Merze Tate: The Global Odyssey of a Black Woman Scholar

Merze Tate was a Black woman scholar and intrepid world traveler who earned degrees in international relations from Oxford University and a doctorate in government from Harvard. This book revives and critiques her prolific and prescient body of scholarship, with topics ranging from nuclear arms limitations to race and imperialism in India, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. Tate credited her success to other women who helped her realize her dream of becoming a scholar.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 27 February 2024
Publisher: Yale University Press

Merze Tate, a trailblazing Black woman scholar and intrepid world traveler, defied societal expectations and pursued her intellectual ambitions despite living in a "sex and race discriminating world." Born in rural Michigan during the Jim Crow era, Tate's unwavering determination led her to achieve remarkable academic accomplishments. She earned degrees in international relations from Oxford University in 1935 and a doctorate in government from Harvard in 1941.

After teaching at Howard University for three decades, Tate's legacy continues to inspire and challenge scholars. This book explores and critiques her prolific and prescient body of scholarship, covering a wide range of topics such as nuclear arms limitations, race and imperialism in India, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa. Tate credited her success to the support of other women, Black and white, who helped her realize her dream of becoming a scholar.

Barbara Savages' masterful rendering of Tate's story is based on extensive research, providing a deep and nuanced understanding of her life and work. Tate's life and work challenge conventional approaches to African American, American, women's, education, diplomatic, and international history. Her journey as a researcher and adventurer took her around the world twice, allowing her to capture the essence of different cultures and societies through her photography.

Through her remarkable achievements and unwavering spirit, Merze Tate remains a shining example of a Black woman who defied societal norms and pursued her passions with determination and grace. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of scholars and activists, reminding us of the power of education, intellectual inquiry, and the pursuit of a more just and equitable world.

Weight: 576g
Dimension: 166 x 243 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780300270273