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Abstract
This thesis examines the institutional factors that shaped the academic reception of Professor Moses Wharton Young's neuroscience contributions, challenging the prevailing narrative that attributes his scholarly neglect solely to "academic racism." While acknowledging the undeniable impact of racial discrimination—including documented instances of hotelaccommodation denials and broader societal prejudice—this work argues for a more nuanced understanding of Young's academic legacy. Through careful analysis of historical records, institutional contexts, and the specific challenges facing Howard University's Medical Department, this study reveals that Young's exclusion from research resources stemmed from
multiple interconnected factors beyond race alone. Despite these obstacles, Young made notable contributions to neuroscience, particularly his World War II research on blast injuries that gained recognition from the U.S. Government and generated academic citations. This evidence contradicts claims of universal neglect and demonstrates that his work received acknowledgment when institutional barriers were overcome. By providing this balanced perspective, the thesis contributes to a more sophisticated understanding of how racial bias intersected with institutional, financial, and contextual factors to shape the careers of Black American scholars in the early-to-mid twentieth century.