Nick Aaron Ford Jr. (August 4, 1904 – July 17, 1982) was an American writer. A native of South Carolina, he was educated at

Benedict College Benedict College is a private historically black college in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1870 by northern Baptists, it was originally a teachers' college. It has since expanded to offer majors in many disciplines across ...

and

Iowa State University Iowa State University of Science and Technology (Iowa State University, Iowa State, or ISU) is a Public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Ames, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1858 as the Iowa Agricult ...

. Ford then joined the faculty of

Morgan State University Morgan State University (Morgan State or MSU) is a Public university, public historically black colleges and universities, historically black research university in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. It is the largest of Maryland's historically bla ...

, eventually accepting the Alain Locke Distinguished Professorship of Black Studies.

Life and career

Ford was born in

Ridgeway, South Carolina Ridgeway is a town in Fairfield County, South Carolina, Fairfield County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 319 at the 2010 United States census, 2010 census. It is part of the Columbia metropolitan area, South Carolina, Columbia, ...

, to a former slave, Nick Aaron Ford Sr., and his wife Carrie, a substitute teacher. Sanders Ford, a member of the

South Carolina Senate The South Carolina State Senate is the upper house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the lower house being the South Carolina House of Representatives. It consists of 46 senators elected from single member districts for four-year terms at ...

, was the maternal grandfather of Nick Aaron Ford Jr. Between the ages of ten and sixteen, Ford was educated at a segregated school in

Winnsboro, Louisiana Winnsboro is a town in, and the County seat, parish seat of Franklin Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of 2020, its population was 4,862. History Franklin Parish was created on March 1, 1843, from portions of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, Oua ...

. He then attended a high school affiliated with

, and subsequently earned a bachelor's degree from Benedict in 1926. Subsequently, Ford was principal of the Schofield Normal School in

Aiken, South Carolina Aiken is the most populous city in, and the county seat of, Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. According to 2020 census, the population was 32,025, making it the 15th-most populous city in South Carolina, and one of the two largest ci ...

, until 1928, when he enrolled at

for graduate study in journalism. Ford earned his master's degree in 1934, and his doctorate in 1945. He taught at

Morgan State College Morgan State University (Morgan State or MSU) is a public historically black research university in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the largest of Maryland's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In 1890, the university, then known a ...

from 1945 and later became Alain Locke Distinguished Professor of Black Studies in 1973. He also served as president of the

College Language Association The College Language Association (CLA) is a professional association of Black scholars and educators who teach English and foreign languages. Founded in 1937 by a group of African-American language and literature scholars, the organization "serve ...

from 1961 to 1963. He chaired Morgan State University's English Department for 23 years from 1947 to 1972. He advocated for African American studies. He married Janie Etheridge in 1927, with whom he raised a son. Ford married for the second time to Ola Scroggins Ford in 1968. Nick Aaron Ford died in

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...

, on July 17, 1982.

Books

* * A signed copy of this book is in the catalogue of the

National Museum of African American History and Culture The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), colloquially known as the Blacksonian, is a Smithsonian Institution museum located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in the United States. It was established in 2003 an ...

. * * * * ''Extending Horizons: Selected Readings for Cultural Enrichment''

Selected publications

* * * * * *

Legacy

In 1983 Morgan State University initiated the ''Nick Aaron Ford and Waters Edward Turpin Symposium on African-American Literature'' named in honor of Ford and Turpin, a collaborator of Ford's who joined him at Morgan State at Ford's request. Ford's papers including letters, book drafts and other writings are located at the

University of South Carolina The University of South Carolina (USC, SC, or Carolina) is a Public university, public research university in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1801 as South Carolina College, It is the flagship of the University of South Car ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ford, Nick Aaron 1904 births 1982 deaths Black studies scholars Benedict College alumni 20th-century American male writers African-American schoolteachers Iowa State University alumni American school principals Writers from South Carolina Schoolteachers from South Carolina Morgan State University faculty 20th-century African-American writers People from Ridgeway, South Carolina