William Leo Hansberry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Leo Hansberry
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| Born | February 25, 1894 Gloster, Mississippi
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| Died | November 3, 1968 (aged 74) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Atlanta University, Harvard University |
| Occupation | historian, anthropologist |
William Leo Hansberry (born February 25, 1894 – died November 3, 1965) was an American scholar and teacher. He was a pioneer in a field called Afrocentrism. This means he focused on the history and culture of Africa and people of African descent.
William Leo Hansberry was the older brother of Carl Augustus Hansberry, a real estate broker. He was also the uncle of the famous writer Lorraine Hansberry.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Leo Hansberry was born on February 25, 1894. His birthplace was Gloster, Mississippi. His parents were Elden Hayes and Pauline (Bailey) Hansberry.
His father taught history at Alcorn A&M, a university in Mississippi. Sadly, his father passed away when William was only three years old. William and his younger brother, Carl, were then raised by their stepfather, Elijah Washington.
Discovering a Passion for African History
In 1915, William Hansberry started studying at Atlanta University. There, he found a new collection of essays about race. These essays, published by the university, greatly influenced him.
Another big influence was a book called "The Negro" by W. E. B. Du Bois. After buying the book, he wanted to read all the books mentioned in it. He rushed to the university library to find them.
To his surprise, the library at Atlanta University did not have many of the books he needed. It was missing important references for his studies. Because of this, Hansberry left Atlanta University after only two weeks of his second year. He wanted to find a better library.
Studying at Harvard University
Hansberry decided to transfer to a university with a great library. He wanted one that would also accept Black students. In February 1917, he began his studies at Harvard University. He finished his undergraduate degree there in 1921.
Teaching and Research Career
After graduating from Harvard, Hansberry taught for one year. He taught at Straight College in New Orleans. Today, this school is known as Dillard University.
In September 1922, Hansberry joined the teachers at Howard University. At Howard, he started a new part of the History Department. This new section focused on African Civilization.
Advanced Studies and Challenges
Hansberry earned his Master's degree from Harvard in 1932. He also did more advanced studies at other famous universities. These included the University of Chicago, Oxford University in England, and Cairo University in Egypt.
His knowledge of African studies was so deep and wide. It was hard for him to get a Ph.D. (a very high degree). This was because there were no teachers at any school who knew enough to guide his final research paper. He was truly a leader in his field.
A Respected Professor
As a professor at Howard, Hansberry taught classes about African civilizations and cultures. By the mid-1930s, other experts around the world recognized him. They saw him as an outstanding scholar in his field.
Many students loved his classes. Two of his students later became important leaders in Africa. One was Kwame Nkrumah, who became the first prime minister and president of Ghana. The other was Nnamdi Azikiwe, who became the first president of Nigeria.
Azikiwe studied with Hansberry from 1928 to 1929. He later wrote a special tribute to Hansberry. In 1961, Azikiwe, who was then Nigeria's Governor-General, thought Hansberry's work was so important. He offered to help publish Hansberry's main book, The Rise and Decline of the Ethiopian Empire.
Protecting African Studies
Hansberry's courses were very popular with students. However, two other respected teachers at Howard University questioned his work. They said he was teaching things without enough research to back them up.
His program and his job were at risk. Hansberry showed the university's Board of Trustees detailed proof of his research. He was able to save the African studies program. But his funding for research was stopped. He also did not get a permanent teaching position until 1938.
Despite all his hard work and research, Hansberry was slow to publish his writings. One of his former students, James Williams, remembered this. When students asked him to publish, Hansberry would smile and say, "I am not ready yet." He retired from Howard University in June 1959.
Family Life and Legacy
William Leo Hansberry married Myrtle Kelso on June 22, 1937, in Chicago. She was from Meridian, Mississippi. They had two children together:
- Gail Adelle Hansberry
- Myrtle Kay Hansberry
William Leo Hansberry passed away on November 3, 1965. He was visiting relatives in Chicago when he had a stroke.
In 1972, Howard University honored him. They named a lecture hall after him. This showed how much they valued his contributions. He was also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
