RIP Dr Quinton Wilkes: Friend, Colleague, Founding Member of Fordhams Department of African and African American Studies. I just heard of the passing of my dear friend and former colleague Dr Quinton Wilkes, founding member of Fordhams Department of African and African American Studies, which for more than 40 years was the only Black Studies Department at a Jesuit University in the US. In 1969, Quinton Wilkes, then a doctoral student in Psychology at Fordham, was one of the leaders of a sit in at the Fordham Administration building which lead to the creation of the Institute of Afro-American Studies. A wise and thoughtful scholar who combined a passion for Black Studies with a deep love and respect for all people, Quinton Wilkes helped set a tone in the Institute which made all students in the University welcome in its courses, and when I was hired in the Institute in the Fall of 1970, the composition of its classes were the most diverse in the University. Quinton Wilkes had all the traits of a great therapist as well as a great teacher. You felt comforted and validated in his presence and he helped create an atmosphere where students and faculty were joined together in a sacred mission to bring the contributions of people of African descent into the mainstream of University teaching and University Culture. For seven years, he remained a mainstay of the Institute as a teacher, Department chair, student advocate and community leader, leaving for a distinguished career as a therapist only after the University gave the Institute full Department status in 1976. Following his departure from Fordham. Dr Wilkes did pioneering work in helping Black professionals in universities and corporate America deal with the stress of integrating those institutions and was loved by his many clients and co-workers. In recent years, he suffered from Lou Gehrigs disease, but kept his therapy practice alive long past the moment when he was experiencing significant physical impairment. His courage and optimism and loving demeanor were an inspiration to everyone who knew him. He loved music, he loved food, he loved sports, he loved scholarship, but above all he loved people. Everyone who knew him was lifted up to a better place. RIP Quinton Wilkes. Those who knew you will try to carry on your work and follow your example.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 16:49:12 +0000
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