John Hope Franklin, Duke Professor Emeritus of History died today, of natural causes. A great loss, a very great loss. He was man, a person, I greatly admired and will sorely miss. His death was reported by both the New York Times and the Washington Post.
He was discribed by the Post as a "..rarity'. "A maker of history" who suffered a host of indignities created by the Jim Crow laws. While suffering quietly, he never voiced bitterness----openly. Rather,he wrote often and extensively about the hatred of such laws. He contributed a brief for the "Brown v. Board of Education", working with former U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall to 'undo' a grevious legal wrong....one of his many acomplishments, academic,as well as, personal.
When asked about his determination, often reflected in his many Reconstruction writings, John Hope replied, "My challenge was to weave into the frabric of American history enough of the presence of blacks so that the story of the United States could be adequately and fairly told."
A colleague recalled a telephone call he recently made to John Hope, after Obama's nomination for the U.S. Presidency at the Democratic Convention. He asked John Hope: "Did you ever expect to see this day?" (Following Obama's acclaimed nomination for that office). John Hope replied: "Well, I never expected to live more than 90-years. But even if I had I would not have lived long enough to see this". Especially after suffering through the Jim Crow years.
But through it all, he maintained a quietly dignity of character. Eliciting respect and admiration, from all.
John Hope Franklin, you will be missed!
He was discribed by the Post as a "..rarity'. "A maker of history" who suffered a host of indignities created by the Jim Crow laws. While suffering quietly, he never voiced bitterness----openly. Rather,he wrote often and extensively about the hatred of such laws. He contributed a brief for the "Brown v. Board of Education", working with former U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall to 'undo' a grevious legal wrong....one of his many acomplishments, academic,as well as, personal.
When asked about his determination, often reflected in his many Reconstruction writings, John Hope replied, "My challenge was to weave into the frabric of American history enough of the presence of blacks so that the story of the United States could be adequately and fairly told."
A colleague recalled a telephone call he recently made to John Hope, after Obama's nomination for the U.S. Presidency at the Democratic Convention. He asked John Hope: "Did you ever expect to see this day?" (Following Obama's acclaimed nomination for that office). John Hope replied: "Well, I never expected to live more than 90-years. But even if I had I would not have lived long enough to see this". Especially after suffering through the Jim Crow years.
But through it all, he maintained a quietly dignity of character. Eliciting respect and admiration, from all.
John Hope Franklin, you will be missed!
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