Bertha Maxwell-Roddey: A Modern-Day Race Woman and the Power of Black Leadership

Bertha Maxwell-Roddey was a pioneering educational activist and Black studies pioneer who achieved significant accomplishments in the desegregated South. She founded the National Council for Black Studies and served as the 20th National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Sonya Ramsey's biography highlights Maxwell-Roddey's leadership strategies and contributions to dismantling discriminatory barriers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 21 June 2022
Publisher: University Press of Florida

Bertha Maxwell-Roddey, a pioneering figure in the desegregated South, was an educational activist and Black studies pioneer whose life was marked by remarkable achievements and leadership. Born in 1930, Maxwell-Roddey became one of Charlotte's first Black women principals of a white elementary school, a position that showcased her dedication to breaking down racial barriers. She went on to establish the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's Africana Studies Program, a groundbreaking initiative that aimed to promote African American studies and culture. Maxwell-Roddey's impact extended beyond academia as she cofounded the Afro-American Cultural and Service Center, now known as the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Art + Culture.

In addition to her educational endeavors, Maxwell-Roddey played a significant role in the institutionalization of Black studies. She founded the National Council for Black Studies, which became the premier professional organization in the field. Her leadership also extended to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., one of the most influential Black women's organizations in the United States. Through the use of oral histories and primary sources, including private records from numerous Black women's home archives, Sonya Ramsey's biography sheds light on the intersectional leadership strategies employed by Maxwell-Roddey and other modern race women to dismantle discriminatory barriers in the classroom and the boardroom.

Maxwell-Roddey's life story offers valuable insights into desegregation, urban renewal, and the rise of the Black middle class. Her unwavering commitment to social justice and her ability to inspire others have left a lasting legacy that continues to shape the landscape of education and activism in the United States.

Weight: 592g
Dimension: 150 x 229 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813068695