Acknowledgements
This book commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the African American Studies Program (AASP) at the University of Florida in 1970, which was celebrated in a series of events on campus in February 2020. The publication provides a historical record of events that led to the establishment of the program. The celebration to commemorate the 50th Anniversary was organized by AASP faculty and staff and made possible by the support and contributions of the University of Florida Administration: President W. Kent Fuchs, Dean David Richardson of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), Faculty and Affiliates in the African American Studies Program, and members of the Gainesville community. To all those involved in the Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of African American Studies at UF, we thank you.
We want to specifically acknowledge the members of the Working Committees charged with scheduling and programming events for the 50th Anniversary Celebration: Dr. Paul Ortiz, Professor of History and Director of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program; the late Dr. Patricia Hilliard-Nunn, Senior Lecturer in African American Studies; and Dr. James Essegbey, Interim Director of African American Studies Program and Professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. We are also thankful to the panelists and moderators at the Dr. Ronald Foreman, Jr. Symposium, which consisted of the Academic Panel: Dr. Patricia Hilliard-Nunn, Dr. Paul Ortiz, Dr. Manoucheka Celeste, Ms. Stephanie Birch, Dr. Harry B. Shaw, and Dr. Jacob U’Mofe Gordon (Moderator); Community Panel: Mrs. Sherry Sherrod DuPree, Ms. Kathy Benson Haskins, Ms. Vivian Filer, Mr. Otis Stover, and Dr. Patricia Hilliard-Nunn (Moderator); Alumni and Student Panel: Ms. Sharon Burney, Mr. Wallace Mazon, Mr. Chris Garcia-Wilde, and Dr. Vincent Adejumo (Moderator).
We are equally grateful to Ms. Stephanie Birch, African American Studies Librarian, the Dean of University Libraries, Judith G. Russell, and other administrators and staff at the George A. Smathers Libraries. They identified and organized books and other research materials published by the African American Studies faculty at UF for the book exhibit in the Smathers Library to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of African American Studies Program at the University of Florida.
We appreciate the tireless efforts of Deborah Hendrix of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program for video-recording the events, transcribing relevant materials, and organizing many of the photos included in this book. We are indebted to Ms. Tamarra Jenkins, Administrative Specialist I, Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, and Ms. Yesenia Jarrett, Administrative Specialist I, African American Studies Program, for coordinating the activities of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations. Their skillful coordination of activities and events was extremely helpful in carrying out the celebration, along with their many other contributions. I am grateful to Dr. Barbara McDade Gordon, Professor Emerita in Geography and African Studies, for her technical and editorial assistance throughout the preparation of the manuscript for this book.
Dr. Paul Ortiz wishes to thank Professor Jacob U’Mofe Gordon for being an exemplary mentor, friend, and colleague. I feel privileged beyond words to be able to work with Jake on this volume. Since my time as a professor at the University of Florida I have been constantly inspired by the students, staff, faculty, and alumni of the African American Studies Program. This generation’s African American Studies students are carrying on the wonderful legacies of their ancestors in struggle. I can hardly wait to celebrate with the students during that not-so-distant moment in future when the program becomes a full-fledged department! My only regret is that our dear mutual friend, Dr. Patricia Hilliard-Nunn, did not live to see the completion of this volume. The editors and chapter authors of this book as well as the students, staff, and alumni of the African American Studies Program at the University of Florida pledge ourselves to continue Tricia’s outstanding scholarship, community activism, and passion for learning and justice into the generations to come.
