"your leaving; I would not hold you past your time ...I won't regret the joy you gave...now like morning light" Chrisman, Children of the Empire 1981
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Robert Chrisman

Robert Chrisman was a passionate and prolific author, scholar and activist for the duration of his life.  He was a giant in his field of study and a role model for all scholars. Founder of the Black Scholar Magazine in 1969, author of numerous works of poetry including Children of the Empire in 1981, and further a committed social activist for all things African American. Chrisman obtained his Ph. D at University of Michigan, taught at numerous Universities including University of Nebraska at Omaha until his retirement in 2005. The summation of his work may be shown in lists and bullet points, but the impact his work has had on the world is much greater than the sum of it's parts.

Context

This project began as an assignment in the course: African American Bibliography, with professor, Dr. Abdul Alkalimat, at the University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science. Assignments were designed to be potential professional publications that would further enhance the bibliography of  African American librarians and scholars.  The total duration for the initial assignment was approximately three months in the spring of 2013 however, the work is continuous, as long as works and websites continue to be published, created, or discovered. The work is intended for duplication, and use by professionals, and persons interested in the furtherance of scholarship of our esteemed librarians and scholars in the fields of African American Studies, American History, English and Librarianship. cc

Timeline

  • 1937, May 28 Born
  • 1958 B.A. English Literature, minor Philosophy University of California Berkeley
  • 1960 Graduated with a masters degree in English Language Arts from San Francisco State college.
  • 1961 Junior College teaching Credential, University of California Berkeley
  • 1967-68 Education, Group dynamics Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois.
  • 1963-1964 Professor, English, University of Hawaii, Honolulu.
  • 1964-1967 Professor, English Composition, remedial reading, Contra Costa College, Richmond, California.
  • 1968 San Francisco Student Strike (BSU - demanded Black Studies Department)
  • 1968-1972 Professor, Black Literature, cretive writing, English composition, University of San Francisco State College.
  • 1968 Fired and Re-hired non-tenure SF State
  • 1969 April - September Interim Coordinator, Department of Black Studies, San Francisco State College.
  • 1969 Founded The Black Scholar Magazine
  • 1970-1971 Professor, Black Writer's Workshop, University of California, Irvine.
  • 1974 Published Pan Africanism
  • 1974-1975 Visiting Professor, Ethnic Studies, University of San Francisco.
  • 1975 Became Chief Editor The Black Scholar Magazine
  • 1975 Lecturer, Race and Racism, University of California at San Francisco.
  • 1981 Published Children of the Empire
  • 1986 Spring, Minority Artist in Residence, Department of English, University of Vermont, Burlington.
  • 1988 Spring Margaret Bundy Scott Visiting Professor, Williams College.
  • 1988 January Professor, Winter Studies, Williams College
  • 1989 - 1997 Lecturer III and Visiting Professor of English and Afro-American and African Studies at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • 1993 Published Published Court of Appeal: The Black Community Speaks Out on the Racial and Sexual Politics of Thomas vs. Hill
  • 1997- 1998 Directory African American Film Institute and lecturer at Wayne State University.
  • 1999 Graduated with Ph D in English from University of Michigan
  • 1999-2001 Visiting Professor University of University of California Berkeley.
  • 1999- 2001 Adjunct Professor at New College, San Francisco
  • 2001-2005 Taught at University of Nebraska, Omaha 
  • 2005 Retired as Chair and Professor of the Black Studies Department of University of Nebraska, Omaha
  • 2001 Organizer of the Malcolm X Festival
  • 2012 Retired from The Black Scholar Magazine
  • 2012 Published The Dirty Wars
  • 2013, March 10 Died
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