Black History

Unearthing History: The Remarkable Journey of John Wesley Gilbert

John Wesley Gilbert, a trailblazing figure, broke barriers as an educator, missionary, and the first African American archaeologist. Notably, he was the inaugural graduate of Paine College and the first African American to earn a master’s degree from Brown University.

Published

2 years ago

October 3, 2023

Oakland Post

John Wesley Gilbert had a wide-ranging career as a professor, archaeologist and minister. Wikipedia photo.

By Tamara Shiloh

Born free on July 6, 1863, in Hephzibah, Georgia, to Gabriel and Sarah, who were formerly enslaved farm hands, Gilbert’s early life revolved around education and hard work. After attending local public schools while laboring on a farm, he enrolled at Augusta Institute in 1878, where he later embarked on a teaching career at Ware High School in Richmond, Georgia.

Gilbert’s craving for knowledge led him to become the first student at the newly established Paine College in Augusta, where he studied Greek and other foreign languages from 1884 to 1886. His academic journey then took him to Brown University in Rhode Island, where he stood among the first 10 Black students and earned his A.B. degree in 1888.

In 1888, he began dating Osceola K. Pleasant, a teacher and Paine College and Fisk University graduate. The couple married in 1889 and raised four children together. During his time at Brown University, Gilbert received a scholarship to attend the American School of Classics in Athens, Greece, becoming the first African American to participate in archaeological fieldwork.

His excavations led to the discovery of the ancient Greek city of Eretria, and he crafted the first map of the area. Returning to Brown in 1891, Gilbert focused on archaeology and made history again, becoming the first African American to earn an advanced degree from the university — a master’s in Archaeology in 1891.

After his academic pursuits, Gilbert brought his wealth of knowledge back to Paine College in the fall of 1891. Now a professor, he taught Greek, Latin, English, French, German, and Hebrew, becoming the first African American instructor at the institution.

Gilbert’s dedication extended to theological studies at Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta in 1896, where he received his Doctorate of Divinity degree and became a Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) minister. His scholarly contributions earned him a prestigious position within the American Philological Association in 1897.

Dr. Gilbert accepted the position of president at Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama, in 1913. His passion for education remained unyielding, leading him back to Paine College, where he taught Greek, Hebrew, and New Testament literature. Concurrently, he served as the Dean of the Divinity School until his retirement in 1920.

On Nov. 18, 1923, the world mourned the loss of John Wesley Gilbert, a true pioneer and visionary, in Augusta, Georgia. In honor of his legacy, a low-income housing project was named after him in 1941, and in 1968, Paine College dedicated a Chapel to commemorate both Gilbert and Rev. Walter R. Lambuth.

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Activism

Learning Life’s Lessons

Since his release over five years ago, Richard has committed himself to making a difference, particularly by reaching out to women and families who lack the presence of a father or husband. He knows he cannot undo the years lost behind prison walls, but he is determined to use his past to build a better future for others. His story mirrors that of many who have walked a similar path. Yet, it remains uniquely his own – a testament to the power of change, resilience, and the belief that even from tragedy, something good can emerge.

Published

1 day ago

June 14, 2025

Oakland Post

Richard Johnson and son Fati. Courtesy photo.

“California’s three-strike laws gave me 2 life sentences for drug possession. After serving 28 years, mostly in solitary confinement, I am free to lead a movement to get the formerly incarcerated to give back.”

By Richard Johnson

I have written this book in hopes of being able to help others from not traveling down the path that leads to imprisonment or a cemetery. At the very beginning of writing this book, it began as a message to my son Fati Yero Gaidi, who was only two years old at the time that I was given two life sentences in prison for drug possession, under the newly implemented three-strikes-you-out law. The more that I wrote, the book began to evolve beyond its intended purpose for my son; it became something that any and everyone could utilize on their separate journeys through life challenges that we encounter. The book helped me put my thoughts, reasoning, perceptions, and views on display, while opening doors that, for the most part, were closed. The book can be purchased via Amazon. Learning life lessons.

About the Author

By Post staff

Richard “Razor” Johnson, 74, is a man whose life journey is marked by hard-earned wisdom, redemption, and an unshakable commitment to guiding the next generation. Once sentenced to life under California’s Three Strikes Law, he was released through what he calls nothing short of divine intervention. His time behind bars, particularly in Pelican Bay State Prison, gave him a new raw and unfiltered understanding of life’s hardest truths.

With the realization that time is precious and the future is shaped by the lessons we learn, Richard writes with urgency and purpose. His book—a 300-page labor of love—is dedicated to young men who may not have a father to teach them the meaning of life’s most important words. Through definitions filled with wisdom, experience, and deep personal insight, he offers direction to those who find themselves lost, just as he once was.

His words are not just lessons; they are a call to action. He hopes that by investing in young minds with wisdom and insight, they will be better equipped to navigate life’s trials, learn from their mistakes, and find their path to success. Richard “Razor” Johnson writes not just to be heard, but to help – because he knows firsthand that sometimes guidance can make all the difference.

Post publishers Paul and Gay Cobb visited Johnson in San Quentin and attended his graduation while he was in prison. He became a columnist with the Post News Group and has continued his advocacy for the formerly incarcerated by urging them to “give something back”. Johnson says he will be speaking at prisons, colleges, and media outlets to help organize voter registration and community service projects.