Topic: Northwestern University

The segment introduces Melville J. Herskovitz, a white Jewish anthropologist considered the "Elvis of African American studies" for mainstreaming the connection between African and Black American cultures. The hosts question how an outsider came to define the narrative of Black history in the mid-20th century. They discuss his 1941 book, *The Myth of the Negro Past*, and how his academic framework continues to influence modern perceptions of Black identity.

The legacy of Melville Herskovitz at Northwestern University is further explored, with a focus on his "tight ship" and the lack of Black scholars in his department during his tenure. The hosts argue that academics often follow the funding, creating narratives that satisfy donors. They compare the "ownership" of Black history by white academics to the appropriation of rock and roll, where the originators lose control of the genre's definition.