“At the dawn of the twentieth century, the power of American racism was greater than scientific merit in determining which scholars would be recognized as sociological pioneers and which would be denied.” (Morris p.98)

These quotes, taken together, show how pervasive racism is in our culture. That an important pioneer in a new field of study could be virtually erased from the narrative for over a hundred years seems mind boggling, and yet, there is evidence of it across fields of study. Women and people of color are largely absent from the recorded history. I find it disappointing.

“…It is important to bear in mind that Du Bois was a pioneering methodologist without models to follow. He was aware of methodological limitations of his work and pledged to improve them as more experience was obtained (page 95).”

 

“It is ironic that a small black university, without adequate funds and considered inferior by whites, introduced scientific sociology to the South under the leadership of a new type of sociological scholar (page 97).”

 

“” It is ironic that a small black University, without adequate funds and considered inferior by whites, introduced scientific sociology to the South under the leadership of a new type of sociological scholar. “” (97)