Alfred Prettyman facts for kids

Alfred E. Prettyman (born February 15, 1935) is an American publisher and educator. He is known for his work in the publishing world, especially for helping to include more diverse voices and stories in books. He also played a part in the Civil Rights Movement through his work.

Life Story

Alfred E. Prettyman was born in February 1935 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was one of five children. His father, Edward Prettyman, led a band, and his mother, Helen Prettyman, was a teacher.

Alfred went to Douglass High School and finished when he was 16. During high school, he was a singer on TV shows like "High Times Program" on WAAM (now WJZ-TV). He even appeared on shows with famous bandleader Paul Whiteman. Alfred was a talented singer and performed in concerts and operas. He sang in the American premiere of Joseph Haydn’s opera Die Welt Auf Dem Monde (The World of the Moon). He also made his debut at Carnegie Hall, a very famous concert venue in New York City.

Alfred went to Hamilton College to study philosophy. He later continued his studies at Cornell University, the New School for Social Research, and Baruch College.

He met his first wife, Julia Poussaint, through a college friend. They have two children, Meryl and Evan. Julia was involved with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), a group that worked for civil rights. Alfred decided to help the Civil Rights Movement through book publishing.

From 1963 to 1971, Alfred worked at Harper & Row, a big publishing company. He helped change school textbooks to include more about African Americans and Native Americans. He believed the publishing industry needed to be fairer to everyone. In 1969, Alfred started his own publishing company called Emerson Hall Publishers, Inc. This company focused on books by diverse authors, especially those about the Black experience. He also worked as an editor for other publishers, including McGraw Hill.

Teaching and Communication

Alfred Prettyman has taught at colleges for over 40 years. He taught English literature, including American, African American, and Shakespeare, at Livingston College, Rutgers University. He also taught at Orange County Community College and Rockland Community College, State University of New York. Since 1999, he has been a professor at Ramapo College of New Jersey.

In the 1980s, Alfred also worked as a communications consultant. He helped with public relations for different organizations, including the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice.

Adviser and Achievements

Alfred Prettyman has been an important adviser for many arts and humanities groups. He co-chaired literature for the New York State Council on the Arts. He also advised the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. He helped choose winners for the National Medal of Literature and judged the National Book Awards.

He was involved with the Minority Publishers’ Committee, which worked to support publishers from minority groups. He also served on the board of his old college, Hamilton College.

Alfred Prettyman's late wife, Kathleen Collins, was a famous writer, filmmaker, and educator. Alfred lives in New York City with his current wife, Susan Stedman.

Since 1976, Alfred has hosted meetings for the Society for the Study of Africana Philosophy (SSAP) in his apartment. He co-founded SSAP with Albert E. Blumberg. This group is a place for people to discuss philosophical ideas and support young African American philosophers.

Alfred is a member of the Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy and the Organization of American Historians. He has given many talks around the world. In 2005, he spoke in Berlin, Germany, about minority rights. In 2013, he spoke in Poland about democracy. In 2021, he presented on how people see each other. He was also the executive producer for the film “Ogun’s Fire: The Sculpture of Melvin Edwards,” which won an award in Germany and the USA.