xxxii AcknowledgmentsTh is project would have been impossible without a
long list of mentors, peers, friends, and students. As some-
one who benefi ted directly from the legacy of Carter G.
Woodson—the undisputed father of African American
history—I would be remiss if I did not directly thank him
for fi rst opening scholarly spaces and venues for advances
in the fi eld to be published and heard. As a student intern
working for Th e Journal of Negro History during my under-
graduate years at Morehouse College, I learned to appreci-
ate all that Woodson contributed in establishing the fi eld by
initiating the Association for the Study of Negro Life and
History, Negro History Week, and the Journal. In addition,
the late John Hope Franklin carried the proverbial torch
from Woodson to the newest generation of African Ameri-
canists, setting a stellar scholarly example in doing so.
More immediately, I wish to thank Alton Hornsby Jr.,
Marcellus Barksdale, and Barbara Tagger who fi rst encour-
aged me to embrace African American history through
their outstanding examples as professional historians;
Jeff rey O. G. Ogbar—a fellow student at Morehouse and
coworker at T. J. Maxx—who compelled me to declare a
history major; and Sterling Stuckey and Ray Kea who pro-
foundly shaped my scholarly aptitude in graduate school
and beyond. I thank also a long list of colleagues and friends
who provided support and encouragement along the way.
Ken Goings generously supported this endeavor during his
time as Chair of African American and African Studies at
Ohio State. In addition, Jermaine Archer, Marcellus Barks-
dale, Jelani Favors, Bayo Holsey, Alton Hornsby Jr., Hasan
Jeff ries, Judson Jeff ries, Charles Jones, Ousman Kobo,
Lupenga Mphande, Nick Nelson, Ike Newsum, Venetria
Patton, John Roberts, Robyn Spencer, Ronald Stephens,
Akinyele Umoja, Jim Upton, Rebecca Wanzo, Derrick
White, Fanon Wilkins, and Jason Young helped the project
along in varying ways.
Th e many graduate students who did yeoman work
for this endeavor have to be recognized. Ernest Perry per-
formed invaluable service from the very inception of the
project and his attention to detail and professionalism are
much appreciated. Dawn Miles and Di Luo—serving as
Graduate Research Assistants—completed mission critical
tasks that helped the project get back on schedule. Appre-
ciation is given for the essays contributed by the following
graduate students: Jeff rey Ahlman, Zawadi Barskile, Rob-
ert A. Bennett III, Ashley Bowden, Christina Bush, Tamara
Butler, Tony Gass, Nicole Jackson, Clay Johnson, Karen
Ngonya, Jason Perkins, Jamal Ratchford, William Sturkey,
and Lindsey Sumner.
Finally, I would like to thank my two Muses—Na’eem
and Njeri—and my co-editor, Leslie Alexander, whose fri-
endship and persistence made the completion of this pro-
ject possible.—Walter C. Rucker