During a time when minority populations struggled to attend educational institutions because of their racial or ethnic backgrounds, one woman broke the proverbial glass ceiling to become a leader in accomplishing a list of “firsts” in her lifetime. The proverbial glass ceiling this individual broke through was adversity either from a racial or ethnic standpoint. This individual did not let the color of her skin or her given gender keep her from becoming one of the most prolific human rights activists and scholars of this century.
In 1971, Delores P. Aldridge became the first African-American woman to receive a doctorate degree in Sociology from Purdue University, which she achieved through the embedded skills of hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
Aldridge continued to hone those skills to achieve another “first” in her lifetime. She became the first African-American woman to attain the rank of faculty status at an American university or college. Aldridge joined the faculty at Emory University in 1971, and she quickly paved the way again to add to her list of “firsts” as the founding Director of the first African-American and African racial studies department at Emory.
Aldridge recognized the importance of meeting the needs of African-American students, and the African population by providing these individuals with an opportunity to learn more about African-American culture and differences with other racial issues. While serving as founding director until 1990, Aldridge catapulted the program into the successful status it is in today. In 2006, the Southern Sociological Society honored Aldridge for her outstanding work in race relations throughout the South.
After drawing on the great success with the African-American and racial studies program at Emory, Aldridge made the decision to travel aboard to the Soviet Union and Brazil to further expand her knowledge in gender and racial issues. During this time, she immersed herself further into the studies of gender and racial issues, which gave her the opportunity to achieve more “firsts.” Aldridge published very notable works on African-American males and females, including “Focusing: Black Male Female Relationships,” and “Toward Integrating African Women into African studies,” as well as co-editing the “River of Tears: The Politics of Black Women’s Health.”
Since her “firsts” in writing, Aldridge has participated in over 150 publications that are prominent in the areas of Sociology and African-American studies. In several editions of Author, Lisa Birnbach’s, “College Book,” she lists Aldridge as “one of Emory’s best professors. A professor who made research and theories come to life in the classroom.”
Currently, she serves as the Grace Towns Hamilton Distinguished Professor of Sociology and African-American Studies, and Associate Director of the Program in Women’s Health Research, School of Medicine at Emory University. Because of her commitment and dedication to human rights and racial relations, she has had the honor of serving with communities and populations that she feels need the most help. She was the national president for four organizations for racial studies as well as the president for the National Council for Black Studies. In addition, she served as the chairwoman for the International Black Women’s Congress, and while doing so, she orchestrated conferences that dealt with health issues that affect African women.
According to the Emory Report, while “speaking at the Delores P. Aldridge Excellence Awards ceremony on March 31, the Grace Towns Hamilton Professor of Sociology, and African-American Studies praised Emory's inclusiveness. Aldridge surveyed the diverse crowd and said: ‘As I look out at you, I think of how much more beautiful Emory is today. You are the future.’”
The Report said “the awards were given to faculty, and student organizers and scholars, and Emory senior, Kristen Chandle-Clayton won the Diversity Research award for her work in interviewing students with one white parent and one black parent about their experiences at predominantly black or predominantly white universities.”
Sources:
http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=1356&category=Educationmakers&occupation=Educator%20%26%20Author&name=Delores%20P.%20Aldridge
http://www.asanet.org/about/awards/CJF/Aldridge.cfm
http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_REPORT/stories/2011/04/people_diverse_community_builders_awards.html