Will you speak up when everyone else remains silent?

͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­͏     ­

	Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more How a Harvard alumna led a historical reckoning in higher education Will you speak up when everyone else remains silent? May 24   READ IN APP   Imagine becoming the first Black president of an Ivy League institution—at a time when academia was still trying to find its way out of the old boys’ club. Well, that’s exactly what Ruth Simmons did. But her life? Oh, it’s far more than a list of firsts. After the whirlwind that has been this past week, I’ve decided to dedicate this week’s letter to Dr.Ruth Simmons from my 100 Historic Black Women Series. A lot of you subscribed to my newsletter after I posted this thread, so I want to extend a warm welcome to the Shae the Historian community 🎉 Pledge your support Ruth Simmons’ story starts in 1945, in segregated Texas, where she was born to sharecropping parents. From a young age, she faced the harsh realities of poverty and racism, but her love for education became her escape. She went on to earn a PhD in Romance Languages from Harvard University and built an impressive career at places like Princeton and Spelman College. But she made history in 2001 when she became the first Black president of an Ivy League institution—Brown University. At Brown, Simmons did more than just lead; she reshaped the university. One of her most groundbreaking acts was spearheading a report to address Brown’s historical ties to the transatlantic slave trade. This wasn’t a popular decision at the time, but Ruth Simmons was never one to shy away from difficult truths. But her story didn’t end at Brown. After stepping down in 2012, Simmons became president of Prairie View A&M University, a historically Black institution in Texas. Prairie View was a homecoming of sorts for Simmons, who grew up not far from there. In 2023, Simmons published her memoir, "Up Home: One Girl’s Journey," where she reflects on her childhood in rural Texas and how it shaped her values and vision. In the book, she discusses how poverty, racism, and her family’s influence drove her to become a leader who empowers others. Her time after Brown has been just as impactful. Simmons continued to advise institutions on creating more equitable futures and confronting difficult histories. Even in semi-retirement, she remains a beacon of wisdom and guidance in higher education. No Longer Footnotes If this resonated with you, I invite you to explore how historic Black women continue to shape our world in my new digital workbook — available now for pre-order. It’s full of stories, insights, and lessons from black women we weren’t taught in school. → Pre-order the digital workbook here → Watch the companion YouTube video New YouTube Video Shae the Historian is a free newsletter created to make historical knowledge as accessible as possible. Therefore, I do not have paid subscriptions turned on. To support this publication and my work, consider buying me a coffee using the link below. Otherwise, sharing this with someone costs nothing! Buy me a coffee Because Black women’s stories — past and present — should never be footnotes. with care, Follow me on Instagram | Threads | TikTok | YouTube This post contains affiliate links to bookshop.org. I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through these links. As a full-time student, this helps support the maintenance of this newsletter and is at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! SHAE THE HISTORIAN is a website and newsletter that seeks to make knowledge more accessible one book, essay, or podcast at a time. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it with someone. Now put your device down and go read/listen to a book. I’ll be here when you get back! Share   Like Comment Restack   © 2025 Shae the Historian 548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104 Unsubscribe