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| Dr. Mark Hanna Watkins (Source: Association of Black Anthropologists) |
Mark Hanna Watkins is credited with being the first of many accomplishments, but it is the fact that he was the first African American linguist to earn his Ph.D. in anthropological linguistics that secured his place on the blog. This is a noteworthy feat, but it pales in comparison to the greater achievements he went on to undertake in his lifetime. This blog post will detail his lifetime achievements, demonstrating why he is considered one of the greatest and most influential linguistic and anthropological scholars to this day.
Watkins was born on November 23, 1903, in Huntsville, Texas. He was the last of 14 children born to a Baptist minister father and homemaker mother. It was his father’s position in the Baptist church that afforded his family various opportunities that they would otherwise not have access to. It appears that Watkins capitalized on these opportunities in various ways, leading him to complete his bachelor’s in education at Prairie View State College in 1926.
A few short years later in 1929, however, Watkins relocated from Texas to Chicago, Illinois, where he enrolled in the University of Chicago’s Master’s program in anthropology. It is unclear what led him to pursue this field of study, although there is evidence that he was involved in some anthropological work in his undergraduate, which may have piqued his interest. While he attended an all-Black school for his undergraduate degree, which was standard at that time due to educational segregation laws, Watkins’ entrance into the University of Chicago was an exception due to his race and the status of the school, which enrolled White students. This choice, however, was significant for Watkins’ education and subsequent career.
While at the University of Chicago he had the opportunity to study and work with several influential linguistic anthropologists, including Manuel J. Andrade, Leonard Bloomfield, and Edward Sapir. He completed both his Masters and Ph.D. in linguistic anthropology at the University of Chicago, the latter of which was funded through various prestigious and difficult to acquire fellowships and grants. It was also his doctoral work that led to a paradigm shift in American linguistic anthropology. At that time it was standard practice that linguists study American Indian languages, but various circumstances led Watkins to take a different route. Instead, he studied the African language, Chichewa, and published the first and only reference grammar text on the language. This text remains a standard for linguists studying African languages, as well as cemented Watkins the title of being one of the founders of modern American linguistics.
Upon completing his dissertation Watkins took a job at the Municipal College for Negros in Louisville, Kentucky (today known as the Louisville Municipal College). He was quickly recruited to work at Fisk University, where he went on to establish the first African Studies program in the United States. He also advocated for the establishment of anthropology departments and programs at Black Colleges and Universities across the United States, which he was successful in accomplishing at several schools. In 1947 he left Fisk to take a position at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he established an exchange program between American and African students in 1954. He eventually retired from Howard University.
Outside of his academic pursuits Watkins was also employed by the United States government on several linguistic projects. This led him to expand his research agenda from African and American Indian languages (the latter of which he studied for his master’s research) to Afro-Caribbean and African American languages and dialects. He authored several government reports, as well as maintained a rigorous academic publishing record at the same time. He remained committed to research until his dying day, reportedly dictating to his wife the revisions he wanted to see in his final publication, Setswana Phonemics: Sefokeng Dialect.
Mark Hanna Watkins’ lifetime of achievements are incredible and numerous. He achieved so much in a day and age where opportunities for Blacks were limited, if available at all. It was his drive and personal commitment that drove his success, making him an inspiration to all those who hope to achieve even a little of what he accomplished over his lifetime.
Works Cited
Blatz, C. (2021, February 16). Mark Hanna Watkins. Retrieved from Medium: https://medium.com/representations/mark-hanna-watkins-1161d70a06de
Spears, A. K. (2022). This Month in Linguistic History: Tribute to Mark Hanna Watkins. Retrieved from Linguistic Society of America: https://www.linguisticsociety.org/content/month-linguistics-history-tribute-mark-hanna-watkins
Wade-Lewis, M. (2005). 7. Mark Hanna Watkins: African American Linguistic Anthropologist. Histories of Anthropology Annual, 181-218.
6 comments:
Dr. Mark Hanna Watkins is credited with being the first African American linguist to earn his Ph.D. in anthropological linguistics. His lifetime achievements are astonishing and extraordinary considering the era he came up in. The blog mentions that Mr. Watkins is one of the most influential linguistic and anthropological scholars to this day. Dr. Watkins's zeal for language and education launched him to the forefront of today's anthropological scholars.
Commented by Mary Franklin.
This profile stood out to me because he is credited with so many accomplishments. This is apart of my history and I enjoyed learning more about it. Knowing that Dr.Mark is credited with being the first African American linguist to earn his PHD in anthropological linguistics was something I didn’t know before and I’m glad to be able to have learned it. The university of Chicago presented him with many opportunities to work with other anthropologists. Knowing the time period in which he secured his degrees I know that it was many challenges he faced and yet he still powered through.
Christa white
Watkins' dedication to his research and his commitment to expanding the field of anthropology and linguistics were truly remarkable. His work has had a lasting impact on the discipline and continues to influence scholars today. It's inspiring to see how much he was able to achieve despite the limitations and obstacles he faced during his lifetime.
Alondia Gray
The post demonstrates how Hanna Watkins was a true trailblazer in the linguistics community. It is commendable that he spearheaded the establishment of African Studies programs and fought for anthropology departments at Black universities in addition to his revolutionary work in Chichewa. Hanna Watkins not only excelled academically but also cleared the path for the next generations by supporting Black colleges and institutions' educational infrastructure and organizing exchange programs. Watkins is an inspiration to future linguists and researchers because of his unwavering commitment to his studies and moral principles, which highlights the value of tenacity and advocacy in the academic community.
Mark Hanna Watkins’ groundbreaking achievement as the first African American linguist to earn a Ph.D. in anthropological linguistics is truly remarkable and serves as an inspiration to many.
-Ahmesha johnson
What I find particularly memorable about his life is the numerous accomplishments he achieved through exceptional hard work and strong will in the face of the social restrictions and difficulties of his time. His efforts to establish an anthropology department at a black university, to introduce an African studies program, and to expand the study of African American and Afro-Caribbean languages strongly reflects his passion for education and academic equality.
I read this article and am deeply impressed with Watkins' life's accomplishments. The way he made the most of his limited opportunities and continued to contribute to society is a great inspiration to me, as it shows the importance of continuing to face any challenge.
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