A Conversation with Michele Ronnick: Recovering Black Classical Scholars William Sanders Scarborough, George Lightfoot, and an Archival Detective Story

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What happens when a passing reference in graduate school turns into a decades-long archival investigation?

In this episode, classicist Michele Ronnick shares the remarkable scholarly detective story that led her to recover the life and legacy of William Sanders Scarborough, a formerly enslaved scholar who became one of the most important Black classicists in American history.

Beginning during the intellectual debates surrounding Black Athena, Dr. Ronnick questioned why Black participation in classical studies seemed largely absent from academic narratives. That question launched an international archival search involving rare books, unpublished manuscripts, institutional collections, and forgotten correspondence.

Her work ultimately resulted in the recovery and publication of Scarborough’s autobiography and renewed recognition of his groundbreaking 1881 Greek textbook—considered the first foreign-language textbook authored by a person of African descent.

The conversation expands beyond Scarborough to illuminate a broader intellectual network of underrecognized Black classical scholars connected through institutions like Howard University and the AME Church. Along the way, we explore archival discovery, academic exclusion, historical erasure, and the ongoing importance of student research in preserving overlooked histories.

Episode Timeline

00:00 Why Classics Mattered
 00:24 Graduate School Origins
 02:02 Black Athena Era Questions
 02:53 Finding Scarborough
 05:40 Chasing Lost Archives
 09:24 Autobiography Breakthrough
 12:04 Beyond Scarborough’s Network
 18:46 Calhoun Quote and Historical Irony
 23:37 Teaching and Legacy
 27:07 Building the Photo Installation
 28:08 Hunting Flia Campbell
 29:33 Archive Breakthrough Photo
 31:12 Expanding the Scholar List
 32:19 Pinkney Warren Russell Evidence
 34:43 Greener and Scarborough Letters
 40:22 George Lightfoot at Howard
 45:50 Inspiring New Researchers

About the Guest

Dr. Michele Valerie Ronnick is Distinguished Service Professor Emerita of Classics at Wayne State University and a leading scholar in recovering the history of Black classicists in the United States. Her archival research has reshaped understanding of African American participation in classical education and scholarship.

Her edited volume, The Autobiography of William Sanders Scarborough: An American Journey from Slavery, with a foreword by Henry Louis Gates Jr., is now available in paperback from Wayne State University Press (ISBN: 9780814332252).

Learn more about her work:
 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michele_Valerie_Ronnick

Conversations with Kenyatta features Kenyatta D. Berry. Music for episodes 1-76 is "Good Vibe" by Ketsa, Music for episodes 77+ is “Rheme – Afrobeat x African Instrumental x Reggae Beat,” via Pixabay.

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We are dedicated to exploring and discussing various aspects of genealogy, history, culture, and social issues. We aim to shed light on untold stories and perspectives that enrich our understanding of the world.

Disclaimer: All guest opinions expressed in Conversations with Kenyatta are their own and do not reflect the views of Kenyatta D. Berry.

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