Rayford Logan facts for kids
Rayford Whittingham Logan (born January 7, 1897, died November 4, 1982) was an important African-American historian and activist. He worked to unite people of African descent worldwide. Logan was famous for studying a difficult time in American history after the Civil War. He called this period the "nadir of American race relations", meaning the lowest point for race relations in America. Later in his life, he was a main advisor for the NAACP on global issues. He was also a respected history professor at Howard University.
Rayford Logan's Life Story
Early Life and Education
Rayford Logan was born and grew up in Washington, D.C.. He earned a scholarship to Williams College and graduated in 1917. During World War I, he joined the U.S. Army. He served as a first lieutenant in the all-black 93rd Infantry Division. This division worked alongside French soldiers.
Life in France and Early Activism
After the war, Logan stayed in France. He learned about French culture and language. He also helped organize the 2nd Pan-African Congress in Paris in 1921. This was a meeting for people of African descent to discuss their rights and future.
Returning to America and Teaching
In the early 1920s, Logan came back to the U.S. He started teaching at Virginia Union University. This was a historically black college in Richmond, Virginia.
Investigating Education in Haiti
During the time the U.S. was in Haiti, Logan went there to study education. He wrote about what he found in The Journal of Negro History in 1930. He found that education had not improved much. This was because many U.S. Marine administrators were from the American South. They had grown up with Jim Crow laws and brought their unfair ideas to Haiti.
The main effort was to create expensive agricultural schools. These schools had staff who did not speak French, so classes needed translators. The money given to these schools was much more than what academic schools received.
Advanced Studies and Professorship
In 1930, Logan began studying at Harvard University. He earned his master's degree in 1932 and his Ph.D. in 1936. Logan then became a professor at Howard University. He taught history there from 1938 to 1965.
Working with President Roosevelt
In 1932, President Franklin D. Roosevelt chose Logan to be part of his Black Cabinet. This was a group of influential African Americans who advised the president. Logan helped write an important order. This order stopped the military from excluding Black people during World War II.
Leadership and Community Involvement
From 1950 to 1951, Logan was the Director of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). He was also the 15th General President of Alpha Phi Alpha. This was the first fraternity for African Americans.
Later Years
Rayford Logan passed away from a heart problem at Howard University Hospital. He was 85 years old.
Rayford Logan's Legacy and Honors
- In 1980, Logan received the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP. This award honors outstanding achievements by African Americans.
- His home in the Brookland area of Washington, D.C., is now a recognized site on the city's African-American Heritage Trail.
See also
In Spanish: Rayford W. Logan para niños
