Frazier, E. Franklin (1894–1962)

E. (Edward) Franklin Frazier was a prolific Black sociologist whose pioneering research contributed [Page 302]to the foundation of Black sociological thought and challenged conventional wisdom by raising existential questions regarding the complexity of race relations in American society.

Frequently characterized as an “improper Negro,” a nonconformist, a protestor, and a gadfly, Frazier represents a generation of Black sociologists who embodied the intellectual, political, and social Zeitgeist that characterized the 1920s. At a historical juncture when issues centered on race, crime, and justice were at the forefront of the American discourse, Frazier ascended as a young scholar concerned with examining some of the most prevalent issues associated with the Black experience—the progression of racism endured by Blacks that included slavery, involuntary migration, emancipation, segregation, and urbanization. Whereas Frazier is most notably recognized as both a student and scholar of sociological thought, his contributions to criminological thought are less acknowledged but equally significant. Frazier's avid scholarship exemplifies his countless contributions to both sociological and criminological thought and illustrates his legacy as a scholar. Although his research on the Black family, critique of the Black middle class, and final address to the Negro intellectual are often considered the pinnacle of scholarly contributions, it is his examination of Blacks in the United States that has significantly enriched sociological and criminological thought. Frazier's extensive review of family disorganization, crime, delinquency, and other similarly related issues plaguing Black communities provides an informed understanding of the complexity of race in American society.

Edward Franklin Frazier dedicated a significant part of his life to opposing three things: racial injustice within the context of American society; the reluctance on the part of Blacks to satisfy and/or excel national standards; and the pretentiousness, superficiality, and embracing of false ideals among the Black middle class. Frazier, unlike more mainstream scholars of his time, challenged conventional wisdom by attempting to dispel the disingenuous assertions and stigmatizing labels that perpetuated myths and untruths about Blacks. Amid the mendacious assertions, Frazier was primarily concerned with dispelling the myth of Negro inferiority which dominated extant examinations of the Black experience. It is Frazier's departure from mainstream explanations that have significantly contributed to a more informed understanding of the importance of sociologically based explorations of the Black historical experience.