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NC State Assistant Professor Wins ‘Best Research Paper’ Award from Prestigious Journal

A paper co-authored by KangJae “Jerry” Lee, an assistant professor of parks, recreation and tourism management at NC State’s College of Natural Resources, has been named the “Best Research Paper for 2020” by The Academy of Leisure Sciences. 

The paper, “Ada S. McKinley: A Hidden History of African American Settlement House in Chicago,” was recently published in the journal Leisure Sciences and highlights the life of McKinley, a Black social reformer and racial justice advocate in Chicago, and her impact on the parks and recreation movement. It also notes that the efforts of Black social reformers have been largely forgotten or ignored. 

“It’s truly an honor and privilege to be recognized by other leisure scholars,” Lee said. “Now that the paper is published, I hope more people become aware of Ada McKinley and more research on the history of people of color will be done. The history of the settlement house movement and the park and recreation pioneers has been dominated by the heroification of White social reformers such as Jane Addams. I cannot stress enough the importance of further research in this area. Otherwise, we are at risk of drawing flawed conclusions that discount the diversity and complexity of our past.” 

After relocating from Texas to Chicago during the 1890s, McKinley immersed herself in the city’s political and social circles as part of the women’s club movement and eventually became a leading member of the Phyllis Wheatley Club.

McKinley continued her role as a community activist during the ensuing years of World War 1. In 1918, she volunteered as a hostess at War Camp Community Service, an organization established by the Chicago Urban League to provide social services for Black veterans. McKinley led the organization’s recreation program, “Soldiers and Sailors Club.” 

When the organization lost its funding in 1919, McKinley established the South Side Settlement House to continue providing social, educational and welfare services to Black migrants and impoverished communities. 

The agency was later named in her honor as the Ada S. McKinley Community Services. It now serves more than 7,000 people annually and provides a wide array of programs and services, including mentoring and college placement, foster care, housing opportunities, youth and family counseling and more. 

Lee, whose research focus is social and environmental justice, said he decided to highlight McKinley because the life and legacy of McKinley — and other Black social reformers — hasn’t received much scholarly attention or public interest. 

“Historically, African Americans were barred from contributing to the mainstream narrative of American progress. So, it is more than reasonable to think that less research and public attention have been given to McKinley because of her race,” Lee said. 

He added, “Our history is always written by the power. The dominant historical narrative is a product of a certain viewpoint that usually suppresses or neglects other perspectives, whether intentionally or unintentionally. We need to strive for a more balanced and just historical perspective.” 

This post was originally published in College of Natural Resources News.