Abdul Alkalimat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Abdul Alkalimat
Abdul Alkalimat
Born	Gerald Arthur McWorter (1942-11-21) November 21, 1942 (age 82) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	Ottawa University University of Chicago
Occupation	Professor of African-American studies and library and information science Author
Employer	University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
Notable work	Introduction to Afro-American Studies: A Peoples College Primer (1984); The History of Black Studies (2021)
Relatives	Free Frank McWorter (great-great-grandfather)

Abdul Alkalimat (born Gerald Arthur McWorter on November 21, 1942) is an American professor. He teaches about African-American studies and library and information science. He works at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

Professor Alkalimat has written many books. Some of his well-known books include Introduction to Afro-American Studies (1984) and The History of Black Studies (2021). He also manages two websites. These websites share information about African-American history. They are called "Malcolm X: A Research Site" and "eBlack Studies".

Abdul Alkalimat is related to a famous historical figure. He is the great-great-grandson of Free Frank McWorter. McWorter was an enslaved person who bought his freedom and founded a town.

Early Life and Education

Abdul Alkalimat was born Gerald Arthur McWorter in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in the Frances Cabrini Houses. This was a public housing area. In 1953, his family moved to the West Side of Chicago.

He remembers his childhood fondly. He said that even though some people looked down on public housing, he had a wonderful time growing up there. He called those years "golden years."

Alkalimat went to Ottawa University. He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and philosophy in 1963. He then continued his studies at the University of Chicago. He received his master's degree in sociology in 1966. Later, he earned his Ph.D. in sociology from the same university in 1974.

Contributions to Black Studies

In the late 1960s, Abdul Alkalimat helped create the Institute of the Black World (IBW). This was in Atlanta, Georgia. He worked with other professors and student activists. The IBW became a very important "think tank." It was a place where people studied and discussed Black history and culture.

In the early 1970s, Alkalimat started Peoples College. This was another group focused on Black nationalist ideas. He is known as one of the people who helped start the field of Black Studies. This is an area of study focused on the history, culture, and experiences of Black people.

His book, Introduction to Afro-American Studies: A Peoples College Primer, was first published in 1984. It became a very popular textbook. Many students have used it to learn about African-American studies.

Alkalimat also helped organize the Illinois Council for Black Studies. In 1982, he hosted the yearly meeting for the National Council for Black Studies (NCBS). This is a big organization for Black Studies scholars.

In 1991, Alkalimat wrote Malcolm X for Beginners. This book was about the famous civil rights leader Malcolm X. There was a disagreement about using quotes from Malcolm X in the book. The issue was resolved, and Alkalimat gave up the money he earned from the book.

Selected Works

Abdul Alkalimat has written many important books. Here are some of them:

• Introduction to Afro-American Studies (1984)
• Harold Washington and the Crisis of Black Power in Chicago (1989)
• Malcolm X for Beginners (1990)
• Job?Tech: The Technological Revolution and Its Impact on Society (1995)
• The African American Experience in Cyberspace: A Resource Guide to the Best Websites on Black Culture and History (2004)
• eBlack Studies (2004)
• Revolutionary Ubuntu: The shackdwellers and poor people of South Africa (2009)
• Black Toledo: A Documentary History of the African American Experience in Toledo, Ohio (2017)
• The History of Black Studies (2021)
• Dialectics of Liberation: The African Liberation Support Movement (2022)