Joel Augustus Rogers the Pioneer of African History

During the early twentieth century African history was not part of  the US educational curriculum. Many white academics chose to ignore or erase African history. However, there were African American educators and scholars that challenged the racist and eurocentric perspective of history. Joel Augustus Rogers (1880-1966) was a pioneer in the study of African history. His focus was not just on Africa, but the entire diaspora. His research and writings exposed a long and rich history of people of African descent. J.A. Rogers spent decades writing and producing both books including pamphlets. When he was alive, his books did not reach a mass audience. They were self published and circulated within the African American community. Book stores or universities did not carry his work. It was not until the 1960s did higher education offer students Black studies courses or African history. Although J.A. Rogers did not have formal training as a historian, he developed his writing and research skills through   autodidactism. His other occupation besides being a writer, was a journalist, which allowed him to travel extensively. J.A. Rogers was also an anthropologist and used this field of study to disprove theories of racial superiority. He wrote many books including Superman to Man, Sex and Race, The Five Negro Presidents, and World's Great Men of Color .  World's  Great Men of Color  was his magnum opus. It chronicled the development of African civilization from the ancient world to the 20th century. Not only did it discuss the history of the African diaspora, but important historical figures. Pianky, Nzinga, Askia the Great, and Hatshepsut  are just a few major leaders described in this work. J.A> Rogers may not have lived to see the rise of Black Studies, but his work continues to be published.