Tulsa World: John Hope Franklin

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John Hope Franklin
Pathbreaking historian dies

By World's Editorial Writers
Published: 3/27/2009 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 3/27/2009 3:33 AM

John Hope Franklin — the Tulsan who largely invented the field of black history — died Wednesday in Durham, N.C.

He is remembered proudly as a gentle but forceful academic, who used his knowledge as a means of change.

Franklin grew up in Tulsa at a time when his black skin made him a second-class citizen.

In his memoir, "Mirror to America," he recounts chilling tales of racism in the city's people and its institutions.

At age 12, he attempted to help a blind woman across a busy downtown intersection, but when she figured out that he wasn't white she insisted that he take his "filthy" hands away from her arm.

Experiences of that sort could easily embitter a person, but they did not have that effect on Franklin, who often remembered his mother's response to a crude racist incident from his childhood. She taught him that no white man was better than he was because of his race and told him to spend his energy proving his own value, not worrying about what white people thought.

And he did.

Franklin would earn a master's degree and doctorate at Harvard University. His pathbreaking book on black history, "From Slavery to Freedom," sold more than 3.5 million copies in eight editions and became the foundation for an entirely new academic field.

Franklin taught and conducted research with great distinction at Howard University, the University of Chicago, Brooklyn College and Duke University.

His academic prominence brought him opportunities in civic life. He acted as an adviser to Thurgood Marshall during the future Supreme Court justice's work to force the desegregation of public schools and he led President Bill Clinton's advisory board on race.

In 2004, Franklin was designated as an "Oklahoma Cultural Treasure," a high honor from a state that at one time enforced laws to prevent him from eating or traveling with its white citizens.

Franklin was magnanimous with his home state's late acknowledgement of his value, but matched that grace with reminders of how far Oklahoma and the rest of the nation still had to go in race relations.

That's the kind of man John Hope Franklin was: kind and forgiving, gentle and gracious, but a teacher with an important mission to his final day.

By World's Editorial Writers

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	Report Comment reckless abandon, Tulsa (3/27/2009 6:33:25 AM) A FINE GENTLEMAN AND ONE OF THE LAST WITNESSES OF THE RACIAL HISTORY OF TULSA HAS PASSED WAY. THE WORLD AND OKLAHOMA ESPECIALLY ARE BETTER FOR THIS MAN'S CONTRIBUTIONS. WE NEED TO REMEMBER HIM AND TREASURE WHAT HE HAS SPENT HIS LIFE TEACHING US--WE ALL HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF BEING PEOPLE OF QUALITY--THAT HATRED AND PREJUDICE DON'T JUST LIMIT THE OPPRESSED--AFTER ALL, WOULDN'T THAT BLIND WOMAN HAVE BEEN SAFER AND MORE EASILY HAVE CROSSED THE STREET WITH HIS HELP? GOD BLESS JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN.
	Report Comment lizzy, Tulsa (3/27/2009 9:03:37 AM) Nice, old typro. Turn the comments on a tribute to a wonderful man into a forum for your bile. Rest in peace, Mr. Franklin. You've certainly earned your reward.
	Report Comment Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (3/27/2009 10:18:58 AM) You tell him, lizzy. RIP, Mr. Franklin.
	Report Comment Anonymous Guy, Tulsa (3/27/2009 12:08:55 PM) Some of us want to remember what past presidents did to our nation. Let's not make the same mistakes again. Crawl back into the memory hole.
	Report Comment Anonymous Guy, Tulsa (3/27/2009 12:10:15 PM) Thank you, Dr. Franklin, for your life's work. It's an impressive legacy.
	Report Comment Ayo, T-Town (3/27/2009 1:50:19 PM) A truly inspirational human being.
	Report Comment 52favoriteteacher, teaching young minds with issues (3/27/2009 7:08:08 PM) That's the kind of man John Hope Franklin was: kind and forgiving, gentle and gracious, but a teacher with an important mission to his final day. The Lord has welcomed home another one I can just see him sitting there at Jesus feet with a crown of many well deserved jewels. He had seen a lot of hate, overcame it, became a leader of men, and deserves much more than we can ever state here... I am so thankful for people who do not see color, ones who do not see any reason to hate but seek a world like we all want and need.
	Report Comment rockfan, broken arrow (3/27/2009 10:41:13 PM) Bville the lesson of history is that the human race has a learning disability. Thanks Mr Franklin the world was better for you're having been in it.
	Report Comment wildcat, Glenpool (3/28/2009 10:02:43 AM) Old typro turnss every story and every comment into his own personal "anti-Obama" venue. Enough already.

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