Better Late than never

This is yet another example of a thought (now an afterthought) that I had regarding a crucial spotlight moment and my failure to relay it to you guys in a timely fashion. The picture above is of noted educator and historian, Frank Snowden, who died at the age of 95 sometime in February. Please accept my apologies for not mentioning this at an obviously more timely moment but it didn't occur to me until I highlighted Roscoe Lee Browne's death. Well, this is a definitive example of "better late than never." Snowden, a Harvard trained academician, taught at Howard University for more than half a century specializing in the classics-specifically, blacks in ancient Rome and Greece. Two fascinating books written by Mr.Snowden that I think would be beneficial to our readers are Blacks in Antiquity: Ethiopians in the Greco-Roman Experience and Before Color Prejudice: The Ancient View of Blacks . Dr. Snowden should not only be heavily applauded for his scholastic works but also for debunking the notion that Black history should only be relegated to slavery and the subsequent Civil Rights struggle. Snowden should also receive praise for his research into the origins of racial prejudice, which he posited was not endemic to citizens of the ancient world. Here is an excerpt from the Washington Post pertaining to Snowden's contention that during ancient Rome and Greece racism was not an issue:

Using evidence he found in literature and art, he showed that blacks were able not only to coexist with Greeks and Romans but also were often revered as charioteers, fighters and actors.

Because Romans and Greeks first encountered blacks as soldiers and mercenaries and not slaves or "savages," they did not classify them as inferior and seek ways to rationalize their enslavement, he said.

William Harris, a Columbia University professor who specializes in Greek and Roman history, said Dr. Snowden was the first person to write in a serious way about blacks in antiquity, and his books influenced other scholars, including George M. Fredrickson ("Racism: A Short History") and Martin Bernal ("Black Athena").

I would like to give a belated salute to Dr. Snowden for his efforts and accomplishments in the world of historical research and extending the scope for Black excellence in the world of antiquity and beyond. For more on Snowden click on the links below:

Frank Snowden; Major Scholar of Blacks in Antiquity

Wiki on Frank Snowden