Distinguished Professor Patricia Reid-Merritt Edits ‘Race in America: How a Pseudoscientific Concept Shaped Human Interaction’
Patricia Reid-Merritt, Distinguished Professor of Social Work and Africana Studies at Ƶ, edited a two-volume work, “,” just published by ABC-CLIO, Praeger Imprint.
The essays in the book address a variety of race-related issues in the areas of education, social legislation, immigration, media, law, mass incarceration, racial profiling and intimate social relations.
Three other Ƶ faculty members joined various renowned scholars, each from different racial and ethnic groups in America, as contributing authors. Donnetrice Allison, associate professor of Communications and Africana Studies, wrote about the perpetuation of racial and ethnic stereotypes in the media; Daniel Mallinson, assistant professor of Political Science, wrote on “the color of mass incarceration;”and Michael Rodriguez, associate professor of Political Science, wrote about race and the quest for U.S. citizenship.
“After teaching about race and ethnic relations for more than 40 years, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to become the editor of this significant body of work,” said Reid-Merritt. “There are many critical issues that should be at the forefront of social discourse on race in America.”
Reid-Merritt has been recognized for her body of work as an author, educator and scholar, as well as her community activism. She served as National Chair for the historic Fannie Lou Hamer Memorial Statue Project, dedicated 2012 in Ruleville, Miss., and spearheaded the annual Fannie Lou Hamer Human and Civil Rights Symposium at Ƶ. In 2015, she received the Carter G. Woodson/Mary McLeod Bethune Award for outstanding contribution to promote social responsibility in Africana studies by the National Council for Black Studies.
She also received Ƶ’s Distinguished Service Award in 2015, after giving a commencement address in which she told of her own personal struggle to become a college graduate, the first ever in her family.
She holds a doctorate in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s in Social Work from Temple University and a B.A. from Cabrini College.
Reid-Merritt, a resident of Hamilton Township, N.J., is the founder and artistic/executive director of Afro-One Dance, Drama and Drum Theatre, Inc., a Mount Laurel-based cultural and performing arts organization. Afro-One has been described as "the cultural magnet" for African American youth, families and the community in southern New Jersey.
She is the author of the national Blackboard best-seller, “Sister Power: How Phenomenal Black Women Are Rising to the Top;” “Sister Wisdom: Seven Pathways to a Satisfying Life for Soulful Black Women;” and “Righteous Self-Determination: The Black Social Work Movement in America.”
A regular contributor to scholarly journals and magazines, Reid-Merritt has made hundreds of appearances on TV and radio stations throughout the country.
As noted in the foreword by national columnist Julianne Malveaux, "Professor Patricia Reid-Merritt could not have picked a more opportune time to release this important volume, ‘Race in America: How a Pseudoscientific Concept Shaped Human Interaction.’ To be sure, any time in the past century may have been considered an opportune time, given the intractable presence of race in these United States. Nearly two decades into the 21st century, one needs only pick up a newspaper or turn on a television to be reminded of the intractable nature of race in America."
A follow-up publication to “Race in America,” titled, “A State by State History of Race and Racism in the United States,” will be published in 2018.
Discussion on Issues of Race Set for Feb. 16 in Campus Center Theatre
Reid-Merritt and Allison are hosting a public discussion on issues of race on Thursday, Feb. 16 from 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the Campus Center Theatre on the Galloway campus. The event includes panels on: Race & Immigration at 10:30 a.m.; Race & Socialization at 12:30 p.m.; and Race & Impact at 2:30 p.m.
Contributing authors who will attend include: Justin Garcia, professor of Anthropology, Millersville University; DeMond Miller, professor of Sociology and director of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Institute for Research and Community Service, Rowan University; and John T. Mills, assistant director of Multicultural and Inclusion Programs, Rowan University. Also participating are Ƶ’s Nazia Kazi, assistant professor of Anthropology; Maya Lewis, associate professor of Social Work; Christina Jackson, assistant professor of Sociology; and Darrell Cleveland, associate professor of Education, along with Mallinson and Rodriguez.
There will be a reception and meet-and-greet with contributing authors at 4:30 in the adjacent Theatre Gallery.
