College_Language_Association Knowpia

The College Language Association (CLA) is a professional association of Black scholars and educators who teach English and foreign languages.^[1] Founded in 1937 by a group of African-American language and literature scholars, the organization "serves the academic, scholarly and professional interests of its members and the collegiate communities they represent."^[2]

History edit

Hugh Gloster, a professor of English at LeMoyne College corresponded with Gladstone Lewis Chandler of Morehouse College about the low English proficiency rates among their students. Together with other teachers at predominantly Black institutions, they formed the Association of Teachers of English in Negro Colleges in 1937.^[3]^[4] In 1941, the organization broadened their scope and changed their name to the Association of Teachers of Languages in Negro Colleges (ATLNC). The name was changed again in 1949 to the College Language Association (CLA).^[5]

The organization's membership has expanded to an international audience focusing on themes of African American, Caribbean and African diaspora studies.^[6] Members range from undergraduate students to university faculty.^[7] Notable contributors include John Frederick Matheus, Therman O'Daniel, Lucy Clemmons Grigsby, A. Russell Brooks, Darwin Turner, Charles A. Ray and Nick Aaron Ford.^[3]

Publications edit

CLA Journal - ISSN 0007-8549

References edit

^ Buncombe, Marie H. (2013). "Legacy from the Past, Agenda for the Future: The College Language Association, 1937-87" (PDF). CLA Journal. 57 (1): 43–50. ISSN 0007-8549. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
^ "College Language Association on JSTOR". www.jstor.org. JSTOR. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Collection: College Language Association collection | Archives Research Center". findingaids.auctr.edu. hdl:20.500.12322/fa:032. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
^ Fowler, Carolyn (1988). The College Language Association: A Social History.
^ "History". www.clascholars.org. College Language Association. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
^ Watson, Jamal (27 March 2014). "Fueled By Rejection, Black Scholars Built College Language Association to Last - Higher Education". Diverse Issues in Higher Education. ISSN 1557-5411. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
^ Banderas, Claire (12 April 2017). "Intersection - Diversity in Academia and the College Language Association". www.kbia.org. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.