Alma Jean Billingslea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alma Jean Billingslea
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Billingslea in 2016
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| Born | 1946 (age 78–79) |
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| Institutions | Spelman College |
Alma Jean Billingslea, born in 1946, is an American scholar and teacher. She was also an important part of the civil rights movement. This movement worked for equal rights for all people in the United States.
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Who is Alma Jean Billingslea?
Alma Jean Billingslea was born in Albany, Georgia. She grew up in Orange, New Jersey. In Orange, she was one of the first African American students to attend public schools with white students. This was part of the effort to end segregation. Segregation meant keeping people of different races separate.
Her Work in the Civil Rights Movement
From 1967 to 1971, Dr. Billingslea worked for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). This important group was started by Martin Luther King, Jr.. The SCLC worked to achieve civil rights for African Americans through peaceful protests.
Her Education and Teaching Career
Dr. Billingslea studied at several universities. She earned her first degree from Rutgers University. Later, she received her master's degree from Atlanta University. She then earned her PhD from the University of Texas at Dallas.
She became a professor at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Spelman College is a famous college for women. Dr. Billingslea helped start the African Diaspora Studies program there. This program teaches about the history and culture of people of African descent around the world. She is now a professor emerita, which means she has retired but still holds an honored title.
Her Writings
Dr. Billingslea is also an author. She wrote a book called Crossing Borders through Folklore: African American Women's Fiction and Art. This book explores how stories and art from African American women can connect different cultures and ideas.
