Black Apollo of Science: The Life of Ernest Everett Just [Paperback]

Kenneth R. Manning (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 1985

This biography illuminates the racial attitudes of an elite group of American scientists and foundation officers. It is the story of a complex and unhappy man. It blends social, institutional, black, and political history with the history of science.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A superior distinguished work...unique in its contribution to American cultural history, black history, and the history of science."--Edward Lurie, University of Delaware

"Among the finest biographies I have ever read. Manning's book wins my highest praise....It is so well written and meticulously researched...it is a pleasure to read."--Stephen Jay Gould, The New York Review of Books

"A unique contribution to not only Black history, but also to American history and to the history of science."--The Black Collegian

"Manning has created a remarkable portrait of a remarkable scientist....A brilliantly sympathetic but skillfully tempered biography....Blends social, institutional, black, and political history with the history of science. Impressively, Manning succeeds with each of these separate threads and manages to weave them together into a vibrant fabric."--Science

"In this sensitive biography, Manning conveys the outrage and absurdity of racism with a measured restraint that is much more powerful than if he had indulged in the diatribes to which his material could easily lend itself....People, settings, atmosphere...are beautifully evoked in a book that makes a major contribution to understanding the forces that obstructed and warped Just's career."--American Scientist

About the Author

Kenneth R. Manning is at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (January 3, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195034988
• ISBN-13: 978-0195034981
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,118 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Details of E.E. Just, April 30, 2000

By 

jenny theis (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Apollo of Science: The Life of Ernest Everett Just (Paperback)

Black Apollo of Science, The Life of Ernest Everett Just in my opinion is a very excellent portrail of the complicated and exciting life of one of the leading black scientist of the early 20th century. If you are serious about learning every detail about E.E Just, then this is the book for you. It is the story of his life which goes from his early life and struggles to gain an education to hi later life where he fights to give other African Americans the opportunity to recieve a quality education. Although most of his life commitments were based to further the education of African Americans, he also had his own personal motives. He was a dedicated researcher who was not afraid to express his opinions at whatever cost it was, personally and professionally. This book offers great motivation to anyone that is fighting against the norms and against dicrimination. I recommend it to scholars as along to layman that wish to learn more about American scientifc history.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of knowledge and feels like you're there, June 16, 2010

By 

Jay bryan (South Carolina) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Black Apollo of Science: The Life of Ernest Everett Just (Paperback)

This book is so good I don't want to finish it right away. It's like every time he encounters an obstacle he always finds a way to persevere. This book really shows how Bro. Ernest E. Just lived out his cardinal principal's every day. If you want a glimpse on what it was like to be black during a time of oppression, a time when people of color had the answers to many questions that were rendered due to the color of their skin. This is the book that you must have. I guarantee that this book will open your eyes to how racism really held back the nation top scholars of color.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Under-rated first-rate biography!, April 6, 2007

By 

B. F. Mooney "biologist" (Mooresville, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Apollo of Science: The Life of Ernest Everett Just (Paperback)

With all due respect to the other reviewer, I cannot understand how the word "excellent" can be used in a admiring review - followed by the assignment of only three stars! This a is four-star book at a minimum, and I think it deserves five stars. This is an exemplary biography in it terms of the underlying research, choice of subject and material to be included, and the style of writing. As a biologist, I am familiar with Just's work and some of the primary literature of his time, and can only add my praise for the author's adept handling of the technical topics. Highly recomended, moving, under-rated and under-read book!