Hanes Walton Jr. facts for kids

Hanes Walton Jr. (September 25, 1941 — January 8, 2013) was an American political scientist. A political scientist studies how governments work and how people participate in them. He was also a professor of African-American studies.

Walton was a leader in studying the role of race in American politics. He helped create African-American politics as a special area of study within political science. Many people say he developed the scientific way of studying Black politics. He wrote many books and articles about topics like how African Americans take part in politics, Black conservatism, and political parties in the United States. He also studied the American presidency.

Early Life and Education

Hanes Walton Jr. was born in Augusta, Georgia, on September 25, 1941. He grew up and went to school in Athens, Georgia. He graduated from high school with honors in 1959.

Walton then went to Morehouse College and earned his first degree in 1963. He continued his studies at Atlanta University, getting his master's degree in 1964. Later, he earned his PhD in Government from Howard University in 1967. He was the very first person to get a PhD in Government from Howard University.

A Career in Academia

In 1966, Walton started working as a professor at Atlanta University. He then moved to Savannah State College in 1967. In 1971, he returned to Atlanta University.

In 1984, he became a professor at The University of Georgia. He also started working at the University of Michigan in 1992. He stayed at the University of Michigan for the rest of his career. However, he continued to be connected with The University of Georgia until 2013. At the University of Michigan, he worked in both the political science department and the Center for Afroamerican and African Studies.

Important Books and Articles

Hanes Walton Jr. was a very active writer. He published many books and textbooks during his career. Some sources say he wrote 21 books, while others say he wrote as many as 25.

Some of his books are still important today. These include African American power and politics, The political philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Black politics and black political behavior. Other researchers still use these books as references. Walton also published 80 articles in academic journals and 25 chapters in other books.

He wrote for important journals like the American Journal of Political Science. His early studies looked at how men and women saw politics differently. He especially focused on how these differences related to race for African-American candidates and voters. He also studied Black political parties in a detailed way.

Awards and Leadership Roles

Walton was chosen for important leadership roles in his field. He served as the Vice President of the American Political Science Association from 2012 to 2013.

He also received several major awards. These included the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1971. He won the Rockefeller Foundation Research Fellowship in 1979. In 1982, he received a Ford Foundation fellowship. These awards helped him continue his important research.

Personal Life and Death

Hanes Walton Jr. was married to Alice, and they had two children. He passed away on January 8, 2013, at the age of 71.

His Lasting Impact

Walton's work helped create the field of African-American political studies. His contributions have been honored in many ways. There have been special lectures about his work. Robert C. Smith wrote a book about him called Hanes Walton, Jr.: Architect of the Black Science of Politics. Smith says that Walton was a key person who helped Black Politics become a full area of study within political science. He believes Walton's work was a very important part of this field's early growth.

Honoring His Work

After Walton's death, the University of Michigan held a special memorial lecture for him. A biography from their Center for Political Studies said his research covered many topics. These included the presidency, elections, political parties, and how Black people participate in politics. It also mentioned his work on Black conservatism and African-American involvement in political parties.

Many lectures have been held in Walton's honor at major universities. These include the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Funds have also been set up in his name to support the study of race and politics. The main award in the study of racial and ethnic politics, given by the American Political Science Association, is called the Hanes Walton Award. This award honors his contributions.

Nancy Burns, who was the Director of the University of Michigan Center for Political Studies, said that Hanes Walton "transformed a field." She noted his books on Black politics and how he guided many scholars. Another professor, Chuck Shipan, said Walton's influence on the study of race in American politics was huge. He also said Walton's work on political parties, the American presidency, and city politics was groundbreaking. Ravi K. Perry, a political science chair at Howard University, said Walton inspired him to study politics.

Key Writings

• The political philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr. (1971)
• Black politics and black political behavior: A linkage analysis (1994)
• African American power and politics: The political context variable (1997)

Major Awards

• Guggenheim Fellowship (1971)
• Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship (1979)
• Ford Foundation Fellowship (1982)