St. Clair Drake
Encyclopedia
St. Clair Drake was an African-American sociologist and anthropologist.
Drake was born in Suffolk
, Virginia
. Upon graduation from Hampton Institute
(now Hampton University
) in 1931, he became involved with The Society of Friends
in the south. During the 1930s, Drake was a researcher for an anthropological
project led by Allison Davis, which was later published as Deep South
. He was moved by the potential that social science could have on changes in racial causes. For a time Drake was a professor at Dillard University
.
In 1946, Drake became an assistant professor of sociology at Roosevelt University
. He was one of the first black faculty members at Roosevelt. While there, he created one of the first African American Studies programs in the United States. Drake taught at Roosevelt for 23 years before leaving in 1969 to chair the Black Studies program at Stanford University
.
Most of his writings provide accounts of strife and advances in race relations. His collaboration with Horace R. Cayton, Jr. led to the publishing of Black Metropolis, in 1945, a landmark study of race and urban life in Chicago. Another of Drake's works, which demonstrates his devotion to race relations, was "Black Folk Here and There" (1987).
St. Clair Drake was a member of the American Society of African Culture
between 1957 and 1969. He also served as advisor to the first prime minister of Ghana
, Kwame Nkrumah
. Roosevelt University dedicated a center for research on African and African American communities, "The St. Clair Drake Center for African and African American Studies," to his memory.
Dr. Drake came to Stanford prior to 1973 and organized the Black Studies program also prior to that year. The previous dates are in error.
Drake was born in Suffolk
Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Upon graduation from Hampton Institute
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
(now Hampton University
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
) in 1931, he became involved with The Society of Friends
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
in the south. During the 1930s, Drake was a researcher for an anthropological
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
project led by Allison Davis, which was later published as Deep South
Deep South
The Deep South is a descriptive category of the cultural and geographic subregions in the American South. Historically, it is differentiated from the "Upper South" as being the states which were most dependent on plantation type agriculture during the pre-Civil War period...
. He was moved by the potential that social science could have on changes in racial causes. For a time Drake was a professor at Dillard University
Dillard University
Dillard University is a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 incorporating earlier institutions that went back to 1869, it is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church....
.
In 1946, Drake became an assistant professor of sociology at Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
. He was one of the first black faculty members at Roosevelt. While there, he created one of the first African American Studies programs in the United States. Drake taught at Roosevelt for 23 years before leaving in 1969 to chair the Black Studies program at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
Most of his writings provide accounts of strife and advances in race relations. His collaboration with Horace R. Cayton, Jr. led to the publishing of Black Metropolis, in 1945, a landmark study of race and urban life in Chicago. Another of Drake's works, which demonstrates his devotion to race relations, was "Black Folk Here and There" (1987).
St. Clair Drake was a member of the American Society of African Culture
American Society of African Culture
The American Society of African Culture is an organization of African American writers, artists, and scholars. The society was founded as a result of the Congress of Negro Writers and Artists in 1956. AMSAC sponsored a two-day festival in Lagos, Nigeria in 1962....
between 1957 and 1969. He also served as advisor to the first prime minister of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana...
. Roosevelt University dedicated a center for research on African and African American communities, "The St. Clair Drake Center for African and African American Studies," to his memory.
Dr. Drake came to Stanford prior to 1973 and organized the Black Studies program also prior to that year. The previous dates are in error.