Building on the work from the class, “Decolonizing Classical Antiquity: White Nationalism, Colonialism, and Ancient Material Heritage” (MGRK 1220), we continued to research the life of John Wesley Gilbert, the first Black “traditional” archaeologist and first Black student to receive an advanced degree from Brown University in 1891 after having gone to Greece to study at American School of Classical Studies (ASCSA). Using archival databases, autobiographies, and articles, we focused on the historical context of Gilbert’s life -- the establishment of education systems during Reconstruction and other Black Classicists of the era. Examining the structurally racist factors that limit the viability of Black classical scholarship is essential to understanding the exceptional nature of Gilbert's accomplishments and how further to honor his legacy at Brown University.
Each year, Brown University showcases the research of its undergraduates at the Summer Research Symposium. More than half of the student-researchers are UTRA recipients, while others receive funding from a variety of Brown-administered and national programs and fellowships and go …
