News Unequal Justice Research and Public History Fellowship

The Center for the Study of Diversity (CSD) and the Delaware Historical Society (DHS) invite applications for the Fellowship for the 2020-21 academic year.   

The Unequal Justice Research and Public History Fellowship aims to support up to four undergraduate University of Delaware students in conducting focused, faculty-mentored research connected to the history and legacy of racial and social justice in Delaware.  The Unequal Justice in Delaware project is rooted in an exploration and analysis of Delaware's legal history and criminal justice system (and how the law is rooted in white supremacy).  The emphasis of this fellowship is research (archival and digital collection) with a public history component, highlighting research on justice-related issues and/or how to present this content to the public.

Unequal Justice in Delaware is a multi-year project being led by the Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage at the Delaware Historical Society in partnership with the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and the Delaware Social Justice Remembrance Coalition.  The project launched in November 2019.  To learn more about the project, click here and here.

​The Unequal Justice Research and Public History Fellow will be tasked with researching how racial inequality in Delaware has been perpetuated in: Housing, residential segregation, Education, Voting Rights, Jim Crow Justice, Transportation and Public Accommodations, Unfair Labor Practices. Specifically, The Fellows will research and analyze at least one piece of landmark legislation and one corresponding legal/extralegal incident that demonstrates racial inequality.  This analysis must include an investigation into how Black activism combated policies and procedures that demonstrate racial inequality.  The fellows will utilize collections that are accessible digitally to develop content and educational materials that explore each of these topics which should include primary and secondary sources from the Delaware Historical Collection.  

• A report that analyses each landmark legislation and corresponding incident and how it contributes to racial inequality in Delaware.
• PowerPoint presentation that provides an overview of the report appropriate for public presentation
• Bibliography of online primary and secondary sources

The Unequal Justice and Public History fellow will provide support for public engagement development including public programs, digital maps, and presentations.  The fellow will be invited to share their research with the public through presentations and/or publications (such as a blog post or journal article).

• The Unequal Justice Research Fellowship will be funded from February 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021.
• The Unequal Justice Research Fellowship provides for payments on an hourly basis up to $1500, plus research related expenses.  In addition, Faculty advisors will receive an honorarium of $500 for their support.
• Students may receive academic credit in lieu of funding if approved by their advisor.  If desired, this can be discussed upon receipt of application. 

Deadline December 18, 2020

To Apply:  Applicants should send a resume and a brief cover letter to the two contact emails listed below describing interest in the Fellowship, relevant experience, relevant writing samples if available, expected benefits in tier academic and post graduate careers.  In addition, applicants should have a letter of recommendation from a faculty advisor that supports their application and indicates a willingness to accept an advisory role.  The Directors of the UD Center for the Study of Diversity, and the Mitchell Center for African American Heritage at the Delaware Historical Society will evaluate each application and invite finalists to a Zoom interview.

Final awards will be announced by January 15, 2021.

Contact

Prof. James Jones

Center for the Study of Diversity

University of Delaware

jmjones@psych.udel.edu

Stephanie M. Lampkin

Director, Jane and Littleton Mitchell Center for African American Heritage

Delaware Historical Society

slampkin@dehistory.org