the rights of refugees and noncombatants should still inspire us a century-and-a-half later,” said Teal. “Similarly, his eloquence and determination in justifying those decisions to his government are precursors of the key role human rights would eventually assume in U.S. foreign policy.”

New Britain Support and Unanimous Vote

The state Board of Regents for Higher Education voted unanimously on December 13, 2019 to name CCSU’s new social sciences building in honor of Bassett.

The motion to approve the measure was seconded by Board Member Peter Rosa, who is a former member of the New Britain City Council. Rosa also previously served as Vice President for Student Affairs at CCSU.

A number people from New Britain and others spoke in support of the naming in honor of Bassett at the meeting on December 13, 2018, including the Rev. Thomas Mills, Jr., Pastor of Grace Church in New Britain, John McNamara, Lisa Nkonoki and Alphonse Wright. Other New Britain residents attended the meeting to show their support.

Africana Studies Conference

The Annual Africana Studies Conference is open to the public and is free. The Center for Africana Studies says, that conference, is themed “Celebrating 25 Years of Engaging the World on African Issues,” and that it, “will feature presentations by outstanding CCSU alumni, along with cultural and interactive activities and wonderful food from throughout the African Diaspora.”

The Conference will feature speakers, including Dr. Adeniyi O. Ogundiran, Dr. Chinekwu Obidoa, Dr. Doria Garcia, Dr. Herve Tchumkam, Dr. Renée T. White, Dr. Sandra Eddy, Dr. Veronica Adetola, Mr. Dominick Daniels, Mr. Nana Poku and Sean Clark, who is a current CCSU student and a poet. Ms. Nehway Sahn, Africana Studies Leadership Intern, will sing.

The Center has published a schedule of events for the Conference.

The University, which is located at 1615 Stanley Street, says that parking is available for both events in its Welte Parking Garage.