Ep 32: Black Studies at CU Boulder and Beyond: Honoring Dr. Charles Nilon and Mrs. Mildred Nilon

This special episode of The Cause brings listeners to a powerful moment of remembrance held on February 16, 2026, marking the installation of a Bench by the Road through the Toni Morrison Society in honor of Dr. Charles Nilon and Mrs. Mildred Nilon. More than a commemorative event, this gathering stands as a public act of memory, recognition, and responsibility. The bench, simple in form yet profound in meaning, invites reflection on the long and often unrecognized history of Black intellectual life at the University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. Charles Nilon, the university's first Black professor, played a foundational role in establishing the Black Studies program in 1969, helping to carve out intellectual space where none previously existed. Mrs. Mildred Nilon, the university's first Black librarian, expanded access to knowledge and ensured that the archive could speak where it had too often been silent. Together, their work helped lay the foundation for what would become a thriving and evolving field of study grounded in truth, inclusion, and transformation. Featuring remarks from Chancellor Justin Schwartz and a powerful reflection from Dr. Reiland Rabaka, this episode moves from memory to movement, asking listeners not only to honor the past but to carry its lessons forward. It reminds us that Black Studies is not a static discipline, but a living practice rooted in struggle, shaped by community, and sustained through action. This episode also highlights the broader significance of the Bench by the Road Project, which creates spaces for public memory and acknowledges histories that have too often gone unmarked. See all show notes on our website