Noel Ignatiev facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Noel Ignatiev
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(2003)
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Noel Saul Ignatin
December 27, 1940 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | November 9, 2019 (aged 78) Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
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| Education | Harvard Graduate School of Education |
| Occupation | Author, historian |
| Employer | Massachusetts College of Art Harvard University |
Noel Ignatiev (born Noel Saul Ignatin; December 27, 1940 – November 9, 2019) was an American writer and historian. He was known for his ideas about race and his call to change the idea of "whiteness".
Ignatiev helped start the New Abolitionist Society. He also co-edited a journal called Race Traitor. This journal promoted the idea that "treason to whiteness is loyalty to humanity." This meant challenging old ideas about race could help everyone.
In 1995, he wrote a book called How the Irish Became White. This book looked at how early Irish immigrants in the United States made choices. Many faced unfair treatment themselves. But they chose to identify as "white" to gain power. Then, they sometimes took part in unfair treatment of people with darker skin.
Early Life and Activism
Noel Ignatiev was born Noel Saul Ignatin in Philadelphia. His mother, Carrie, was a homemaker. His father, Irv, delivered newspapers. His family was Jewish, and his grandparents came from Russia.
Noel's family later owned a housewares store. He attended the University of Pennsylvania for three years. He then left college without finishing his degree.
In his younger years, Ignatiev joined various political groups. He was part of the Communist Party USA for a short time. He later joined the Students for a Democratic Society.
He also became involved with a group called the Sojourner Truth Organization (STO). This group was influenced by the ideas of writer C. L. R. James.
For two decades, Ignatiev worked in factories. He worked in a Gary, Indiana steel mill. He also made farming equipment and electrical parts. As an activist, he worked to help African American steel workers gain equal rights.
Academic Journey
In the early 1980s, Ignatiev started discussion groups about social theories. In 1985, he was accepted into the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He got in even though he didn't have a bachelor's degree.
After earning his master's degree, he became a lecturer at Harvard. He also worked on his Ph.D. in U.S. history. He earned his Ph.D. in 1995.
Ignatiev taught courses at Harvard University. Later, he moved to the Massachusetts College of Art to teach. His academic work focused on his idea to "abolish" the white race. This was a way of saying he wanted to change how society thought about race.
His Ph.D. paper became his book, How the Irish Became White. This book was published by Routledge. Ignatiev also helped start and edit the journal Race Traitor. He also co-founded the New Abolitionist Society.
Later Years and Death
Noel Ignatiev gave a speech in Brooklyn, New York, on October 27, 2019. This was for the launch of a journal he edited called Hard Crackers.
Soon after, he traveled to Arizona to be with his family. Noel Ignatiev passed away on November 9, 2019. He was 78 years old when he died at Banner University Medical Center Tucson.
See also
- Race Traitor (publication)
- Anti-Japaneseism
- Frederick Douglass and the White Negro (Ignatiev was a major contributor)
- Race traitor
- Whiteness studies
