As our country grapples with racial injustice, our team at Horizons was eager to lift up Black voices and honor the impact that Black educators have had on America’s young people. Today, we celebrate their stories with our Black Voices in Education Card Series, a downloadable digital resource highlighting Black educators. Click here to download the resource!
Today, our Black Educator Series features Inez Beverly Prosser and Dr. Dorothy Lavinia Brown.
Inez Beverly Prosser is often regarded as the first Black female to receive a PhD in psychology, and had a lifelong passion for education. Prosser was born in Yoakum, Texas in 1897, where she began her career as a teacher after receiving her degree in teacher training. After accepting a teaching position in Austin, Prosser began taking classes at Samuel Huston college to earn her Bachelor's degree. However, due to segregated schools, Prosser was forced to leave Texas to complete her graduate studies, eventually receiving her PhD in psychology from the University of Cincinnati.
Today, our Black Educator Series features Fannie C. Williams and Dr. Ambrose Caliver.
Fannie C. Williams was a teacher, principal, and pioneer in the field of Black education in the South. Williams was born in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1882, where she began her career as a teacher in 1904. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Pedagogy degrees from what is now Eastern Michigan University, Williams moved to New Orleans to become an elementary school principal, and began implementing new services to help students succeed.
Continuing our Black Educator Blog Series, where every Friday we'll be sharing stories of Black educators who have worked to advance racial and educational equity, today we are highlighting Dr. Nathan Hare and Dr. Ramona Edelin.
Dr. Nathan Hare is a sociologist, activist, and psychologist who is often called "the father of Black studies." Dr. Hare was born in Slick, Oklahoma in 1933, and grew up experiencing segregation and tense race relations. He planned on becoming a professional boxer until a high school teacher suggested Hare attend college. Dr. Hare received his A.B. degree in sociology from Langston University in 1954, and eventually went on to earn a PhD in both sociology and clinical psychology.
Continuing our Black Educator Blog Series, where every Friday we'll be sharing stories of Black educators who have worked to advance racial and educational equity, today we are highlighting Mary Jane Patterson and Dr. Cornel West.
Mary Jane Patterson was the first Black woman to earn a Bachelor's degree in the United States. She was born into enslavement in 1840 in North Carolina, but once her father gained freedom in 1852, the family moved to Oberlin, Ohio. Mary Jane completed a year of preparatory coursework at Oberlin College, and then enrolled into a four-year program in Classical Studies culminating in a Bachelor of Arts degree.