Milfred C. Fierce

Milfred was born in Brooklyn, New York; he was the youngest, of two boys, of Helen Wilson Fierce and Millus Cornelius Fierce. Milfred enjoyed his childhood as a young boy growing up in Brooklyn in the 1940s and 1950s. While playing stickball in the street and going to Ebbets field to watch the Dodgers, Milfred formed bonds that were instrumental in shaping his professional career later in his life. Milfred attended Boys High School in Brooklyn, New York—class of 1955.

Shortly after graduating from high school, Milfred enrolled in Wagner College, and he joined the basketball team. Because of his stellar performance on the court, in his first semester, he was awarded a full scholarship for his remaining matriculation at Wagner. In 1960, after graduating from Wagner with two degrees, Milfred taught and coached basketball in Brooklyn. In 1961 Milfred enlisted in the U.S. Army and served from 1961 to 1964. Upon honorable discharge, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill and pursued a graduate degree. While pursuing his graduate degree, he gained employment at J.H.S. 35 in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. There he met a beautiful, young teacher named Diane Kenniebrew. The two became quite fond of each other; they fell in love and they married in June, 1970. In the late fall of 1971, they gave birth to their only son Antar Kwame Fierce.

Through Diane’s cousin, Claudia Thomas, Milfred was connected and ultimately offered a teaching position at Vassar College in upstate New York. This employment was a pivotal decision for Milfred to make while juggling his early career as an educator and as a new husband and father. However, in typical Milfred fashion, he carefully considered the risk and ultimately made the right decision, as he often did. Therefore, in the fall of 1972, Milfred packed up his family and moved to the city of Poughkeepsie, New York and onto the charming campus of Vassar College. Milfred hit the ground running and joined a group of students who were fighting for the establishment of an Africana Studies Program. Once the college agreed to support the program, Milfred became the first director of the Africana Studies Program at Vassar College—one of the earliest of its kind in the United States.

Following his tenure at Vassar, Milfred moved back to New York City, and he purchased a brownstone in the heart of Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn—where Milfred and Diane began raising their son. Thereafter, Milfred began his doctoral studies at Colombia University, and earned a Ph.D. in 1976. Milfred accepted a position and began his tenure-track as a professor of Africana Studies at The City University of New York (CUNY), Hunter College. During his time at Hunter College, Milfred was asked by his childhood friend, Franklin Thomas, to lead a study group researching apartheid in South Africa for the Ford Foundation. His dual roles as professor at CUNY Hunter College (and later CUNY Brooklyn College) and Research Director for the Ford Foundation required him to extensively travel to the African continent over the next thirty years. During that span, Milfred authored two books, and he significantly contributed to a number of published books, reports, and articles. The most notable are:

South Africa Time Running Out-Report of The Study Commission on U.S. Policy Towards Southern Africa, Dr. Milfred C. Fierce, Research Director. © 1981 Foreign Policy Study Foundation Inc.

Africana Studies Outside the United States: Africa, Brazil, The Caribbean, Milfred C. Fierce. © 1991 The Ford Foundation.

Slavery Revisited: Blacks and the Southern Convict Lease System 1865-1933. © 1994 Milfred C. Fierce.

Upon retirement, Milfred relocated to Atlanta, Georgia to spend time with his only son, Antar, and his family. In addition to his illustrious career as an educator, Milfred was exceedingly accomplished at many things. Among his favorites were: playing cards, playing and discussing basketball with his grandchildren, collecting and driving automobiles, and traveling by car or plane to any location—with a beach. Milfred C. Fierce was a refined, sophisticated symbol of Black manhood. More importantly, he was a shining example of an exceptional father, son, and husband and he will be truly missed.

Milfred is survived by his Son Antar Kwame Fierce, Daughter-in-Law Sonya Spikes-Fierce, Grandchildren Debra Victoria Skye Fierce, Trinity Diane Fierce, Antar Milfred Fierce, Taj Malik Harris, and his Brother Hughlyn F. Fierce.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that you make a donation in Dr. Fierce’s name to doctors without borders

A funeral service for Milfred will be held Monday, July 31, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens, 5755 Mallory Road, College Park, Georgia 30349. Following the funeral service will be an interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, 5755 Mallory Road, College Park, Georgia 30349.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestlawnfuneralhomemg.com for the Fierce family.