“What is the underlying goal of these summer programs?” he rhetorically questioned. From his perspective, the top priority is to enlighten individuals on how this training and these skills can contribute to solving problems they genuinely care about. If young Black scholars turn away from economics because they perceive it as endorsing the current state of affairs, his lack of surprise is evident. He expressed, “If this is the essence of what economics teaches, who would want to be associated with that?”
Myers proves to be a fascinating individual. He pursued competitive swimming during his college years and later engaged in age-group competitions to inspire his daughter’s dedication to her swim team. Hearing-impaired for most of his life, and with worsening hearing as he aged, we conversed via Zoom with the assistance of captions. After obtaining an economics degree in 1971 from Morgan State University, a historically Black institution in Baltimore, he pursued his Ph.D. at M.I.T., successfully earning his doctorate in 1976. At Minnesota, he currently occupies the prestigious Roy Wilkins chair in human relations and social justice. (Wilkins served as the head of the N.A.A.C.P. from 1955 to 1977.)
Myers shared stories of the economists, both Black and white, who offered support and guidance to him and others during their formative years. One such individual was his father, Samuel L. Myers, a trailblazer who obtained a doctorate in economics from Harvard in 1949. Additionally, Myers mentioned Marcus Alexis, a charter member of the Caucus of Black Economists who played a vital role in establishing the summer program aimed at minority undergraduates. Another influential figure was Andrew Brimmer, a co-founder of the program who later became the first Black governor of the Federal Reserve from 1966 to 1974. Clifton Wharton, who assumed the presidency at Michigan State University in 1969 and subsequently supported the summer program as chairman of the Rockefeller Foundation, also played a significant role. Further mention was made of Phyllis Wallace, the first Black woman to earn a doctorate in economics from Yale in 1948, and Bernard Anderson, the first African American to achieve tenure at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Myers expressed his gratitude for the support he received from white professors on M.I.T.’s economics faculty, including figures like Paul Samuelson, Robert Solow, Michael Piore, Richard Eckaus, Duncan Foley, and Charles Kindleberger. Myers recollected moments of shared camaraderie, including dinner parties hosted by Kindleberger, where they would take walks around the lake afterwards. Myers noted that Kindleberger recognized the importance of unity among Black doctoral candidates.
“There was an opposing view that questioned, ‘Why should these individuals congregate amongst themselves, as it might perpetuate issues?'” Myers recalled. He affirmed his strong sense of identity and pride in being Black, stating, “I am unapologetically Black, and I firmly believe that my race does not hinder my progress. While I have collaborated with numerous white economists, I refuse to believe that one must only socialize with white economists to be a successful Black economist.”
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