[MGSA-L] Fw: Professor William Sanders Scarborough

[Christos D. Katsetos]

A classical scholar's odyssey from slavery to academic renown.

http://www.ur.umich.edu/0203/Feb17_03/04.shtml


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A MyParea salute to the memory of Professor William Sanders Scarborough, 
born into slavery, he is the first African American classical scholar and 
the author of the seminal "First Lessons in Greek"--a textbook used in 
universities and colleges throughout America. He loved the Greek classics 
and was fluent in the Greek language and Greek history.

From a young age, Professor Scarborough was a victim of great 
discrimination and racism--having to read, write and learn in secret. 
He was enamored and related to the ancient Greek heroes he taught 
about to countless students as an metaphor of what anyone can become
if they set their heart to it. Indeed, Professor Scarborough overcame and
became--serving as President of Wilberforce University from 1908-1920. 
Wilberforce was the first African American institution of higher learning.

President Scarborough was also the first member of the Modern Language
Association and third member of American Philological Association--ironically 
the Association held its conference in Baltimore convening at a hotel that 
refused to serve him because of the hue of his skin--his paper was read by 
someone else. In 1892 Professor Scarborough was invited to present a lecture
on Plato at the University of Virginia in a room holding portraits of 
Confederate leaders--he was allowed to present the lecture but the only other
African Americans allowed in the room were the servants.

Amid controversy, President Warren Harding appointed him to serve in
the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington which he did until his
death in 1926. 

May Professor Scarborough's memory be as eternal as his courage, 
dedication and commitment to the principles he served. What a shining
example for so many young students--whether black, white or otherwise--
AXIOS Professor--AXIOS!
 
 
 
________________________________
Arthur Dimopoulos | Executive Director | National Hellenic Society
Office (703) 442-1443 | 
1425 K Street, N.W., Suite 350  Washington, DC  20005
art at hellenicsociety.org | www.hellenicsociety.org
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