Elliott Skinner
Encyclopedia
Elliott Percival Skinner (June 20, 1924 – April 1, 2007) was an American
anthropologist and United States Ambassador to Republic of Upper Volta
.
Born in Port of Spain
, Trinidad
, Skinner came to the United States in 1943. He enlisted in the United States Army
in 1944 and fought in World War II
, which later allowed him to obtain citizenship. Skinner earned a bachelor's degree
from New York University
in 1951. He then attended Columbia University
, where he earned a master’s degree in 1952 and a doctorate in 1955. Skinner learned More (Language)
by the Mossi while living in Upper Volta for two years.
Skinner became a professor at Columbia in 1954. Lyndon B. Johnson
appointed him ambassador to Upper Volta from 1966 to 1969. In 1972, Skinner became the first African-American department chair at Columbia as well as the first African American to receive tenure at the University in 1963. He wrote several books on Africa, focusing on U.S. policy there.
On April 21, 2007, Skinner died of heart failure at his home in Washington, D.C.
. He was 82 years old.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anthropologist and United States Ambassador to Republic of Upper Volta
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
.
Born in Port of Spain
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
, Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, Skinner came to the United States in 1943. He enlisted in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1944 and fought in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, which later allowed him to obtain citizenship. Skinner earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1951. He then attended Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, where he earned a master’s degree in 1952 and a doctorate in 1955. Skinner learned More (Language)
More language
The Mossi language, Mòoré is one of two official regional languages of Burkina Faso, closely related and mutually intelligible with the Dagbani language spoken in northern Ghana...
by the Mossi while living in Upper Volta for two years.
Skinner became a professor at Columbia in 1954. Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
appointed him ambassador to Upper Volta from 1966 to 1969. In 1972, Skinner became the first African-American department chair at Columbia as well as the first African American to receive tenure at the University in 1963. He wrote several books on Africa, focusing on U.S. policy there.
On April 21, 2007, Skinner died of heart failure at his home in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He was 82 years old.