University of Delaware Office of Public Relations The Messenger Vol. 5, No. 3/1996 Center's purpose constant for two decades The Center for Black Culture at the University of Delaware opened in 1976 at 192 South College Ave. on the Newark campus. Originally called the Minority Center, its purpose was to aid African-American students in their academic, cultural and interpersonal development. In the '70s, the center was known as Ujaama House, and, in 1985, it became the Center for Black Culture. Many of the events begun that first year, like the Black Arts Festival, continue today as the busy center remains committed to fostering academic and cultural excellence by providing services for African-American students and the surrounding community. There have been four directors of the center: Vincent Oliver, Lewis Randolph, Teresa Drummond, Delaware '80, '82M and Vernese Edghill, Delaware '92M, who has directed the center since 1989. Over the years, a number of prominent African-Americans have visited the center, including Ossie Davis, Jawanza Kunjufu, Nikki Giovanni, Cornel West and Dick Gregory. Entertainment acts have included the Harlem Boys Choir, the Harlem Dance Theatre and actor John Amos.