John Bracey, professor and chair of the department of Afro-American studies at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst has been appointed a Spotlight Scholar at the university. The designation is for scholars who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in research, scholarship or creative activity.
Dr. Bracey has been on the faculty at the University of Massachusetts for 42 years. His latest book, which he c0-edited with Sonia Sanchez and James Smethurst, is SOS—Calling All Black People: A Black Arts Movement Reader (University of Massachusetts Press, 2014).
In my opinion, Dr. John Bracey should be insulted with this moniker called a ‘Spotlight Scholar” at the University of Massachusetts after working 42 years as a faculty member. If UMASS really appreciated the intellectually honest scholarship, they should already have an Endowed Chairmanship in his namesake or in the process along with a statue outside of the New Africa House. Thereby, I challenge all of students at UMASS who had the opportunity to personally and intellectually benefit from Dr. Bracey’s scholarship to follow through with my suggestion.