Green, Vera Mae (1928–1982)
Green, Vera Mae (1928–1982)
African-American social and applied anthropologist. Born Sept 6, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois; died Jan 17, 1982; graduate of William Penn College; Columbia University, MA in anthropology, 1955; University of Arizona, PhD, 1969; never married.
Worked in social-welfare jobs in Chicago (early 1950s) before studying anthropology at Columbia University; served in international community development with United Nations; became one of the 1st African-American anthropologists to study interethnic relations in Caribbean and 1st to study Dutch Caribbean as culture area; joined staff of Rutgers University (1972) where she went on to serve as chair of the Department of Anthropology and director of Latin American Institute; explored diversity of black families and culture in America and the Caribbean; served as president of Association of Black Anthropologists (1977–79). Works include Migrants in Aruba (1974) and International Human Rights (as co-editor, 1980).