Stephen Middleton, director of the African-American studies program, received the 2009 Humanities Teacher Award Wednesday at the Mitchell Memorial Library. The Mississippi Humanities Council and the College of Arts and Sciences sponsored the award.
Middleton said he was shocked by the honor.
“I found out about three weeks ago, and I was stunned, speechless even,” Middleton said. “This has only been my second year here at the university, so I was surprised.”
Middleton was nominated for the award by the deans of the College of Arts and Sciences.
David Breaux, associate dean of the college, said Middleton’s nomination was an easy choice.
“It was a no-brainer to nominate Stephen Middleton for the award based on his leadership role with the African-American had to start the program from scratch,” he said.
Breaux also said Middleton’s passion and drive were factors in nominating him for the honor.
“Stephen tries to light the fires in the students of the program,” Breaux said. “He motivates them, and it’s characteristics like that which make him a great recipient of the award.”
As part the honor, Middleton garnered the opportunity to give a lecture at the award presentation. He presented a lecture titled “Matilda Lawrence and Her Forlorn Hope of Freedom: 1835-1837.”
Middleton said he chose to discuss Lawrence, a runaway slave and daughter of a white slave owner who lived free and was recaptured in Cincinnati, because of what he feels she represents.
“Matilda symbolizes the American hope of freedom in the 19th century,” Middleton said. “In 1836, she appears in written documents for the first time; what I want to show with her is what bold stances she took to assert her freedom, how she failed but nonetheless how that American dream continued.”
Following the award presentation, Middleton signed his latest book titled “The Black Laws: Race and the Legal Process in Ohio,” which took nearly eight years to write and was published in 2005.
SA Vice President Braxton Stowe said Middleton has impacted his overall educational experience at MSU.
“Last year I was in a class in which Dr. Middleton was the professor,” Stowe said. “It was the hardest but also best class of my life. He always motivated us and . he has become a mentor and role model.”
Since arriving at MSU less than two years ago, Middleton has become the first director of the recently established African-American studies program.
Since his begining the program, a minor has been created for African-American studies with its first graduates expected May 2010.
Middleton has also helped to create the African-American film series as well as the scholar-in-residence program, which recently welcomed its first resident, Molefi Kete Asante, to teach classes and advise students.
Middleton said the scholars-in-residence program is one of the first in the nation for African-American studies.
“I think we are off to a good start with the [AAS] program,” he said. “But our charge is to create an exemplary African-American studies program. We are serious about not just existing and offering more than only a few courses.”
Middleton said he hopes his recognitions will bring more attention to the program and hopes more students will become interested in African-American studies.
For more information about Middleton and the African-American studies program, visit aas.msstate.edu.