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Know Your History
Irene Diggs Was More Than W.E.B. DuBois’s Assistant
The anthropologist’s storied career extended far beyond her work alongside men.
On the east side of Baltimore City, Morgan State University stands as a pillar of Black history and culture with a legacy spanning over 150 years. The university began as Centenary Biblical Institute before being renamed Morgan College in 1890 with the status of university granted in 1975. Home to the infamous Morgan State Bears, the university overflows with the names of iconic Black figures such as James Baldwin, Harriet Tubman, and Benjamin Banneker. Amidst the rapid gentrification facing Baltimore’s historic east side, Morgan State University stands out as a reminder that Black life has been and always will be the heartbeat of the city.
Beyond the university’s physical structure, its library showcases the beauty of Black history and literature. Each floor holds a vast history of Black excellence. Tucked away on the third floor of the library you will find the Davis Room archives. Inside, archivist Ida Jones and others work to document Baltimore’s long history, including the record of Black feminism in Baltimore. Scholars like Jones chronicle the Black feminist history of Baltimore and combat the ongoing omission of Black women. Routinely, Black women are pushed to the margins of history. Even worse, sometimes this marginalization is coupled with the tragedy of misinformation as their Black male counterparts are credited with their brilliance.
Her work as a professor and activist highlight a tradition of Black women using their career networks to build solidarity and advocate for Black liberation across the diaspora.
Anthropologist Irene Diggs is one example. A professor at Morgan State University and activist, Diggs is often cited for her work as the primary research assistant to W.E.B. DuBois yet, Diggs’ legacy deserves a lane of its own. Her work as a professor and activist highlights a tradition of Black women using their career networks to build solidarity and advocate for Black liberation across the diaspora.
