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| Paul Mullins (Source: American Anthropological Association) |
There is a popular saying that gets batted about frequently: history is written by the victors. This phrase conveys that the powerful in a society or cultural group control the narrative about what is written and spoken about the past. This notion, however, is being upended in various ways, not just within the discipline of history itself, but also by contributions of archaeologists. A previous blog post addressed the role of archaeology in uncovering the truth of the Tulsa Race Riots, and today’s blog post is dedicated to discussing an archaeologist who dedicated his career to making right previous and current historical injustices. This blog post will discuss the contributions of historical archaeologist, Dr. Paul Mullins.
Dr. Paul Mullins was a historical archaeologist who was employed by Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. He started working as a faculty member at this institution in 1999 and continued until his death in April 2023. During his tenure at the university he served as Department Chair, associate editor for Historical Archaeology, and President of the Society of Historical Archaeology. He also received a number of awards and accolades, including the Society of Historical Archaeology’s John Cotter Award (2000), which is awarded to early career historical archaeologists who made an outstanding contribution to the field, and was a 2016-2017 Charles R. Bantz Chancellor’s Community Fellow, alongside his colleague Susan Hyatt.
Mullins and Hyatt received this fellowship due to their collaborative work showcasing misrepresentations of African American history in Indianapolis, which are the foundations for prejudice and racism against not only African Americans but other minorities throughout the city. This was just a small part of Mullins dedication to righting historical injustices. He dedicated much of his career to studying the intersections of material culture and race. He concentrated on better understanding the roles of racism and urban renewal in razing African American neighborhoods throughout Indianapolis and how this led to the foundations of misrepresenting their history. He conducted archaeological excavations, historical research, and collected oral histories all to provide an accurate history of vibrant African American neighborhoods that previously existed throughout Indianapolis. He also did not shy away from revealing his institution’s role in these injustices. His work was praised by several African American community members, who stated that they finally felt heard and valued after decades of having their communities taken from them.
Mullins’s work did not just include racism as it related to urban renewal. He was also instrumental in correcting the historical record when it came to the death of George Tompkins. Tompkins was buried in an unmarked grave due to presumption that he committed suicide, but the reality was far more sinister than that. He had actually been lynched in 1922, but his murder was erased from the historical record. Or so people thought. Mullins uncovered this injustice and pushed for a correction, leading to a memorial being erected to accurately convey what happened to Tompkins.
Mullins’s work was widely published in scholarly books and articles, but he made sure his work was accessible to the public. He published two blogs for the public. One was dedicated to archaeology and materiality, and the other was focused on urban renewal, race, and prejudice in Indianapolis. As Mullins’ son, Aidan, stated: “He was a scholar and an advocate. He viewed his work is being necessary to not just document and understand the past, but to recognize these injustices that had been done ... so that we can begin working towards rectifying them.”
Mullins passed away in early 2023 after a long battle with
brain cancer. His life and contributions
to righting historical wrongs will live on in his work and among the students, colleagues,
and community members he mentored, worked with, and inspired. His contributions are a testament to how one individual can make a huge difference.
References
Mullins, P. (2011). About. Retrieved from Archaeology and Material Culture: https://paulmullins.wordpress.com/about/
No Author. (n.d.). Featured Scholar: Paul Mullins, PhD. Retrieved from IUPUI: Translating Research Into Practice: https://trip.iupui.edu/Translational-Scholars/Featured-Translational-Scholars/Featured-Scholar?id=cc347d3e-1fdd-4778-88f0-3c64bdcd1c08
Rafford, C. (2023, April 18). 'He's changed my life:' IUPUI professor remembered for commitment to Black community. IndyStar, p. 1.
Schablitsky, J. (2023, April 17). Paul Mullins (1962-2023). Retrieved from Society for Historical Archaeology: https://sha.org/announcements/paul-mullins-1962-2023/
3 comments:
Wow, Dr. Paul Mullins is an incredible historical archaeologist! It's amazing how he dedicated his career to uncovering historical injustices. His work at Indiana University-Purdue University and his leadership in the field are truly impressive.
I read this blog post about Dr. Paul Mullins' accomplishments and it is clear how dedicated he has been to correcting historical injustices. His archaeological work has played a major role in accurately documenting African American history and correcting its misrepresentation. I find his efforts to uncover how urban redevelopment in Indianapolis in particular has affected the African American community very important. It is wonderful that his research has finally allowed people who have never had a voice to be appreciated in history.
I am also impressed by his commitment to uncovering the truth about the lynching of George Tompkins and setting the record straight on history. I feel that his work is not only a study of the past, but also has the power to inspire social change in the present. We are grateful to scholars like him for providing the knowledge and perspective necessary to correct the injustices of the past and build a more just future for future generations.
Dr. Mullins’ work is a powerful example of how archaeology can correct historical wrongs and amplify marginalized voices. His dedication to uncovering the truth about African American history in Indianapolis, and his efforts to rectify misrepresentations, is truly inspiring. His work shows the critical role archaeology can play in advocating for social justice and helping communities reclaim their stories. It's heartbreaking to learn of his passing, but his contributions will undoubtedly continue to impact both academia and the communities he worked alongside.
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