#NNPA BlackPress

IN MEMORIAM: Renowned Philosopher and Black Power Trailblazer Charles V. Hamilton, Dies at 94

NNPA NEWSWIRE — A Wallace S. Sayre Professor Emeritus of Government at Columbia University, Hamilton made history as one of the first African Americans to hold an endowed chair at an Ivy League university. His extensive research delved into urban politics and the Civil Rights movement. Another of his notable contributions was, “Adam Clayton Powell Jr.: The Political Biography of an American Dilemma (1991).”
The post IN MEMORIAM: Renowned Philosopher and Black Power Trailblazer Charles V. Hamilton, Dies at 94 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 months ago

February 28, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Austin Cooper recalled the first time he met Professor Charles V. Hamilton, a philosophical luminary and key architect of the Black Power movement. Cooper, who earned a Master of Public Administration from the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs under Hamilton’s tutelage, said the professor wasn’t simply an academic advisor. To Cooper and others, he was a mentor and friend. Mostly, though, Hamilton was “Doc.”

“He hired me to be one of three research assistants at The Ford Foundation where he headed a three-year project on ‘Social Welfare Policy and the American Future,’” said Cooper, the managing editor of the Our House DC newsletter and who, among other accomplishments, served as a State Lobbyist (pension, education and labor) to former New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins and Vice President of Government Affairs for the Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

Like many others, Cooper was saddened by the news that Hamilton had died at 94. Though his death occurred on Nov. 18, 2023, it was only confirmed and made public this week. Hamilton, a distinguished political scientist, and educator, played a transformative role in reshaping the discourse on racism in the United States through his groundbreaking work, “Black Power: The Politics of Liberation.”

Hamilton’s collaboration with Stokely Carmichael in 1967 produced a seminal piece that challenged traditional civil rights approaches. Unlike Carmichael, known for his impassioned speeches, observers noted that Hamilton brought a quiet and dignified intellectualism to the movement. According to scholars and others who knew him, Hamilton conveyed his profound influence through the strength of his ideas.

He co-authored work that shifted the narrative on racism, introducing the concept of institutional racism to the forefront. Prior discussions primarily focused on overt acts of prejudice, but “Black Power: The Politics of Liberation” redirected attention to the entrenched biases within American institutions. Hamilton’s belief in self-determination and self-reliance for the African American community permeated his work, laying the intellectual foundations for the Black Power movement.

A Wallace S. Sayre Professor Emeritus of Government at Columbia University, Hamilton made history as one of the first African Americans to hold an endowed chair at an Ivy League university. His extensive research delved into urban politics and the Civil Rights movement. Another of his notable contributions was, “Adam Clayton Powell Jr.: The Political Biography of an American Dilemma (1991).”

Thomas J. Davis of the University of New York at Buffalo, who championed the book in a review for the Library Journal, wrote, “Probing Powell’s rise and fall, Hamilton moves from the 1930s, when Powell became a New York City councilman, to his service starting in 1945 as a U.S. Representative, and then to his chairing of the House Education and Labor Committee, his expulsion from the House in 1967, and his defeat at the polls in 1970.”

Davis noted that Hamilton’s “able analysis of the unapologetic, openly arrogant champion of civil rights reflects the race issues of the day within a prism of political theory focused on the conflict of basic American values like majority rule and minority rights.” He concluded that the book was “essential for any serious collection on Black biography, civil rights, or political analysis. Highly recommended.”

Hamilton’s legacy extended beyond academia and his writings; his ideas continue to influence discussions on racial equality and justice. “Doc loved not only teaching, but he inspired me and all of his students to become activists of history in our respective fields of profession,” Cooper remarked. “I considered him to be not only my lifelong teacher, but also a mentor and friend. I will miss him.”

The post IN MEMORIAM: Renowned Philosopher and Black Power Trailblazer Charles V. Hamilton, Dies at 94 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

Up Next

Modern Source Insurance Group is Revolutionizing Healthcare Access in Broward County

Don't Miss

Lawmakers Strike Deal to Avert Government Shutdown, Extend Funding Deadlines

Stacy M. Brown

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.

Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.

Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”

Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.

“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”

The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.

Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.

Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.

The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.

Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.

Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.

Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.

Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.

The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.

The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.

In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.

The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.

The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

Posts by Stacy M. Brown

#NNPA BlackPress

Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy

May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.