UKZN prof wins prestigious award
Prof Rozena Maart from UKZN received the William R Jones award in the US recently.
THE William R Jones Award, a lifetime achievement award given to a senior philosopher who has dedicated their life and work to the advancement of Black philosophy the world over, was recently awarded to Prof Rozena Maart from UKZN.
Prof Maart, director of the Centre for Critical Research on Race and Identity at UKZN Howard College Campus, was presented with the award at the 23rd Philosophy Born of Struggle conference, held in the United States last month.
This award, decided upon by nominations and majority votes by the board of Philosophy Born of Struggle, honors the dedication, intellectual fortitude, and scholarship of a scholar who has become an indispensable voice and made incalculable contributions to the ongoing struggle for the humanity of Black people the world over.
Discussing why this award was bestowed upon Prof Maart, he said: “Rozena Maart is a thinker who has made multiple efforts to enrich the ongoing conversations in race theory in the United States by demanding that the works and problems illuminated by African thinkers are explored on this side of the Atlantic. Her scholarship has shown the necessity of bringing African theory to bear on questions of white supremacy, and sexual exploitation, as well as the benefits of comparing the US and South Africa.”
He said Maart embodied the persona of an African thinker and produced work that had touched all corners of the diaspora, and has established an impeccable record of service to the field of philosophy, Black studies, gender theory and literature.
“Her work has had a remarkable impact on these fields, and she has demonstrated an interdisciplinary competence that few scholars can match. Her scholarship, her international collaborations, and her international reputation are a standard of professionalism that the whole of Philosophy Born of Struggle wish to celebrate,” he said.
Prof Maart said she was humbled by the award but felt more strongly about encouraging young people from her background than having the focus on her and her achievement.
“It is about handing over the torch of struggle, that we have to make sure that our histories actually mean something,” she said.
Prof Maart is currently on sabbatical and still working with students on two research projects while trying to meet deadlines with publishers for her forthcoming publications.
