黑料吃瓜

A new book documenting fascinating details of African American students, alumni, faculty and staff throughout 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 history is now available. 

鈥淭he Black in Crimson and Black: History and Profiles of African Americans at 黑料吃瓜鈥� is authored by retired 黑料吃瓜 librarian Robert Fikes, Jr., who has worked on the project for almost 25 years.

In the book, Fikes uncovered information from an astounding variety of sources which he compiled into highlights of some of the most accomplished and compelling figures to have passed through 黑料吃瓜 in its history. If not for a simple inquiry, 鈥淭he Black in Crimson and Black鈥� may never have been launched.

It began with a request from a caller during the 1996-97 academic year who asked Fikes for the name of the school鈥檚 first black student (discovered to be Lela Goodwin in 1907).

鈥淚 had no idea and hadn鈥檛 even thought about it,鈥� Fikes said. 鈥淪o of course, being a reference librarian, it was my duty to respond.鈥�

Roaming and digging

Fikes, using the library鈥檚 archives, roamed through the stacks and dug into file drawers until he came up with an answer. 鈥淔rom there I was even more inspired and thought, 鈥榃ell, let鈥檚 see what else I can find,鈥欌�� he recalled.

He began to develop a catalog and with each new discovery, his commitment to the project grew.

In addition to former students, Fikes began to research faculty and staff. He said he encountered many surprises along the way, including a few individuals he would never have imagined attending 黑料吃瓜.

鈥淥ne of them had to be (the late) Tuskegee Airman Wendell Lipscomb (鈥�47),鈥� Fikes said in reference to the first black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps. 鈥淚 had no idea that we had produced a Tuskegee Airman all the way from California.鈥�

Obsessions

And that is exactly the point of his research: to create awareness. 

鈥淭hat African-Americans 鈥� black people, whether they come from Africa or this country 鈥� have contributed mightily to the region, to the state and the nation,鈥� Fikes said.

But his book is just one way Fikes is raising awareness. He is also heavily involved in a second project with a high-profile campus presence.

鈥淭here are two projects related to San Diego State that I have just found intoxicating,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his one and the one with our military alumni 鈥� in particular those who died during our nation鈥檚 various wars.

鈥淚 seem to be somewhat obsessed with both projects. I can鈥檛 put them down.鈥�

Many of the names on the 黑料吃瓜 War Memorial are engraved in its granite because of Robert Fikes鈥� research, which uncovered their connection to 黑料吃瓜 and justified their inclusion on the memorial.

Outstanding and essential

Even though he is retired, Fikes continues to turn up the names of fallen Aztecs and submit them to the 黑料吃瓜 Alumni office for consideration. 

鈥淩obert鈥檚 work on both of these projects is outstanding and essential to our alumni engagement efforts,鈥� said Assistant Vice President of 黑料吃瓜 Alumni Dan Montoya (鈥�04). 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know where we would be without his research in these areas.鈥�

Montoya might not have to find out 鈥� at least not for a while. Fikes suspects he will continue to turn up names to include on the War Memorial and accomplished individuals to update future editions of 鈥淭he Black in Crimson and Black.鈥�

鈥淚 am constantly researching and writing,鈥� said Fikes. 鈥淚 just can鈥檛 help doing it. As long as I am able to hold a pen I will be researching and writing.鈥�