Remembering the Work of Early Black Classicists

Fifteen years ago,  Michele Valerie Ronnick, now a full professor in the department of classical and modern languages and literatures at Wayne State University in Detroit, authored a photographic historical essay on early African American scholars in the classics that appeared in the pages of The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. Her research, and that of other scholars, brought to light the pioneering work of these African American scholars, many of whom had been forgotten in the annals of Black academic achievement. Since that time a photographic exhibit of 15 Black classicists has appeared around the country, most recently at the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington, D.C.

Among the Black scholars featured in the exhibit is William Sanders Scarborough, who was born into slavery. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Oberlin College in Ohio. In 1881 he authored the textbook First Lessons in Greek. Scarborough was a member of the Philological Association for 44 years and in 1884 became the first African American member of the Modern Language Association. Scarborough served as president of Wilberforce University in Ohio from 1908 to 1920.

Professor Ronnick went on to edit two books on Scarborough: The Autobiography of William Sanders Scarborough: An American Journey from Slavery to Scholarship (Wayne State University Press, 2005) and The Works of William Sanders Scarborough: Black Classicist and Race Leader (Oxford University Press, 2006).

In January, Bolchazy Carducci Publishers is reprinting Scarborough’s 1881 textbook First Lessons in Greek with an introduction by Professor Ronnick. The cover of the new addition resembles the original nineteenth-century edition.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Howard University Achieves R1 Status While North Carolina A&T State University Falls Short

Howard University has received the prestigious R1 Carnegie Classification, making the institution eligible for major federal grants. NCA&T University narrowly missed the achievement, averaging just three less annual doctoral graduates than the classification's requirements.

Three Black Scholars Selected for Endowed Faculty Positions

The new endowed professors are Eddie Chambers at School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Stefanie Dunning at the University of Rochester in New York, and Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire at Harvard University.

North Carolina Central University Establishes Early Assurance Program With the UNC School of Pharmacy

Students at North Carolina Central University now have the opportunity to apply to an early assurance program for the doctor of pharmacy degree program at the University of North Carolina's Eshelman School of Pharmacy, the top-ranked pharmacy school in the United States.

Five Black Administrators Taking on New Roles at HBCUs

The appointments are Anthony Neal at Florida A&M University, Tara Cunningham at Dillard University in New Orleans, David Camps at North Carolina A&T State University, Michael Meyers at Paine College in Georgia, and Sidney Brown at Tuskegee University in Alabama.

Featured Jobs