Mark D. Naison facts for kids

Mark Naison (born 1946) is a history professor at Fordham University in New York. He is known for his work as a historian and his past involvement in social movements.

In the 1960s, Naison was a political activist. He was a member of groups like the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). He earned his Ph.D. in American history from Columbia University.

Mark Naison's Early Life

Mark D. Naison was born in 1946 in Crown Heights, a part of Brooklyn, New York. He was the only child of parents who were both schoolteachers and loved learning.

Even though he had a happy childhood, Naison sometimes felt different from other kids. His parents really valued being smart, which made him feel a bit left out. To fit in and have fun, Naison turned to sports.

College Days at Columbia University

Naison started at Columbia University in the fall of 1962. During his first year, he felt strongly that he needed to help end racial segregation. By the fall of 1963, he joined the Columbia chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).

CORE was a very important civil rights group in the United States. It played a big role in the 1950s and 1960s. The group started in 1942 and welcomed anyone who believed in equality. CORE quickly became one of the biggest action groups at Columbia. Naison volunteered to tutor students and help organize people living in East Harlem.

He earned his first two degrees, a Bachelor's and a Master's, in American History from Columbia. He received them in June 1966 and June 1967. Later, Naison completed his Ph.D. in American History from Columbia in January 1976.

Joining Student Protests

By 1967, Naison began taking part in protests against the Vietnam War. These events were organized by Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Even though Naison was against the war, he didn't always agree with SDS's style. He felt they focused too much on certain political ideas and not enough on the human impact of the war.

In the spring of 1967, SDS held a protest against the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at Columbia. Naison joined the protest. To show he was different from other SDS members, he wore his athletic jacket. He carried a sign that said "jocks for peace."

Key Protests and Decisions

In February 1968, Naison was arrested during a protest. This protest was about a new gym planned for a Harlem site on the Columbia campus. A few weeks later, in April, two important people in Naison's life passed away. His father died, and so did Martin Luther King Jr.. These losses deeply affected Naison. He decided he needed to be more involved in important social changes.

Two weeks after King's death, another protest happened against the gym. Naison participated again. This time, the protest was organized by Columbia's SDS and SAS (Student African-American Society). Mark Rudd, a leader of SDS, encouraged the group to take over buildings. This would make sure their message was heard.

They soon took over Hamilton Hall. This gave them a strong position no other protest had achieved. During the building takeover, Naison spoke about the history of the movement. He said that those against the university's expansion had the advantage. He urged them not to leave until they got serious agreements.

During this protest, Naison realized something important. While he didn't agree with all of SDS's views, their protest methods for the gym were very effective. This led him to officially join SDS after the strike.

Later Involvement with SDS

After joining SDS, Naison was asked to use his knowledge of African-American history. He helped argue that the idea of black nationalism was a positive force. This was part of a debate within SDS's leadership. Some members believed that black nationalism was not helpful for a revolution.

By the fall of that year, Naison took on a bigger role in SDS. He worked in both regional and national offices. He participated in many protests. He also attended the SDS national meeting in Chicago in 1969.

When a group called Weatherman was formed at the SDS meeting in Chicago, Naison was there. He even signed a lease for a house in South Brooklyn with another member. Naison also discussed plans for the Days of Rage protests in Chicago in the fall of 1969.

Leaving the Weatherman Group

One Saturday in October 1969, things changed for Naison. He was in a park with friends and met some teenagers. They learned that a nearby café refused to serve them because they looked like "hippies." Naison and his friends were angry. They marched into the café and demanded service.

The police were called, and a fight broke out. Eleven people were arrested, including Naison. After a few days in jail, Naison was released on bail. He was expected to help spread the word about the Days of Rage. However, Naison decided he didn't want to risk being back in jail so soon. After disagreeing with members of the Weatherman group, Naison stopped being involved with them.

Naison was briefly investigated by the FBI. According to his own story, the FBI tried to question his neighbors. However, his neighbors refused to say anything about him. After a few days, the FBI was satisfied that he was no longer with the Weatherman group and left him alone.

Naison lost a close friend, Ted Gold, in a tragic accident. It happened during an explosion at a Greenwich Village townhouse. Kathy Boudin, who was in the house at the time, survived. Naison was very sad about losing Gold.

Mark Naison Today

When asked about his arrest during the Columbia incident, Naison said he was proud of it. He felt it was important to protest the plan to build a gym in a Harlem park. He still feels proud of that action today.

Mark Naison has been a professor at Fordham University in New York City since 1970. He is a Professor of African American Studies and History. He also directs the Bronx African American History Project. He used to be the Director of Urban Studies.

His most popular class at Fordham is "From Rock & Roll to Hip Hop: Urban Youth Cultures in Post War America." This course was even featured in an interview with him on National Public Radio.

Naison has written many articles and three books. These books are about urban history, African-American History, and the history of sports. He has also appeared on TV shows like The O'Reilly Factor, Chappelle's Show, and the Discovery Channel's The Greatest American. He has also spoken out against the program Teach for America.