William Sanders Scarborough Knihy

The autobiography highlights Scarborough's remarkable journey from slavery in Macon, Georgia, to becoming a prominent scholar and the president of Wilberforce University. Despite facing significant racism, he excelled in classical studies and made history as the first African American member of the Modern Language Association. His advocacy for liberal arts education stood in stark contrast to the prevailing views of his time, as he fought against the legacy of illiteracy and the dismissive attitudes toward Black intellectualism, promoting the importance of reading and writing.

Reveals how distinct cultural environments shape the patterns of gender inequality