Melville J. Herskovits and the Racial Politics of Knowledge (Critical Studies in the History of Anthropology)

Melville J. Herskovits and the Racial Politics of Knowledge is the first full-scale biography of the trailblazing anthropologist of African and African American cultures. Born into a world of racial hierarchy, Melville J. Herskovits (1895–1963) employed physical anthropology and ethnography to undermine racist and hierarchical ways of thinking about humanity and to underscore the value of cultural diversity. His research in West Africa, the West Indies, and South America documented the far-reaching influence of African cultures in the Americas. He founded the first major interdisciplinary American program in African studies in 1948 at Northwestern University, and his controversial classic The Myth of the Negro Past delineated African cultural influences on American blacks and showcased the vibrancy of African American culture. He also helped forge the concept of cultural relativism, particularly in his book Man and His Works. While Herskovits promoted African and African American studies, he criticized some activist black scholars, most notably Carter G. Woodson and W. E. B. Du Bois, whom he considered propagandists because of their social reform orientation. After World War II, Herskovits became an outspoken public figure, advocating African independence and attacking American policymakers who treated Africa as an object of Cold War strategy. Drawing extensively on Herskovits’s private papers and published works, Jerry Gershenhorn’s biography recognizes Herskovits’s many contributions and discusses the complex consequences of his conclusions, methodologies, and relations with African American scholars. Melville J. Herskovits And The Racial Politics Of Knowledge Is The First Full-scale Biography Of The Trailblazing Anthropologist Of African And African American Cultures. Born Into A World Of Racial Hierarchy, Melville J. Herskovits (1895-1963) Employed Physical Anthropology And Ethnographyy To Undermine Racist And Hierarchical Ways Of Thinking About Humanity And To Underscore The Value Of Cultural Diversity. His Research In West Africa, The West Indies, And South America Documented The Far-reaching Influence Of African Cultures In The Americas. He Founded The First Major Interdisciplinary American Program In African Studies In 1948 At Northwestern University, And His Controversial Classic The Myth Of The Negro Past Delineated African Cultural Influences On American Blacks And Showcased The Vibrancy Of African American Culture. He Also Helped Forge The Concept Of Cultural Relativism, Particularly In His Book Man And His Works. While Herskovits Promoted African And African American Studies, He Criticized Some Activist Black Scholars, Most Notably Carter G. Woodson And W.e.b. Du Bois, Whom He Considered Propagandists Because Of Their Social Reform Orientation. After World War Ii, Herskovits Became An Outspoken Public Figure, Advocating African Independence And Attacking American Policymakers Who Treated Africa As An Object Of Cold War Strategy. Drawing Extensively On Herskovits's Private Papers And Published Works, Jerry Gershenhorn's Biography Recognizes Herskovits's Many Contributions And Discusses The Complex Consequences Of His Conclusions, Methodologies, And Relations With African American Scholars.--jacket. The Making Of An Anthropologist -- The Attack On Pseudoscientific Racism -- Transforming The Debate On Black Culture -- Subverting The Myth Of The Negro Past -- Objectivity And The Development Of Negro Studies -- The Postwar Expansion Of African Studies -- Foreign Policy Critic. Jerry Gershenhorn. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 305-327) And Index.

melville J. Herskovits And The Racial Politics Of Knowledge Is The First Full-scale Biography Of The Trailblazing Anthropologist Of African And African American Cultures. Born Into A World Of Racial Hierarchy, Melville J. Herskovits (1895–1963) Employed Physical Anthropology And Ethnography To Undermine Racist And Hierarchical Ways Of Thinking About Humanity And To Underscore The Value Of Cultural Diversity. His Research In West Africa, The West Indies, And South America Documented The Far-reaching Influence Of African Cultures In The Americas. He Founded The First Major Interdisciplinary American Program In African Studies In 1948 At Northwestern University, And His Controversial Classic The Myth Of The Negro Past Delineated African Cultural Influences On American Blacks And Showcased The Vibrancy Of African American Culture. He Also Helped Forge The Concept Of Cultural Relativism, Particularly In His Book Man And His Works . While Herskovits Promoted African And African American Studies, He Criticized Some Activist Black Scholars, Most Notably Carter G. Woodson And W. E. B. Du Bois, Whom He Considered Propagandists Because Of Their Social Reform Orientation.
 
after World War Ii, Herskovits Became An Outspoken Public Figure, Advocating African Independence And Attacking American Policymakers Who Treated Africa As An Object Of Cold War Strategy. Drawing Extensively On Herskovits’s Private Papers And Published Works, Jerry Gershenhorn’s Biography Recognizes Herskovits’s Many Contributions And Discusses The Complex Consequences Of His Conclusions, Methodologies, And Relations With African American Scholars.

Contents......Page 8 List of Illustrations......Page 10 1. Herman Herskovits......Page 152 3. Melville and Frances Herskovits......Page 153 5. Carter G. Woodson......Page 154 7. Ralph Bunche......Page 155 9. E. Franklin Frazier......Page 156 10. Herskovits at Northwestern University......Page 157 11. Herskovits and J. Roscoe Miller with Liberian president William V.S. Tubman......Page 158 12. Frances Herskovits......Page 159 Series Editors' Introduction......Page 12 Acknowledgments......Page 16 Introduction......Page 22 1. The Making of an Anthropologist......Page 32 2. The Attack of Pseudoscientific Racism......Page 48 3. Transforming the Debate on Black Culture......Page 80 4. Subverting the Myth of the Negro Past......Page 114 5. Objectivity and the Development of Negro Studies......Page 144 6. The Postwar Expansion of African Studies......Page 198 7. Foreign Policy Critic......Page 230 Epilogue......Page 260 Notes......Page 270 Bibliography......Page 334 A......Page 358 C......Page 359 E......Page 360 H......Page 361 M......Page 363 O......Page 364 S......Page 365 U......Page 366 Z......Page 367