John H. McClendon III, Author at

Academic Historian

Dr. John H. McClendon III, is Director of African American and African Studies and Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Michigan State University. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Black Studies and Political Science from Central State University and a Master’s and doctorate in philosophy from the University of Kansas. McClendon has taught at State University of New York at Binghamton, University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana, Eastern Illinois University, the University of Missouri-Columbia and Bates College. McClendon’s areas of expertise include African philosophy, Philosophy of African American Studies, Marxist philosophy, and the history of African American philosophers.

He is the author of C.L.R. James’s Notes on Dialectics: Left Hegelianism or Marxism-Leninism (Lexington Books 2005) and several monographs, reports, booklets and articles in noted anthologies. He has published widely in a number of journals including Afro-Americans in New York Life and History, Journal of Speculative Philosophy, Socialism and Democracy, The AME Church Review, Explorations in Ethnic Studies, Sage Race Relations Abstracts, Freedomways, American Philosophical Association Newsletter on Philosophy and the Black Experience, and Ethnic Studies Review among others. He is currently the Editor of the American Philosophical Association Newsletter Philosophy and the Black Experience, he serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the journal Cultural Logic and is an Ex Officio Member of the Committee on Blacks in Philosophy—American Philosophical Association. McClendon has lectured widely throughout the country and abroad including in Toulouse, France and at the University of Havana in Cuba. Most recently this year, he was the keynote speaker for Black History Month at Mississippi State University, the Charles Phelps Taft lecturer for the 35th anniversary of the African-American Studies Department at the University of Cincinnati and served as a faculty member for the Schomburg-Mellon Humanities Summer Institute.

Edwin Bancroft Henderson (1883-1977)

Sports historian, educator, administrator, coach, athlete, and civil rights activist, Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson was a pioneer promoter of African American involvement in sports and physical education. Edwin, the son of William and Louisa Henderson, was born on November 24, 1883. His father was a … Read MoreEdwin Bancroft Henderson (1883-1977)

Dr. Cornelius Golightly (1917-1976): The Life of an Academic and Public Intellectual

Cornelius Golightly at a Detroit School Board Meeting, Courtesy of the Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University In the following article Michigan State University professor John McClendon explores the remarkable life of little known early 20th century black intellectual Cornelius Golightly. Philosopher, teacher, … Read MoreDr. Cornelius Golightly (1917-1976): The Life of an Academic and Public Intellectual

Claudia Jones (1915-1964)

With the birth name of Claudia Cumberbatch, Claudia Jones was born on February 21, 1915 in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. Her family migrated to the United States in 1924 and became residents of Harlem, New York. Claudia’s mother was a garment worker and due to the effects … Read MoreClaudia Jones (1915-1964)

Lucy Parsons (1853-1942)

Although Lucy Parsons was one of the first and most important African American activists on the left, there is scanty historical documentation about her origins. It is believed that Lucy Parsons was born on a plantation in Hill County, Texas around March of 1853. Significantly … Read MoreLucy Parsons (1853-1942)

Richard I. McKinney (1906-2005)

African American philosopher Richard I. McKinney was born on August 8, 1906 in Live Oak, Florida on the college campus of Farmer Institute (later named Florida Memorial College). The son of educators, he graduated from Morehouse College in 1931 with a major in philosophy and … Read MoreRichard I. McKinney (1906-2005)

Charles Leander Hill (1906-1956)

African American philosopher Charles Leander Hill was born on July 28 1906 in Urbana Ohio. Hill was one of seven children born to David Leander and Karen (Andrews) Hill. Well respected in the Urbana community, the family lived on a street which was named after … Read MoreCharles Leander Hill (1906-1956)

Forrest Oran Wiggins (1907-1982)

Forrest Oran Wiggins was born in 1907 to Charles and Cora Cosby Wiggins. A native of Vincennes, Indiana, Wiggins attended public schools in Vincennes and Indianapolis. In 1928 Wiggins received his B.A. from Butler University and in the following year earned a certificate in French … Read MoreForrest Oran Wiggins (1907-1982)

Edward Alexander Bouchet (1852-1918)

Edward Alexander Bouchet was born on September 15, 1852 in New Haven, Connecticut to William Francis and Susan Cooley Bouchet. Edward attended the segregated primary school in New Haven and later finished his secondary education at Hopkins Grammar School in 1870. An outstanding student, Edward’s … Read MoreEdward Alexander Bouchet (1852-1918)

Charles Lewis Reason (1818-1893)

Charles L. Reason was born on July 21, 1818 in New York City. His parents, Michiel and Elizabeth Reason, were immigrants from Haiti who arrived in the United States shortly after the Haitian Revolution of 1793. His parents emphasized the importance of education, and very … Read MoreCharles Lewis Reason (1818-1893)