Legacy of BW's first black graduate resonates today

The extraordinary life and legacy of BW's first known Black graduate, the Rev. Dr. Daniel Webster Shaw, reflects the transformative way education can shape a life of meaning and purpose.

Shaw was a noted clergyman and author who graduated from BW in 1883. His dedication to learning eventually earned him a Doctor of Divinity degree from Wiley College in Texas. Shaw also studied at Boston University.

He served as a prominent minister to congregations and held a position on the faculty at Howard University. He authored many articles and books, and he was actively engaged in issues of racial equity.

Nearly 143 years have passed since Shaw graduated from BW. His legacy offers a reflective pause in honoring the countless ways education inspires greatness.

As BW's first Black graduate, Shaw was the foundation for countless generations of BW students who followed him, among them:

• David W. Byrd, Class of 1889, medical doctor, college chemistry professor and president of the National Medical Association.
  
  
• Hazel Mountain Walker, Class of 1919, one of the first black women admitted to practice law in the state of Ohio and the first black principal in the Cleveland Public Schools.
  
  
• Jane Edna Hunter, Class of 1925, nationally recognized for her social work in Cleveland.
  
  
• Harrison Dillard, Class of 1949, four-time Olympic gold medalist in track and field and a charter member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
  
  
• Rev. James Lawson, Class of 1951, an architect of the American Civil Rights movement and advisor to Martin Luther King Jr.
  
  
• George White, Class of 1953, first African American justice of the U.S. District Court (Northern District of Ohio), who also served on the Cleveland City Council.
  
  
• George Forbes, Class of 1957, Cleveland's first black City Council president and head of the local NAACP.
  
  
• Steven Minter, Class of 1960, distinguished public servant who served as undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Education and longtime leader of The Cleveland Foundation.
  
  
• Steven Caple Jr., Class of 2010, a Forbes-lauded Hollywood film and television director, producer and screenwriter.