SIDEBAR:

Why did Dr. Nathan Hare and Robert Chrisman break up the (Original) Black Scholar Journal?

Nathan Hare and Robert Chrisman had a significant falling out that led to the breakup of the Black Scholar journal due to a combination of personal, ideological, and professional differences.

1. Ideological Differences: Hare and Chrisman had differing views on the direction and purpose of the journal. Their disagreements included issues related to race, identity, and the focus of the publication, which ultimately influenced their editorial decisions.
2. Leadership Conflicts: Both individuals had strong personalities and visions for the journal, which led to conflicts over leadership and editorial control. As they struggled for influence, their relationship became strained.
3. Personal Relationships: The breakdown of their professional partnership was also affected by personal tensions. Disagreements escalated into personal conflicts, which made collaboration increasingly difficult.
4. Cultural Context: The broader cultural and political environment of the time, particularly during the civil rights movement, played a role in their differing perspectives. Each was influenced by the evolving discourse around race and politics, leading to diverging editorial priorities.
5. Editorial Vision: Their differing visions for the journal’s content and readership contributed to the eventual split. Each wanted to take the journal in a different direction, which made it challenging to maintain a cohesive publication.
6. Capsule: It was about Marxism vs Black Nationalism, I think, and thus, Chrisman’s obvious vitriol towards Harold Cruse’s ideological analysis. interesting enough , I’ve heard Chairman Omali teach in multiple lectures that marxism was nothing more than another form of white nationalism. Again, “the more things change the more they stay the same.” (See: RBG Tools of Analysis Page)

Pop the documents out from the upper right to read / expand / download.

Additional Reading: