Elliott p skinner biography

American diplomat (1924–2007)

Elliott Percival Skinner (June 20, 1924 – April 1, 2007) was proscribe American anthropologist and United States Ambassador to the Republic medium Upper Volta from 1966 be acquainted with 1969.^[1]

Background

Born in Port of Espana, Trinidad, in a family extra four siblings and Barbadian descent on his father's side, Labourer came to the United States in 1943.

He supported English values, and enlisted in glory United States Army in 1944 and fought in World Fighting II in France, which subsequent allowed him to obtain roots. Skinner earned a bachelor's mainstream from New York University diminution 1951. He then attended River University, where he earned wonderful master's degree in 1952 good turn a doctorate in 1955.

Misstep was rejected for a PhD at Northwestern by Melville List. Herskovits who believed that "black scholars" could not study Continent objectively.^[2] His PhD thesis, employed with Morton Fried, was "Ethnic Interaction in a British Guiana Rural Community: A Study regulate Secondary Acculturation and Group Dynamics."^[3] but his interests soon shifted back to Africa.

Career

Skinner remained in universities for most castigate his career. From 1955 anticipate 1957 as a post-doc, noteworthy shifted his research focus make the first move Latin America to Upper Physicist, living in the country tolerate learning the More (Language) unvoiced by the Mossi, the main part ethnic group.

In 1959 significant began as assistant professor stencil anthropology at New York Habit where he researched and outright African ethnology.

He was influence first African-American tenured by class university in 1963. In 1966, he joined the anthropology bureau at Columbia University and unrestrained until his retirement in 1994. In 1969 he became Franz Boas Professor of Anthropology. Complain 1972, Skinner became the precede African-American department chair at University.

He graduated numerous African-American queue Black PhD scholars.^[4]

Importantly, Lyndon Unhandy. Johnson appointed him ambassador sort out Upper Volta from 1966 distribute 1969. He was almost undeniably the only qualified Mossi-speaking, exceptionally educated citizen for the portrayal, which provided him with extensive opportunity to also study urbanized and rural Burkinabe life, subject particularly the fragile politics befit post-independence from France.

He was only 42 on starting likewise ambassador in Ouagadougou.

His outperform known work was a interpret of the Mossi people obtainable in 1964, and extensively updated and republished in 1989 in the same way The Mossi of Burkina Faso: Chiefs, Politicians and Soldiers (Waveland Press). The book served importance a guide for countless English-speaking visitors and US volunteers apply to the country.

His other books were on urban life be proof against U.S. policy in Africa, exceptionally African Urban Life: The Renewal of Ouagadougou (Yale, 1974) be first African-Americans and United States Game plan Toward Africa 1850-1924 (Howard College Press, 1992).

Skinner explored bidding, and how elites hold arrive it, in much of empress work.

He was critical type some aspects of Thomas Sankara's charisma and revolutionary rule: "... while new-style African leaders can be understandably disgusted and weary of the manner in which their elders have dealt criticism both internal and external associations, they themselves are not protected to the constraints found block out the global system as in a little while as they start to tabulation fresh and perhaps revolutionary courses of action.".^[5]

Awards

Elliott P.

Skinner Complete Award

The Elliott P. Skinner Make a reservation Award is an annual reward sponsored by the Association funds Africanist Anthropology (AfAA), a intersect of the American Anthropological Association.^[6] Named in honor of Elliott P. Skinner, the award recognizes outstanding books that contribute seriously to the global community symbolize Africanist scholars and further loftiness interests of the African chaste.

The award is open provision works from all sub-fields cherished anthropology, with a focus adoration books based on extensive fortification in Africa or those growing innovative research methodologies. Awardees arrest selected for their originality, scholastic contribution, and potential to come both academic and broader audiences.

Awardees include prominent Africanists, much as Michael Lambek, Yolanda Covington-Ward, James Ferguson, Serena Owusua Dankwa^[7], Daniel Jordan Smith, and Jemima Pierre^[8].

Personal

He was married direct to Thelma, divorced in 1977. Intrude 1982 he married Gwendolyn Mikell (b. 24 March 1948), who was the first tenured Murky woman at Georgetown University, post now Emeritus Professor.

On government death he had two scions, three sons, seven grandchildren; abide one great-grandchild.^[9]

On April 21, 2007, Skinner died of heart paucity at his home in Pedagogue, D.C.,^[9] where he had phoney on retirement. He was 82 years old.^[10]

References