scholia - University of Otago

'Three Nineteenth-Century Classicists of African Descent', M. V. Ronnick 17
well-rounded education. Scarborough's position is clearly seen in an answer he
gave in the December 1898 issue of the Forum to the rhetorical questions 'Why
waste higher education [in liberal arts] thus? Why not give the Negro industrial
training exclusively? Why not give him a pick instead of Greek and Latin?' To
these questions Scarborough replied that higher education 'is not wasted on the
race .... It is no more wasted than it would be on white boys and girls, some of
whom follow pursuits more or less menial in character. ... It is not wasted
because . . . there is hope of a future for other boys and girls-a future with
better conditions.'
Surrounded by his loved ones, Scarborough died peacefully in Ohio on
9th September, 1926. Three days later his body lay in state on the Wilberforce
campus. For more than forty years William S. Scarborough lived the life of an
academic who was as pronouncedly active as he was contemplative. In terms of
his classical studies he accomplished as much as many of the better-known
figures of this era and in fact more than most. llis distinguished career marks
him as the first professional classicist of African descent to pursue successfully
a lifetime career in the classics according to the standards recognized today,
namely an affiliation on the national level, attendance and activity at meetings,
and an impressive publication record.
Plate 1: Edward WilmotB!yden (1832-1912)