Nathan Hare facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nathan Hare
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| Born | April 9, 1933 Creek County, Oklahoma, U.S.
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| Died | June 10, 2024 (aged 91) |
| Alma mater | Langston University University of Chicago (MA, PhD) California School of Professional Psychology (PhD) |
| Spouse(s) | Julia Ann Reed |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Howard University San Francisco State University |
Nathan Hare (born April 9, 1933 – died June 10, 2024) was an important American sociologist, activist, and psychologist. He was a pioneer in creating Black studies programs in the United States. In 1968, he became the first person to lead a Black studies program at San Francisco State University. He studied at Langston University and the University of Chicago. Hare was also involved in the Black Power movement, which focused on Black pride and self-determination.
After leaving San Francisco State, Hare helped start The Black Scholar: A Journal of Black Studies and Research. This journal focused on Black studies and research. Later, he became a clinical psychologist. He and his wife, Julia Hare, also founded the Black Think Tank. They wrote many books together about Black families and history.
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Nathan Hare's Early Life and Education
Nathan Hare was born on April 9, 1933, on his parents' farm. This farm was near Slick, Oklahoma, in Creek County, Oklahoma. He went to schools that were only for Black students. These schools were named L'Ouverture, after a famous Haitian revolutionary.
When he was eleven, his family moved to San Diego, California. This was during World War II, when many people moved for jobs. His mother worked for the Navy. After the war, his family moved back to Oklahoma. Nathan had dreamed of becoming a boxer, but his life changed in high school.
Discovering a Love for Learning
In ninth grade, Nathan was chosen to represent his class. He went to a statewide competition for Black students at Langston University. He won first prize for his English writing. This encouraged him to go to college.
The principal of his high school helped him get into Langston University. Nathan worked in the dining hall to pay for his studies. Later, he became a dormitory leader and a tutor for younger students.
Langston University was the only college in Oklahoma that accepted Black students at the time. The town of Langston was founded by Black nationalists. They hoped to create an all-Black state in Oklahoma Territory.
One of Nathan's teachers at Langston was the poet Melvin B. Tolson. Tolson was also the mayor of Langston and a famous poet. His teaching style was even shown in the movie The Great Debaters. Nathan Hare earned his bachelor's degree in Sociology from Langston. He then went on to get his master's and PhD in Sociology from the University of Chicago.
Nathan Hare's Career and Activism
Nathan Hare began teaching sociology at Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1961. Howard is a historically black university. He became very involved with the Black Power movement on campus. This movement pushed for Black people to have more control over their own lives and communities.
Advocating for Black Education
In 1967, Hare wrote a letter to the campus newspaper. He criticized Howard's president for wanting to increase white student enrollment. Hare believed Howard should focus on being a Black university.
He also helped create "The Black University Manifesto." This document called for a Black university that would serve the needs of the Black community. Hare even wrote a book called The Black Anglo Saxons. He used the term "The Ebony Tower" to describe Howard University.
In 1967, Hare invited the famous boxer Muhammad Ali to speak at Howard. Ali was against the Vietnam War. The university tried to stop Ali from speaking, but he gave a speech to a large crowd outside. Soon after, Nathan Hare was dismissed from Howard University.
Pioneering Black Studies Programs
In 1968, Nathan Hare was invited to San Francisco State University. He was asked to create a Black Studies program. He wrote the plan for the "Department of Black Studies." He also helped coin the term "ethnic studies."
At San Francisco State, students demanded an independent Black Studies department. Hare joined a five-month strike to make this happen. The strike involved students, professors, and community leaders. It caused a lot of disruption at the university.
The strike led to changes in the university's leadership. The new president, S. I. Hayakawa, took a tough stance. He even declared "martial law" and arrested many people. In February 1969, Hayakawa dismissed Hare as the chairman of the new Black Studies department. Despite this, Hare continued to work with students and faculty.
Founding The Black Scholar Journal
After being dismissed, Hare teamed up with Robert Chrisman and Allan Ross. In November 1969, they founded The Black Scholar: A Journal of Black Studies and Research. This journal aimed to publish important articles on Black studies.
Many famous Black leaders and thinkers joined the editorial board. These included Shirley Chisholm, Angela Davis, and Amiri Baraka. The first issue of the journal gained a lot of attention. It featured articles from important Black intellectuals and activists.
The Black Scholar was praised by major newspapers like Newsweek and The New York Times. The New York Times called it "the most important journal devoted to black issues" since The Crisis. Nathan Hare left the journal in 1975 due to disagreements about its direction.
Becoming a Psychologist and Family Advocate
Nathan Hare then decided to study psychology. He earned a second PhD in clinical psychology. His research focused on Black male/female relationships. He opened a private practice in San Francisco and Oakland.
In 1979, he and his wife, Julia Hare, founded the Black Think Tank. They published a periodical called Black Male/Female Relationships. They also wrote several books together. These books focused on Black families, youth, and history.
Their work helped start a movement in the 1980s. This movement encouraged "rites of passage" for African-American boys. Nathan and Julia Hare traveled across the United States to promote these ideas.
Nathan Hare's Personal Life
Nathan Hare married Julia Ann Reed, who was also a student at Langston University. Julia worked in communications and public relations. She later worked with Nathan on many books and helped him found the Black Think Tank. Nathan Hare passed away on June 10, 2024, at the age of 91.
Books by Nathan Hare
- The Black Anglo Saxons. New York: Marzani and Munsell, 1965.
With Robert Chrisman, Hare co-edited:
- Contemporary Black Thought, Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1973.
- Pan-Africanism, Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1974.
Hare wrote books with his wife Julia Hare. These were published by their Black Think Tank. They include:
- The Endangered Black Family, San Francisco: The Black Think Tank, 1984.
- Bringing the Black Boy to Manhood: the Passage, San Francisco: The Black Think Tank, 1985.
- Crisis in Black Sexual Politics, San Francisco: The Black Think Tank, 1989.
- Fire on Mount Zion: An Autobiography of the Tulsa Race Riot, as told by Mabel B. Little. Langston: The Melvin B. Tolson Black Heritage Center, Langston University, 1990.
- The Miseducation of the Black Child: The Hare Plan to Educate Every Black Man, Woman and Child, San Francisco: The Black Think Tank, 1991.
- The Black Agenda, San Francisco: The Black Think Tank, 2002.
