By Carl McRoy

va B. Dykes became the first African American woman to complete the requirements for a PhD in March 21, 1921 after successfully defending her 644-page dissertation. Her specialty was in English, Latin, German and Greek language studies. Her linguistic skills promoted racial progress with works such as, The Negro in English romantic thought; or, A study of sympathy for the oppressed.ⁱ Even more, she dedicated her talents to writing for Message magazine for 50 years!ⁱⁱ

Dykes was building a brilliant career teaching at Howard University, in Washington, D.C., when her faith journey led her to move to Huntsville, AL in 1944. There she developed and directed the English Department and founded the world-renowned Aeolians choir of Oakwood University. She held her students to the same high standards of excellence she practiced herself. However, she earned their admiration by encouraging them in practical ways, such as selling Message magazine alongside them to raise educational funds.

As with most other denominations in America, Seventh-day Adventists have had moments of reckoning over racial tensions. During one of those defining eras in 1944, Dykes was one of the crafters and signatories of the document Shall the Four Freedoms Function Among Seventh-day Adventists?ⁱⁱⁱ This list of deficiencies and demands of church leadership came in the context of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms” speech which rallied support for US involvement in World War II and other initiatives.^iv Prominent African Americans, such as Charles H. Wesley, challenged America to apply FDR’s principles to its people of color.^v Dykes helped lead the way for application of those ideals to her church.

Carl McRoy serves as the Director of Literature Ministries for the Adventist Church in North America.

ⁱ https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3290549&view=1up&seq=5
ⁱⁱ https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=ACG5
ⁱⁱⁱ Calvin B. Rock, Protest and Progress: Black Seventh-day Adventist Leadership and the Push for Parity, 254-262
^iv https://www.fdrfourfreedomspark.org/fdr-the-four-freedoms
^v http://historymuse.net/readings/AfricanAmericansFourFreedoms1944.pdf