Jewel Prestage


Jewel Limar Prestage was an American political scientist, citizen activist, educator, and author. She is the first African-American woman to complete a doctorate in political science in the United States. In 1977, she co-authored the anthology A Portrait of Marginality.

Early life and education

Jewel Prestage née Limar was born in Hutton, Louisiana to Sallie Bell Johnson and Brudis Leroy Limar, Sr. She was one of 16 children, although only 10 siblings lived to adulthood. She moved at a young age to Alexandria, Louisiana where she was baptized at the True Vine Missionary Baptist Church. At the age of 16, Prestage graduated as the valedictorian from Peabody High School.
She started in the fall of 1948 at Southern University. Prestage was inducted into the Alpha Kappa Alpha through the Beta Psi chapter in 1950. She majored in political science and graduated summa cum laude in 1951. She met her future husband, James Jordan Prestage while attending Southern. She attend graduate school at University of Iowa. In 1952, she completed a master's degree. She completed a doctorate in 1954 at the age of 22. She is the first African-American woman to complete a doctorate in political science in the United States.

Career

After completing her doctorate, Prestage taught at Prairie View A&M University for two years. She returned to Southern University as a faculty member. She eventually became a departmental chair and dean of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs. In 1977, Prestage and Marianne Githens authored the anthology A Portrait of Marginality.

Personal life

Prestage met her husband, James Jordan Prestage while attending Southern University. They married in 1953, after he returned from his military service in the Korean War.

Selected works

Articles

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