Jack D. Foner
Encyclopedia
Jack Donald Foner was an American
historian best known for writing histories of the labor movement and the struggle for civil rights. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. A professor of American history, he established one of the first programs in black studies in the United States
. He was a victim of political blacklisting because of his support for labor, civil rights
of African Americans and opposition to fascism
in Spain
in the late 1930s.
in 1929. He earned a master's degree in 1933 and a doctorate in 1967 in American history, both from Columbia University
. He and his wife, Liza, were married for 57 years. They had two children, Eric Foner
, now a professor of history at Columbia University, and Thomas Foner, who died in 1999, the same year as his father.
Jack Foner taught history in 1935 at Baruch College
(then called the downtown branch of the City College of New York
), and actively supported the Spanish Republic
against fascism
, and stood for the rights of African Americans. In 1941 Jack Foner was forced out of his teaching job, along with 60 other faculty members in the wake of an investigation of alleged communist influences in higher education by the New York
state legislature's anti-communist Rapp-Coudert Committee
, which was officially known as the "Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate the Educational System of the State of New York.
One of the complaints against Jack Foner was that his teaching devoted excessive attention to the role of African Americans in history. He declined to testify before the commission and was blacklisted, which meant he was unable to obtain academic employment for almost three decades.
In 1979, the New York State Board of Higher Education apologized to the Rapp-Coudert victims, deeming the events of 1941 "an egregious violation of academic freedom."
In 1993 Foner told Colby magazine he considered the episode an "honorable experience" and said, "there was really no evidence to support it."
During the period of blacklisting, Foner supported his family as an entertainer. A drummer
and comedian
, Foner worked with Paul Robeson
and Harry Belafonte
, and maintained a friendship with W. E. B. Du Bois, all of whom also suffered from that era's blacklisting. Although Foner did some freelance lecturing, he was barred from academia until Colby College
hired him in the spring of 1969 to teach history
.
Foner taught at Colby from 1969 to 1976 and returned as a visiting scholar in 1983 and 1985.
Philip Foner
, a labor historian and political activist, Henry Foner and Moe Foner
, both labor union organizers, were his brothers.
His best-known book is Blacks in the Military in American History (1974).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historian best known for writing histories of the labor movement and the struggle for civil rights. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. A professor of American history, he established one of the first programs in black studies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was a victim of political blacklisting because of his support for labor, civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
of African Americans and opposition to fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in the late 1930s.
Biography
Jack Foner attended Eastern District High School and graduated from City College of New YorkCity College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
in 1929. He earned a master's degree in 1933 and a doctorate in 1967 in American history, both from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He and his wife, Liza, were married for 57 years. They had two children, Eric Foner
Eric Foner
Eric Foner is an American historian. On the faculty of the Department of History at Columbia University since 1982, he writes extensively on political history, the history of freedom, the early history of the Republican Party, African American biography, Reconstruction, and historiography...
, now a professor of history at Columbia University, and Thomas Foner, who died in 1999, the same year as his father.
Jack Foner taught history in 1935 at Baruch College
Baruch College
Bernard M. Baruch College, more commonly known as Baruch College, is a constituent college of the City University of New York, located in the Flatiron district of Manhattan, New York City. With an acceptance rate of just 23%, Baruch is among the most competitive and diverse colleges in the nation...
(then called the downtown branch of the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
), and actively supported the Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
against fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
, and stood for the rights of African Americans. In 1941 Jack Foner was forced out of his teaching job, along with 60 other faculty members in the wake of an investigation of alleged communist influences in higher education by the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state legislature's anti-communist Rapp-Coudert Committee
Rapp-Coudert Committee
The Rapp-Coudert Committee was the colloquial name of the Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate the Educational System of the State of New York — a committee of the New York State Legislature. The Rapp-Coudert Committee, which conducted its business from 1940 to 1942, sought to identify the...
, which was officially known as the "Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate the Educational System of the State of New York.
One of the complaints against Jack Foner was that his teaching devoted excessive attention to the role of African Americans in history. He declined to testify before the commission and was blacklisted, which meant he was unable to obtain academic employment for almost three decades.
In 1979, the New York State Board of Higher Education apologized to the Rapp-Coudert victims, deeming the events of 1941 "an egregious violation of academic freedom."
In 1993 Foner told Colby magazine he considered the episode an "honorable experience" and said, "there was really no evidence to support it."
During the period of blacklisting, Foner supported his family as an entertainer. A drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, Foner worked with Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
and Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
, and maintained a friendship with W. E. B. Du Bois, all of whom also suffered from that era's blacklisting. Although Foner did some freelance lecturing, he was barred from academia until Colby College
Colby College
Colby College is a private liberal arts college located on Mayflower Hill in Waterville, Maine. Founded in 1813, it is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the United States...
hired him in the spring of 1969 to teach history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
.
Foner taught at Colby from 1969 to 1976 and returned as a visiting scholar in 1983 and 1985.
Philip Foner
Philip Foner
Philip S. Foner was an American Marxist labor historian and teacher. The author and editor of more than 100 books, the prolific Foner wrote extensively on what were at the time academically unpopular themes, such as the role of radicals, blacks, and women in American history...
, a labor historian and political activist, Henry Foner and Moe Foner
Moe Foner
Morris "Moe" Foner was a labor leader active in Union 1199, the New York Health and Human Service Union.-Early years:Foner was born and raised in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn...
, both labor union organizers, were his brothers.
His best-known book is Blacks in the Military in American History (1974).