J. Saunders Redding facts for kids

J. Saunders Redding (born October 13, 1906, died March 5, 1988) was an important American professor and writer. He made history as the first African American professor to teach at an Ivy League university. These are some of the oldest and most respected universities in the United States.

Early Life and Education

Jay Saunders Redding was born on October 13, 1906, in Wilmington, Delaware. He first attended Lincoln University. After one year, he moved to Brown University. He graduated from Brown University in 1928. Later, in 1932, he earned his master's degree from Brown University as well.

A Trailblazing Career

In 1949, J. Saunders Redding was hired as a visiting professor at Brown University. This was a very important moment. He became the first African American person to teach at an Ivy League school. The Ivy League includes famous universities like Brown, Harvard, and Yale. In 1970, Redding also became the first African American professor at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences. He retired from teaching in 1975.

Published Works

J. Saunders Redding was also a talented writer. His books often explored the experiences of African Americans. Some of his well-known literary works include:

• To Make a Poet Black (1939)
• No Day of Triumph (1944), which was an autobiography about his own life
• Stranger and Alone (1950)
• They Came in Chains (1950), which was updated in 1973
• An American in India (1954)
• Cavalcade (1970), which was a collection of African American literature that he edited with Arthur P. Davis

J. Saunders Redding passed away on March 5, 1988, in Ithaca, New York. He was 81 years old.