Roy Bryce-Laporte facts for kids

Roy Simon Bryce-Laporte was an important sociologist. A sociologist is a scientist who studies how people live together in groups and societies. He was born as Roy Laporte on September 7, 1933, in Panama City, Panama. He passed away on July 30, 2012, in Sykesville, Maryland. Roy Bryce-Laporte helped create one of the first university departments focused on African-American studies. This field explores the history, culture, and experiences of people of African descent.

Early Life and Education

Roy Simon Laporte grew up in Panama. His family had roots in both the West Indies and Africa. He started his college education at the University of Panama. There, he earned an associate degree.

After that, he moved to the United States. He continued his studies at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees there. He also studied for a time at the University of Puerto Rico. Finally, he earned his Ph.D. in sociology from UCLA.

Teaching and Pioneering African-American Studies

After finishing his education, Bryce-Laporte began teaching. He taught at Hunter College in New York City. Later, he moved to Yale. At Yale, he made a big impact.

In 1969, he became the first director of Yale's new African-American studies department. This was a very important step for universities. The department at Yale, and Bryce-Laporte himself, looked at African-American history in a special way. They studied not just Black history in the United States. They also looked at the experiences of people of African descent across the entire Western Hemisphere. This is known as the African diaspora.

Research and Later Career

Roy Bryce-Laporte's own research focused on Black immigrants in the United States. He studied their experiences and challenges. After his time at Yale, he taught at many other universities. These included the College of Staten Island, Syracuse University, and Howard University.

He also helped create the Research Institute on Immigration and Ethnic Studies. This institute was part of the famous Smithsonian Institution. In 1989, he joined Colgate University. There, he was a professor of sociology and anthropology. He also directed their Africana and Latin American studies program.

Roy Bryce-Laporte was married to Dorotea Lowe Bryce. He had three children.

Important Projects and Ideas

Roy Bryce-Laporte was involved in several key projects. He helped people understand the experiences of Black immigrants.

• "Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor...?" Exhibition: In 1986, he was the curator for an exhibition. It was first shown at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City. This exhibition focused on Black people who chose to move to the United States. It was created to celebrate 100 years of the Statue of Liberty.

He also shared his knowledge with the government. He gave testimony to committees in the U.S. House of Representatives. He spoke about immigration issues in 1978 and 1983.

Awards and Recognition

Roy Bryce-Laporte received several awards for his important work:

• Danforth Fellowship
• "Man of the Year" from the Panamanian Council of New York City
• Afro-Latino Institute award
• Distinguished Service Award from the Yale Alumni Association