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| Dr. Irma McClaurin (Source: Irma McClaurin Solutions, Inc.) |
It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to activist anthropologist, Irma McClaurin. She has blazed an astonishing career, and she demonstrates no possibilities of stopping anytime soon. I share her story as I hope it inspires you to do great things as she has already and continues to do.
Irma McClaurin was born in Chicago, and in her own words, “I don’t come from great wealth. I don’t come from a very long tradition of people going to college.” These are often obstacles that deter individuals from going to college and earning a degree, but McClaurin did not allow these to be roadblocks. She earned her Bachelors in American Studies in 1973, which she quickly followed up with a Masters in Fine Arts (English) from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst just three years later. She actually did not earn her PhD in Anthropology until 1993. It was during that time that she undertook her doctoral research and studied womanhood in Belize. It was through this research that she realized that the struggles women of Belize faced were no different than those she experienced growing up in the United States, which sent her on the trajectory to make positive changes for those who have often been denied a voice both throughout history and today.
She has since become a prolific author, publishing several books of poetry and numerous nonfiction books and journal articles. She has been bestowed various honors and awards throughout her career. She has served as a professor at various institutions, as well as became the first female President of Shaw University, a Historically Black College and University and Chief Diversity Officer at Teach For America. She is currently a faculty member and founder of the Irma McClaurin Black Feminist Archive at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
McClaurin founded the Irma McClaurin Black Feminist Archive as a means of preserving histories, stories, documents, etc. pertaining to Black women’s stories and histories. She was inspired to create this archive when she was conducting research on the anthropological work of Zora Neale Hurston, who is better known as a creative writer. McClaurin believes that Hurston’s anthropological work has been largely ignored because it focused on African American people, culture, and their livelihoods, which are topics not readily addressed in history. To this end she is actively working on digitizing the Archives collections so they are available to all members of the public, not just those with the means of traveling to Amherst. As she put it, “I’m very attuned to how we preserve the things of those who don’t have the access or the privilege of working at a university.”
In addition to her academic work McClaurin is also a business owner. She runs Irma McClaurin Solutions, Inc. Her work focuses on organizational and leadership development. She also advertises herself as available for various social justice work, including but not limited to serving as a social justice policy maker and Immigration and Asylum Expert Witness.
Works Cited
Lewis, Eshe. "Preserving Black Women’s Stories as a Labor of Love." 21 October 2021. Sapiens. Electronic. 22 December 2022.
McClaurin, Irma. "Irma McClaurin." 14 June 2000. University of Florida. Electronic. 22 December 2022.
—. Irma McClaurin Solutions. 2018. Electronic. 22 December 2022.
Saint Louis, Christina. "Dr. Irma McClaurin, Activist Anthropologist." 29 June 2018. Crewomen.org. Electronic. 22 December 2022.
9 comments:
Dr. Irma McClaurin is a prolific writer and researcher. She used her skills and knowledge to help other disenfranchised women in the country of Belize to give them a voice. She has published several books of poetry, non-fiction books, and several journal articles. She became the first female President of Shaw University, a Historically Black College and University, and Chief Diversity Officer at Teach for America. She is currently a faculty member and founder of the Irma McClaurin Black Feminist Archive at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. Her inspiration came from research work on the archaeological work of Zora Neal Hurston. Dr. McClaurin is an excellent role model for Black or any woman today to emulate.
Comments from Mary Franklin.
Reading about Irma McClaurin made me want to learn more about her. She didn’t let anything get in her way, she took a chance and from all her hard work she earned her bachelor in American Studies and a master in Fine Art. She accomplished a lot more things in her life. She is now a prolific author, she write about black women's history and etc.
By Kerriauna Johnson
Irma’s Story is very inspiring. The relation and inspiration for those who are first generation college student(s) or don’t come from a very long line as Irma is heartwarming. Her accomplishments, especially those in earning her PHD and an active leader for the women in Belize, urges me to confidently push forward in my own studies.
Kennedi W.
Irma,s story set out a message to just keep going and never give up. All that hard work and dedication will mean a whole lot in the end. Irma never gave up even though life wasn't easy for her growing up she still didn't let that stop her. she did what needed to be done, Irma has a Masters in Fine Arts (English) from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and she also has a PHD in Anthropology. Irma became a prolific Author and etc. She also became the first black president and Shaw University which is an HBCU. That stood out to me also.
Ima,s story inspires you to keep going no matter what.
-LAMONICA WILLIAMS
I love how this is truly a great part of history, being a person to bring the first African program to a University. An achievement like that only causes more to prosper
Sace Anderson
It's inspiring to see how McClaurin has used her own experiences and research to create something that will benefit others. The Irma McClaurin Black Feminist Archive is an important resource for preserving and sharing the stories of Black women, and it's great that she's working to make it more accessible to the public. Her work in organizational and leadership development is also impressive, and it's wonderful to see someone who is committed to social justice in so many different ways. It's clear that McClaurin is a talented and dedicated individual who is making a real difference in the world.
-Alondia Gray
With a background spanning fine arts, English, American studies, and anthropology, McClaurin demonstrates the value of multidisciplinary approaches to social concerns. Her diverse background allows her to approach activism and leadership responsibilities from a holistic standpoint, tackling the intricate interplay between gender, race, and class in contemporary society. In addition, McClaurin exhibits a dedication to elevating neglected perspectives and promoting social change via her studies on Belizean femininity and her involvement in disadvantaged communities.
Irma McClaurin’s dedication to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and her commitment to positive change I think serves as a beacon of hope and empowerment for others.
Ahmesha Johnson
I was deeply inspired by Dr. Irma McClaurin's efforts and passion when I read this article. Her willingness to stand up for the underprivileged and voiceless and to tell the stories of Black women, often overlooked in history, for future generations is a great inspiration to me. Her business activities and leadership development efforts also illustrate her diverse contributions. Her life of perseverance and dedication to helping so many people through difficult circumstances is inspiring and has inspired me to continue striving to make a positive difference in my own surroundings.
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