Becoming a More Humane Person: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

By George Henderson

Dr. George Henderson is a singular figure in the history of the University of Oklahoma and the history of the state. His work as an scholar, a sociologist, and a social activist bridged the classroom and the community. Becoming a More Humane Person: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow draws on Henderson's life experiences to guide readers in living with kindness, humility, and compassion.

Henderson was born to Alabama sharecroppers and labelled a "no-learner" as a child. Yet he went on to serve in the Air Force, earn a doctorate, and, in 1967, become the University of Oklahoma's third African American professor. Influenced by Martin Luther King, Jr., Henderson played a major role in the larger movement to improve race relations at OU.

In addition to fresh material, this book weaves together the most essential ideas and insights from Henderson's previous works. Henderson uses personal stories that are rich with humor and historical perspective to illustrate bigger ideas. Henderson addresses challenges that shape both individual lives and collective society: what it means to be a good parent or teacher, how to confront poverty and violence, and more.

Ultimately, this is a book of enduring wisdom earned across the span of an incredible life journey.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080619815X
• ISBN13: 9780806198156
• Release Date: January 2027
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
• Length: 274 Pages