07/02/2024
Extremely sad to learn of the passing of a distant mentor and pioneer. Dr Nathan Hare was the chair of the very first Black Studies program at a university. The program grew out of the free school program offered by the Black Panther Party and was subsequently housed at San Francisco State.
Of course, in true PWI fashion, as soon as they realized Dr Hare was a house negro in the tradition of Gabriel Prosser or Nat Turner, he was relieved of his position, but not before creating a template that would be replicated across the country.
In 2011, when I became director of the Black Studies program (formerly African/African American Studies) at UMass Dartmouth I reached out to Dr Hare and was blessed with sound advice and wise counsel including the words, “if you really do a good job, they’ll come for you in 4-5 years on some bullsh*t.” Jeanette Riley (former Dean of CAS) was like clockwork, but I digress.
Black Scholar magazine was a favorite read in college and grad school.
Thank you Dr Hare and reside in paradise.
