Rayford Logan
Encyclopedia
Rayford Whittingham Logan (January 7, 1897 – November 4, 1982) was an African-American historian and Pan-African activist. He was best known for his study of post-Reconstruction America
, a period he termed "the nadir of American race relations
". In the late 1940s he was the chief advisor to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP) on international affairs.
Logan was a long-standing professor at Howard University
. In 1932, President
Franklin D. Roosevelt
appointed Logan to his Black Cabinet
. Logan drafted Roosevelt's executive order prohibiting the exclusion of blacks from the military in World War II.
In 1950–51, Logan became Director of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History
(ASALH).
Logan was the 15th General President of Alpha Phi Alpha
, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter
fraternity
established for African Americans.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, a period he termed "the nadir of American race relations
Nadir of American race relations
The "nadir of American race relations" is a term that refers to the period in United States history from the end of Reconstruction through the early 20th century, when racism in the country is deemed to have been worse than in any other period after the American Civil War. During this period,...
". In the late 1940s he was the chief advisor to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
(NAACP) on international affairs.
Logan was a long-standing professor at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
. In 1932, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
appointed Logan to his Black Cabinet
Black Cabinet
The Black Cabinet was first known as the Federal Council of Negro Affairs, an informal group of African-American public policy advisors to United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was supported by the first lady Eleanor Roosevelt...
. Logan drafted Roosevelt's executive order prohibiting the exclusion of blacks from the military in World War II.
In 1950–51, Logan became Director of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History
Association for the Study of African American Life and History
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History is an organization dedicated to the study and appreciation of African-American History. It is a non-profit organization founded in Chicago, Illinois, on September 9, 1915 and incorporated in Washington, D.C. on October 2, 1915 as...
(ASALH).
Logan was the 15th General President of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter
Greek alphabet
The Greek alphabet is the script that has been used to write the Greek language since at least 730 BC . The alphabet in its classical and modern form consists of 24 letters ordered in sequence from alpha to omega...
fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
established for African Americans.
Books by Logan
- The Betrayal of the Negro (1954 and 1965)
- Dictionary of American Negro Biography
- The Negro in the United States
- The Negro in American Life and Thought: The Nadir, 1877–1901