Alexandre Dumas, the literary titan known for The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo and The Man in the Iron Mask, was immensely popular during his lifetime, but petty professional jealousies and the politics of race in the 19th century鈥攈e was often mocked in the press for his African ancestry鈥攄enied him a seat among the French literary elite. His wit and charm masked how deeply the rejection wounded him.
For Tracy Sharpley-Whiting, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Distinguished Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies and French, Dumas鈥� literary legacy鈥攁nd omission from the Acad茅mie Fran莽aise鈥攊gnited her interest in exploring the interior lives of historical figures whose artistic influence shaped their worlds. Today, she is researching the next body of work she鈥檒l add to her impressive literary canon: a multi-life biography titled Men I鈥檇 Like to Have Known, and the One Woman I鈥檇 Like to Have Met.
Sharpley-Whiting’s new book illuminates the lives of four historical figures across France and the U.S., among them a 鈥渃ontraband鈥� Civil War soldier, essentially a fugitive slave, who learned to read and write and posed as a free man of color from Massachusetts to serve in the Union Army.
鈥淏lack Civil War soldiers represented about 10 percent of the Union forces,鈥� she said. 鈥淗is story helps us understand how powerfully motivating the ideals of freedom and democracy are.鈥�
Sharpley-Whiting鈥檚 work continues off the page鈥攕he鈥檚 consulting in the production of a Josephine Baker film by award-winning filmmaker Ma茂mouna Doucour茅, starring FKA twigs.
鈥淚鈥檝e written about Baker in a book on Black women expatriates,鈥� Sharpley-Whiting said. 鈥淪o, I鈥檓 looking forward to this next chapter as a scholarly film consultant. I鈥檇 love to take students in the Black Paris course I teach on set and introduce them to the French film scene and filmmakers. After all, the French invented cinema as the 鈥榮epti猫me art鈥� (seventh art).鈥�
This spring, Sharpley-Whiting received a fitting honor: election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 1780 by John Adams, John Hancock and other Enlightenment-era political and intellectual leaders, the AAAS is one of the nation鈥檚 oldest and most prestigious honorary societies.
鈥淭racy鈥檚 election to the AAAS celebrates her decades of illuminating, insightful and fascinating scholarship,鈥� said Timothy P. McNamara, Searcy Family Dean of the College of Arts and Science. 鈥淭hrough her work, she uncovers stories untold, lives undiscovered and important truths that help us understand our past鈥攁nd our present. I am appreciative of her contributions to the college and to her field. This honor is extremely well-deserved.鈥�
Sharpley-Whiting learned of her election post-workout and mid鈥損ressed juice while doing Vanderbilt global engagement work in Taipei.
鈥淚 read [the email] twice. I think I squealed a bit,鈥� Sharpley-Whiting said. 鈥淚 felt a deep gratitude to those who nominated me and the other AAAS fellows who took up the nomination. And yes, I thought about Dumas.鈥�
