John Hope Franklin 1915-2009

A historian whose writings helped remake America

John Hope Franklin, the great black historian who died Wednesday at the age of 94, brought to the study of history an expansive vision of the past that helped change the way America saw itself.

Mr. Franklin grew up in an era when conventional wisdom held that African-Americans had no history worth speaking of. Since only human beings can live in history, denying that African-Americans had a history was a way of denying their humanity.

Throughout his life, Mr. Franklin worked to redress such historical myopia. Benjamin Quarles, Mr. Franklin's great colleague and contemporary at Morgan State University, once observed that African-American history was inseparable from American history, part of the "warp and woof" of our common heritage. Through his distinguished writings, Mr. Franklin surely spun many of the most brilliant threads in that colorful tapestry.

At a book signing on the Washington Mall a couple of years ago, Mr. Franklin recounted some of his experiences as a young historian doing research in small-town Southern libraries and town halls, where he was often confronted with the countless indignities of a segregated society that forced him to work in separate reading rooms or denied him access to cafeterias and water fountains because of his race.

He recounted these incidents without bitterness or rancor, though one sensed his fierce resistance to these assaults on his character and integrity.

Yet somehow he never lost his belief that the musty, long-forgotten documents he unearthed with such patient dedication eventually would reveal truths too incontestable to ignore. His greatness lay in his understanding of history not as a dry, abstract academic discipline but as the faithful guardian of its subjects' deepest humanity.

Your Legacy Lives On...

Call Me MISTER

Welcome to Call Me MISTER

The mission of the Call Me MISTER (acronym for Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) National Initiative is to increase the pool of available teachers from a broader more diverse background particularly among the State's lowest performing elementary schools. Student participants are largely selected from among under-served, socio-economically disadvantaged and educationally at-risk communities.

The Call Me MISTER program is contributing to the talent pool of excellent teachers by identifying and supporting students like Mr. Mark Joseph (shown here), who are literally "touching the future" by teaching children. Mark's teaching degree was made possible through the Call Me MISTER program.

The project provides:

• Tuition assistance through Loan Forgiveness programs for admitted students pursuing approved programs of study in teacher education at participating colleges.
• An academic support system to help assure their success.
• A cohort system for social and cultural support.

“Call Me MISTER” was developed by some of our State’s visionary educational leaders who sincerely believe we can build a better tomorrow by getting you involved today.

Participating Colleges

The Call Me MISTER program combines the special strengths and resources of Clemson University with the individualized instructional programs offered by four historically black colleges in South Carolina: Benedict College, Claflin University, Morris College and South Carolina State University. To provide even greater opportunity and access, students have the option of first attending one of our two-year partner colleges before transferring to one of the four-year institutions to complete their baccalaureate degree. In addition, the project has limited enrollment in the middle school Master of Art in Teaching program. Please click on the participating schools on the menu to the left to learn more about these schools' programs.

National Partner Schools

Florida — The North East Florida Educational Consortium - NEFEC

Georgia — Albany State University

Missouri — Metropolitan Community College

Pennsylvania — Cheyney University

Virginia — Longwood University

How to Apply

Becoming a MISTER

The Call Me MISTER program is a collaboration between Clemson University and other leading edge colleges and universities to increase the pool of available teachers from a broader more diverse background particularly among the lowest performing public elementary and middle schools. Student participants are largely selected from among under-served, socio-economically disadvantaged and educationally at-risk communities.

Procedures for admission to the "Call Me MISTER" program must be completed in the following order:

1. Apply for and be accepted into one of the participating colleges or universities from which the degree and teaching certificate will be earned.
2. Complete the Call Me MISTER online referral application.
3. Submit the following items:

   1. High School diploma and final transcript or General Education Development (GED) certificate.
   2. Two letters of recommendation:

      1. One (1) from a teacher, guidance counselor, or principal at the high school form which the diploma is earned.
      2. One (1) from a person of the student's choice who can express the student's involvement in the community and/or potential for entering the teaching profession.

   3. An essay entitled, "Why I Want to Teach," which will address the student's motivation for entering the teaching profession and the contributions he hopes to make to the profession and to the community as a teacher.
   4. An essay entitled "How do you believe the Call Me MISTER program will benefit you as a student?"
   5. A signed statement certifying that student is from an underserved, underprivileged or economically disadvantaged background or area.

   Following the submission of the items above, an interview will be scheduled with the prospective program participants to ascertain their potential for teaching and their motivations for participation in the program, as well as to provide an opportunity for clarification of any information submitted through the application process.

Policies

It is the policy of Clemson University that no person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or in any way be subjected to, discrimination in any program or activity of the University. Participation in the Call Me MISTER Program is open to anybody, regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender, if they are capable of facilitating the achievement of its objectives.*

Discrimination based on age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or veterans status is prohibited.

Any person having a question regarding laws and regulations, or who feels discriminated against, is encouraged to contact the Office of Access and Equity, 110 Holtzendorff Hall, Clemson University, phone numbers 864-656-3181 (voice) or 656-0899 (TDD).

* Direct quote from our U.S. Department of Education grant proposal documents.

To learn more information about Call Me MISTER program, please contact them through one of these methods:

Email: MISTER@clemson.edu

Phone: Toll-free: 1-800-640-2657

Mail:

Call Me MISTER
203 Holtzendorff
Clemson University
Clemson, SC 29634

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