Howard University, a cornerstone of Black education and history, has appointed Ibram X. Kendi to a prestigious new role: the inaugural Carter G. Woodson Endowed Chair in History. The position, funded by a $3 million donation, is named after the historian often called the “father of Black history,” a stark contrast to the controversies surrounding Kendi’s own interpretations of the past.
Kendi’s appointment arrives after the closure of the Center for Antiracist Research (CAR) at Boston University, an organization he founded in the wake of the George Floyd protests. The program’s shuttering, attributed to financial difficulties, prompted Kendi to suggest that media scrutiny unfairly targeted him, echoing claims of societal bias against Black leaders.
Beyond the chair, Kendi will also direct Howard’s Institute for Advanced Study, an interdisciplinary hub focused on research impacting the global African Diaspora. The institute’s scope includes critical areas like race, technology, climate change, and disparities – issues Kendi has frequently addressed, often through a lens of racial essentialism.
This appointment raises questions about the direction of historical scholarship and the university’s commitment to diverse perspectives. Critics point to Kendi’s history of provocative statements and his central argument in “How to Be an Antiracist,” which posits that simply *not* being racist is insufficient, demanding active anti-racist behavior.
Kendi’s rhetoric has often been divisive. He has drawn comparisons between gun control debates and the abolition of slavery, and recently asserted that “Whiteness” actively prevents White individuals from fully engaging with their shared humanity. These statements, and others like them, have fueled intense debate about the nature of race and identity.
University Interim President Wayne A.I. Frederick stated the appointment “affirms Howard University’s enduring responsibility to steward Black history with rigor, integrity, and purpose.” However, the selection of Kendi, a figure known for challenging conventional historical narratives and promoting a specific ideological framework, invites scrutiny of how that stewardship will unfold.
The appointment underscores a broader trend: the rewarding of individuals who profit from amplifying racial divisions within academic institutions. It leaves many wondering about the future of intellectual discourse and the pursuit of truth within the halls of higher learning.
