We The People: This Day in History, December 27
Robert L. Gilbert Baylor’s First African American Male Graduate and Civil Rights Champion
WACO, Texas (KWTX) - On December 27, 1941, Reverend Robert L. Gilbert was born.
Gilbert, who dreamed of becoming a lawyer to champion African American rights, enrolled at Baylor in 1965, just two years after the university voted to integrate, becoming one of the first African American students.
On June 2, 1967, he made history as Baylor’s first African American male graduate.
His trailblazing continued in 1970 when he became the first African American to enroll in Baylor’s graduate program in religion.
A champion for justice, Gilbert served as the plaintiff in the NAACP case against the Waco Independent School District, which led to mandated school integration in 1973.
A few years later, he was elected to the school board.
He was also the first African American Baptist pastor to license a female minister.
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