John Hope Franklin

Date of Birth: January 2, 1915

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: March 25, 2009

Biography

John Hope Franklin was an eminent American historian and writer best known for his work on the history of the United States and African-American history. Born on January 2, 1915, in Rentiesville, Oklahoma, Franklin was the son of Buck Colbert Franklin, a lawyer who helped defend African American survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre, and Mollie Parker Franklin, a schoolteacher. John Hope Franklin’s early education was shaped by his family’s commitment to learning and justice. Franklin earned his undergraduate degree from Fisk University in 1935 and later received his Ph.D. in history from Harvard University in 1941. Over the decades, Franklin taught at several prestigious institutions, including Howard University, Brooklyn College, and the University of Chicago. His seminal work, “From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African Americans,” first published in 1947, remains a cornerstone in the field of African-American studies. Franklin’s scholarship extended beyond the classroom; he played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement, contributing to the legal brief for the landmark Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education. John Hope Franklin’s career was decorated with numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which he received in 1995. His scholarly contributions have left an indelible mark on the study of American history and the ongoing struggle for racial equality.

5 Interesting Facts about John Hope Franklin

1. John Hope Franklin was instrumental in preparing the legal brief for the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case.

2. Franklin was the first African American to serve as the president of the American Historical Association.

3. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995 by President Bill Clinton.

4. Franklin’s book “From Slavery to Freedom” has sold over three million copies and has been translated into multiple languages.

5. He worked closely with civil rights leaders like Thurgood Marshall and Martin Luther King Jr.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from John Hope Franklin

1. “We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey.”

2. “The history of the United States could not be written honestly without including the contributions of black Americans.”

3. “We must not be misled by those who would have us believe that we can do everything easily and without effort.”

4. “America’s greatest strength, and its greatest weakness, is our belief in second chances, our belief that we can always start over, that things can be made better.”

5. “If the house is to be set in order, one cannot begin with the present; he must begin with the past.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

John Hope Franklin’s net worth was not publicly documented, but his intellectual contributions and numerous awards highlight his significant impact rather than financial wealth.