January 27, 2005

From slavery to scholarship

Professor Michele Valerie Ronnick of the Classics, Greek and Latin Department is the editor of a just-published autobiography of William Sanders Scarborough, who was born into slavery in 1852 and became a world-respected scholar in Greek and Latin literature. \"His life is a fabulous slice of American life,\" she points out. Ronnick's traveling exhibit of 12 black classicists will be on display Feb. 4-28 at the Holland Museum. What's striking about the display is not what restrictions held African American scholars back, but what they achieved despite the obstacles they faced, says Ronnick. On February 10, she will give a presentation at the museum regarding her work in developing the exhibit, which has been touring the country.

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