Edmond W. Davis

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Edmond W. Davis (born 1976) is an American historian, author and educator. [1] From 2020 to 2022, he was the director of the Derek Olivier Research Institute (DORI) at Arkansas Baptist College. [2]

Contents

Previously, he served as Professor of History at University of Phoenix and Pulaski Technical College. [3] He authored Pioneering African-American Aviators in 2012 featuring the first and only Arkansas Tuskegee Airmen history textbook. [4]

He is a member of the Arkansas Historical Association. [5]

Biography

He was born and raised in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Davis faced adversity from a young age, experiencing homelessness during his formative years. [4] After overcoming homelessness, he re-enrolled into school and graduating from Coatesville Area Senior High School in 1996. He attended Grambling State University, where he graduated early, and earned a master's degree in history from Louisiana Technical University. [6]

Career

Davis's has served as an assistant professor of history at several colleges and universities, with a current position at Arkansas Baptist College as adjunct professor. His research in sociohistorical topics include Women's History, African American History, Military History, Civil Rights History, and World War II History. [7]

As an author his works include Arkansas' Tuskegee Airmen history textbook. Additionally, he and his wife Monica Davis have been awarded with the title of Amazon #1 New Release Authors for their eBook titled GROWTH MINDSET: Developing a Growth Mindset to Respond-Responsibly in 2022. [8]

He was the director of the Derek Olivier Research Institute (DORI) from 2020 to 2022, where he focuses on the prevention of violence and community outreach initiatives. [8]

In 2022–2023, Davis was the Director of Career Services Arkansas Baptist College and orchestrated the first Historically Black College & University (HBCU) Black Wall Street Career Fest. [9]

Related Research Articles

The Tuskegee Airmen was a group of African American military pilots and airmen who fought in World War II. They formed the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group (Medium) of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). The name also applies to the navigators, bombardiers, mechanics, instructors, crew chiefs, nurses, cooks, and other support personnel. The Tuskegee airmen received praise for their excellent combat record earned while protecting American bombers from enemy fighters. The group was awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuskegee University</span> Historically black university in Tuskegee, Alabama, US

Tuskegee University is a private, historically black land-grant university in Tuskegee, Alabama. It was founded on July 4th in 1881 by the Alabama Legislature.

Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving African Americans. Most of these institutions were founded during the Reconstruction era after the Civil War and are concentrated in the Southern United States. They were primarily founded by Protestant religious groups, until the Second Morill Act of 1890 required educationally segregated states to provide African American, public higher-education schools in order to receive the Act's benefits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck Stone</span> Tuskegee Airman and journalist (1924–2014)

Charles Sumner "Chuck" Stone, Jr. was an American pilot, newspaper editor, journalism professor, and author. He was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II and was the first president of the National Association of Black Journalists, serving from 1975 to 1977. Passionate about racial issues and supportive of many liberal causes, he refused to follow any party line, "but called the issues as he saw them."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Baptist College</span> Private college in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.

Arkansas Baptist College (ABC) is a private Baptist-affiliated historically black college in Little Rock, Arkansas. Founded in 1884 as the Minister's Institute, ABC was initially funded by the Colored Baptists of the State of Arkansas. It is the only historically black Baptist school west of the Mississippi River. The Main Building on its campus, built in 1893, is one of the oldest surviving academic buildings in the state, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roscoe C. Brown Jr.</span> Tuskagee airman (1922–2016)

Dr. Roscoe Conkling Brown Jr. was one of the Tuskegee Airmen and a squadron commander of the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milton Crenchaw</span> American Tuskegee Airman aviator (1919–2015)

Milton Pitts Crenchaw was an American aviator who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II and was the first Arkansan to be trained by the federal government as a civilian licensed pilot. He served during World War II as a civilian flight instructor. He was one of the two original supervising squadron members. In 1998 he was inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame. The grandson of a slave, he was known as the "father of black aviation in Arkansas" who broke through color barriers in the military.

The Black Ivy League refers to a segment of the historically black colleges (HBCUs) in the United States that attract the majority of high-performing or affluent Black students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noel F. Parrish</span> United States Air Force general (1909–1987)

Noel Francis Parrish was an American brigadier general in the United States Air Force who was the white commander of a group of black airmen known as the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. He was a key factor in the program's success and in their units being assigned to combat duty. Parrish was born and raised in the south-east United States; he joined the U.S. Army in 1930. He served in the military from 1930 until 1964, and retired as a brigadier general in 1964.

James Lewis Ranchino, known as Jim Ranchino, was a pollster, political consultant, and political scientist on the faculty of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He died of a massive heart attack while awaiting to appear on Little Rock ABC television station KATV on the night of the 1978 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rutherford H. Adkins</span> United States Army Air Forces officer (1924–1998)

Rutherford Hamlet "Lubby" Adkins was an American military aviator and university administrator who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. He flew fourteen combat missions with the Tuskegee Airmen. He came home to complete his education and earn multiple degrees: he was the first African American to earn a PhD from The Catholic University in Washington D.C. Adkins went on to serve in many positions in higher education including as President of Knoxville College and Fisk University.

Sergeant First Class Thomas Franklin Vaughns is an American veteran who was a member of the famed group of World War II-era African-Americans known as the Tuskegee Airmen. He is a recipient of the National Defense Service Medal in 2019, for his service in the Korean War. He is also a member of the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Woodrow Wilson Crockett(pronounced "Crow-Ket") was an officer in the U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force and a fighter pilot and interim commanding officer of the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group's 100th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails". He was one of the 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbert V. Clark</span> American fighter pilot

Herbert Vanallen Clark (WIA) was a U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force officer, and combat fighter pilot with the all-African American 332nd Fighter Group, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen. He completed two tours of duty, completing ten missions on his second tour. In 1944, Clark's aircraft was shot down over Italy, and was reported as missing in action. He was picked up by the Italian resistance, evading enemies for eight months before rejoining his unit. He retired with a rank of major.

Granville C. Coggs was an American medical doctor, radiologist, U.S. Army Air Force/U.S. Air Force/U.S. Air Force Reserves officer, and trained bombardier pilot with the 477th Bombardment Group attached to the famed Tuskegee Airmen. He was one of the 1007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mac Ross</span> Tuskegee Airmen pilot (1912–1944)

Mac Ross was a U.S. Army Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot during World War II. A member of the Tuskegee Airmen, he commanded the 100th Fighter Squadron and served as the Group Operations Officer for the 332nd Fighter Group.

Graham "Peepsight" Smith  was an U.S. Army Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group's 99th Fighter Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen. He was a member of Tuskegee Airmen's fourth-ever aviation cadet program and one of the 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilmore B. Leonard</span> Tuskegee Airmen

Wilmore B. Leonard was an American college professor, U.S. Army Air Corps/U.S. Air Force officer and combat fighter pilot with the 332nd Fighter Group. One of 1,007 documented Tuskegee Airmen Pilots, Leonard was a member of Tuskegee's sixth cadet graduating class and one of the first 50 African American combat fighter pilots. He served during World War II, retiring from the military in 1946. He subsequently attended the Howard University School of Dentistry, and became a dentistry professor, holding the position for 25 years.

Romeo Marcus Williams was an American civil rights attorney who organized large-scale student protests against segregation in Marshall, Texas. He was also a junior partner of Dallas, Texas civil rights attorney, William J. Durham, who served as lead counsel on two landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases, Sweatt v. Painter, and Smith v. Allwright.

Raymond Cassagnol was a Haitian Air Force officer/flight instructor, alleged Haitian rebel leader, and one of the first Haitian Tuskegee Airmen, "Red Tails," or “Schwartze Vogelmenschen” or among enemy German pilots. Cassagnol was an aviation classmate and roommate of Daniel James Jr., the first-ever African American four-star general.

References

  1. Christian, Cayla (24 December 2023). "From homeless to historian: Arkansas advocate's triumphant journey inspires others". KATV .
  2. Nugent, Desmond (7 May 2021). "'It's a people problem:' Arkansas Baptist College hopes research institute reduces crime". KATV .
  3. "Meet the Speaker: Edmond Davis - The Reform Alliance". The Reform Alliance. 14 January 2022.
  4. 1 2 Brown, Malik (13 December 2023). "How Edmond Davis went from homeless to an HBCU history professor". rollingout.com.
  5. "Edmond Davis". ALN.
  6. "Edmond W. Davis is a 'transplant southerner' from West Philadelphia". Arkansas Baptist College . Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  7. Williams, Helaine (2021-03-07). "Prolific leaders: Four receive honors at Black History Month Youth Awards | Arkansas Democrat Gazette". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  8. 1 2 Millar, Lindsey (2018-04-03). "Former Arkansas Baptist professor 'exploring' run for Little Rock Ward 7 city director". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  9. Christian, Cayla (2022-11-16). "AR HBCUs host Black Wall Street Career Fest". KATV. Retrieved 2024-02-29.