Stephen Henderson (literary scholar) facts for kids

Stephen E. Henderson was an important professor who taught about African-American literature and culture. He was born on October 13, 1925, and passed away on January 7, 1997. He is well-known for being the first to explain "militant Black poetry" in a formal way. He also helped start the Institute of the Black World in Atlanta, Georgia, along with Vincent Harding and William Strickland.

Early Life and Education

Stephen E. Henderson was born in Key West, Florida. He joined the U.S. Army and served for two years near the end of World War II. After his military service, he went to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.

At Morehouse, he studied English and sociology. He graduated with high honors in 1949. He then continued his studies at the University of Wisconsin. There, he earned a master's degree in English in 1950.

A Career in Teaching

In 1950, Stephen Henderson began his teaching career. He became an English professor at Virginia Union University. He taught there until 1962. During this time, he also earned his PhD in English and Art History in 1959.

In 1962, he returned to Morehouse College. He became the head of the English department. Later, from 1969 to 1971, he was a senior researcher at the Institute for the Black World in Atlanta.

Work at Howard University

In 1971, Professor Henderson started teaching at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He taught in both the English department and the African American Studies department. From 1973 to 1985, he was the director of the Institute for the Arts and the Humanities at Howard. He also gave many talks and lectures in the United States and other countries.

Important Book

In 1973, Stephen Henderson wrote a very important book. It was called Understanding the New Black Poetry: Black Speech and Black Music as Poetic Reference. This book was a big step forward in understanding African-American poetry. It helped start new discussions and ideas in the world of literature.

Later Life

Professor Henderson retired from teaching in 1992. He passed away at his home in Langley Park, Maryland, on January 7, 1997. He was 71 years old.