Section of Durham highway named after historian and former 探花精选 educator, Dr. John Hope Franklin
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On Monday,听November 27,听a听section of Interstate 85 in Durham was dedicated in honor of civil rights leader, historian, Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree, and former Saint Augustine’s University ( 探花精选) educator,听Dr. John Hope Franklin.听The event听marked听a prestigious moment in African American听history听due to听the minimal presence听of highways听named for African Americans.听The event also bears significant meaning for 探花精选, now in its sesquicentennial, as Dr. Franklin had a great history with the institution as an educator and colleague of multiple 探花精选 presidents.
The John Hope Franklin Highway听dedication听ceremony听was held听at the听听in听Durham.听Members听of Franklin’s family听unveiled a highway sign that will designate听the听section of I-85 between Cole Mill Road and U.S. 70 Bypass.听 探花精选听president,听Dr. Everett听B.听Ward听was听among听those who听spoke听at the ceremony,听along with听Gov. Roy听Cooper,听former听U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Congressman G.K. Butterfield,听and听Durham Mayor Bill Bell.听
Dr. John Hope Franklin started his journey with a bachelor’s in history at Fisk University and听graduate听and doctorate听degrees from听Harvard.听In 1939, he taught at Saint Augustine’s (then College). He also taught at the North Carolina College for Negroes, now North Carolina Central University, as well as Brooklyn College, Howard University, the University of Chicago, Cambridge University in England, and听Duke University. At Duke, he established the Durham Literacy Center and served as a professor听emeritus.听听
Franklin went on to write several books, the most prominent one being published in听1947, “From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African-Americans,” which is still听considered the definitive account of the black experience in America. The book听has sold more than three million copies, in many听languages.听
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After his book was published, Franklin听left the faculty at听听to teach at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he and his work听played an important role, helping听lawyers for the NAACP. The听team,听led by Thurgood Marshall,听developed听the case that would lead to the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision that declared laws creating segregated schools unconstitutional.听
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Franklin would continue to break ground. His appointment to lead the history department at Brooklyn College in 1956 made him the first for a black professor at the school, and the news made the front page of The New York Times. After a year teaching at Cambridge University in England, he was invited to join the faculty of the University of Chicago in 1964. A year later, he joined historians who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery.听
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President Dr. Everett Ward recounted the impact of Dr. Franklin’s work and his history with 探花精选, and had this to say at the听dedication:听
On听behalf of Saint Augustine’s University, it’s听indeed an honor to be here听today as we commemorate the legacy of Dr. John Hope Franklin.听听
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Dr. Franklin served Saint Augustine’s with notable distinction as a professor of history听nearly seventy years ago. During that critical period in American history, Dr. Franklin motivated his students and colleagues to excel beyond traditional limitations.听听
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After learning of his doctoral requirements and the subsequent awarding of the Ph.D. degree from Harvard University, Dr. Franklin was advised by then Saint Augustine’s President, Edgar Gould,听to guard his professional actions toward听colleagues听that had limited educational attainment. However, fortunately for all of us, Dr. Franklin was driven internally by his own words. Dr. Franklin once stated, ‘If the house is to be set in order, one cannot begin with the present, he must begin with the past.’听Dr. Franklin dedicated his life to beginning with the past to ensure that American history reflected the enormous contributions of African American citizens.听
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Today, as the 11th听president of Saint Augustine’s University, which now celebrates its 150th anniversary, I know firsthand, as a former Saint Augustine’s student, the benefit of Dr. Franklin’s intellectual resolve. One of my cherished treasures is my fifth edition of “From Slavery to Freedom: A History of Negro Americans.“听I used it as a student at Saint Augustine’s University. Here we are seventy years later, after the first publication dated September 22, 1947, and Saint听Augustine’s University students, along with students around the world, are still gaining from the scholarship of Dr. John Hope Franklin.听
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Gov. Roy Cooper also spoke highly of Franklin during the ceremony,听stating听that听Franklin听played a key role in determining the听plans for his term as governor.听 He stated,听“I want to thank you for inviting me to honor a man who has honored听this state, a man who听has laid the ground work for the mission that I have for our state.”听
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Among Dr. Franklin’s numerous awards is the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest honor for exemplary service to the state and the local community.听听
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Franklin’s legacy has continued since his death in 2009 at 94 years old. Duke听named three centers after Franklin:听the听John Hope Franklin Research Center for African and African American History and听Culture听in the Rubenstein Library;听the听John Hope Franklin Center for Interdisciplinary and International Studies; and, the John Hope听Franklin Humanities Institute.听
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Saint Augustine’s University is proud to have such an icon intertwined in its 150-year legacy. The University honored Dr. Franklin during a 2017 Black History Month series.听