Quandra Prettyman facts for kids

Quandra Prettyman Stadler (born January 19, 1933 – died October 21, 2021) was a very important professor. She taught about Africana Studies and English Literature at Barnard College in New York City. She helped start the study of Black literature in universities across the United States. She also created new courses that many other professors later taught. The New York Times newspaper called her a champion for Black women's literature.

Her Early Life and Education

Quandra Prettyman was born in Baltimore, Maryland on January 19, 1933. She grew up there with her parents, who were both schoolteachers.

She went to Antioch College from 1950 to 1954. There, she studied history. After that, she studied literature at the University of Michigan. She graduated in 1957.

Teaching and Impact

In the 1950s, Quandra Prettyman moved to New York City. She taught English at the College of Insurance and The New School for Social Research.

In 1970, she started teaching at Barnard College. She taught in the English department until she passed away in 2021. She even taught sometimes after she retired. She was the very first full-time Black professor at Barnard.

Starting Black Literary Studies

Professor Prettyman is famous for starting Black literary studies in the United States. This means she helped create a whole new area of study. It focused on the writings and stories of Black authors.

The president of Barnard College, Sian Beilock, said that Professor Prettyman helped open up what was taught in colleges. She did this not just at Barnard, but everywhere.

New and Exciting Courses

Professor Prettyman introduced many new courses at Barnard College. Some of these courses were new to the entire field of study! Her classes explored many interesting topics.

• The Harlem Renaissance: This was a time when Black art and culture grew in New York City.
• Slavery: She taught about the history and impact of slavery.
• Women and race: This course looked at how race affects women's lives.
• Literature by women from different backgrounds: This included Native American, African American, Latina, and Asian American writers.
• Early African American literature: This class covered writings from 1760 to 1890.

Awards and Recognition

In 2020, Antioch College gave Professor Prettyman the Walter F. Anderson Award. She received it for helping to break down barriers related to race and ethnicity. She is also listed in Who’s Who Among African Americans. This book lists important African American people.

Her Legacy

Quandra Prettyman passed away on October 21, 2021, when she was 88 years old. Barnard College honored her by saying she brought many new ideas to the college. Her family created the Quandra Prettyman Prize in her memory. This prize helps keep her important work alive.

Selected Works

Professor Prettyman also helped publish several books.

• She edited The open boat and other stories by Stephen Crane in 1968.
• Her poems were included in The Poetry of Black America in 1973.
• She edited Out of our lives: a selection of contemporary Black fiction in 1975. This book featured works by famous authors like Amiri Baraka and Ann Petry.
• She wrote an article called 'Come Eat at My Table: Lives with Recipes' in 1992.
• She also wrote about a poet named George Moses Horton in 'The Black Bard of North Carolina: George Moses Horton and His Poetry' in 1999.