From Jim Crow to Academia: Dr. Livingston Alexander on Education, Resilience, and Legacy
By Lana Reid | April 13, 2022
As part of the Black Men Matter Series, Lana Reid sits down with Dr. Livingston Alexander, educator, author, and President Emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, to discuss his remarkable life journey from growing up in a segregated South during the Jim Crow era to becoming a respected leader in higher education. Dr. Alexander reflects on how education served as both refuge and resistance, shaping his path forward despite systemic barriers. He shares the influence of mentors who helped guide his development, the responsibility of leadership within academic institutions, and the importance of preserving lived history so future generations understand the sacrifices that made opportunity possible.
In this episode of The Male Perspective, Dr. Livingston Alexander offers a powerful reflection on the realities of segregation and the resilience required to pursue education during a time when opportunity was intentionally restricted for Black Americans.
Dr. Alexander speaks candidly about his childhood experiences under Jim Crow laws and how those early encounters with injustice informed his understanding of leadership, responsibility, and service. Rather than viewing education solely as personal advancement, he describes it as a collective tool — one capable of opening doors not just for individuals, but for entire communities.
Throughout the conversation, Lana Reid and Dr. Alexander explore the role of mentorship in shaping academic and professional trajectories. Dr. Alexander emphasizes the impact of educators, administrators, and community members who recognized his potential and helped him navigate systems that were not designed with him in mind.
As President Emeritus of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Dr. Alexander also reflects on the responsibility institutions hold in creating access, equity, and inclusive pathways for students. He discusses leadership not as authority, but as stewardship — ensuring that progress is preserved and expanded rather than erased or forgotten.
The conversation closes with a reminder of the importance of documenting lived experience. Dr. Alexander underscores why preserving Black educational history is essential, not only to honor the past, but to inform future generations about what perseverance, preparation, and purpose truly require.
About the Guest
Dr. Livingston Alexander is an educator, author, and higher-education leader who served as President of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. His career spans decades of academic leadership, public service, and advocacy for educational access and equity.
For more information on Dr. Livingston Alexander:
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Silver-Lining-Livingston-Alexander/dp/1513686372
About the Series
This episode is part of the Black Men Matter Series, a collection of conversations within The Male Perspective highlighting Black men whose lived experiences, leadership, and scholarship help preserve history and inform future generations.
About the Host & Organization
The Male Perspective is hosted by Lana Reid, founder of Conversations in Color, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) grassroots organization dedicated to providing uplifting and community-building spaces of dialogue for Black voices.
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