Bonita H. Valien facts for kids

Bonita H. Valien (1912-2011) was an important African-American sociologist. She was a professor at Fisk University, a special university in Nashville, Tennessee, that was created for Black students. Bonita Valien wrote several books about how schools and public places were desegregated in the Southern United States. Desegregation means ending the separation of people based on race.

Early Life and Education

Bonita Valien was born as Bonita Harrison in 1912. Her hometown was Fort Worth, Texas. She was a dedicated student.

She earned her first college degree from Prairie View A&M University. After that, she continued her studies. She received a master's degree from Clark Atlanta University. Later, she earned a PhD from the University of Wisconsin. A PhD is a very high degree you can get at a university.

Her Work as a Sociologist

Bonita Valien worked at Fisk University during the 1940s and 1950s. She helped Charles S. Johnson, who was the first president of Fisk University. By 1957, she became an associate professor of Sociology.

Valien was the only African American to research school desegregation for a group called the Southern Education Reporting Service. This group was started by Charles S. Johnson and Harvie Branscomb. During her time there, she faced unfair treatment. She was eventually let go from her job. This happened after she spoke out about how some school districts were handling the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. This ruling said that separating students by race in public schools was against the law.

Bonita Valien wrote books about desegregation in different cities. These included St. Louis, Missouri, Clinton, Tennessee, and Cairo, Illinois. With her husband, she also wrote about the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This was a major event where people refused to ride buses to protest segregation. She also interviewed civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King Jr..

Personal Life

Bonita Valien married Dr. Preston Valien. He was the head of the Sociology department at Fisk University.

Bonita Valien passed away in 2011.