Martin David Jenkins

Martin David Jenkins (September 4, 1904 – June 9, 1978) was an American educator and researcher known for his work challenging mainstream theories of African American race and intelligence.

Early life Martin Jenkins was born to David and Josephine Jenkins in Terre Haute, Indiana. Jenkins was educated in racially segregated public schools until his high school years when he attended the racially integrated Wiley High School. While attending Wiley, he was the captain of the track team and set Vigo County record for the 50-yard (5.6 seconds), 100-yd (10.2 sec) and 220-yd (24.0 sec) dashes.

During his career, Jenkins published over 80 scholarly articles and monographs and lectured worldwide on his intelligence testing research with aid from the U.S. State Department. published in "A Socio-Psychological Study of Negro Children of Superior Intelligence," was among the first to focus on black children of superior intelligence.

Working with his mentor Witty, Jenkins co-authored "The Case of 'B'—A Gifted Negro Girl," a descriptive case study that observed a nine-year-old girl from Chicago whose Stanford-Binet IQ score measured at 187. Jenkins and Witty described her developmental history, academic success, interests, friends and home life. They described "B" as a child who provided rapid responses to questions, made high-level associations, yet was not satisfied with her own performance. This study further provided the groundwork for research that examined blacks of significantly high intelligence.

Awards Jenkins was bestowed as Knight by the Liberian Government of the Liberian Humane Order of African Redemption. He received a Commendation for Model Cities activities by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and Housing and Urban Development. He was also awarded the Andrew White Medal from Loyola College and the Department of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal.

Jenkins was awarded an honorary doctorates degree by the University of Liberia, Delaware State College, Howard University, Indiana State University, Johns Hopkins University, Lincoln University and Morgan State College.

In 1974, Morgan State College dedicated the Martin David Jenkins Behavior Science Center in Jenkins' honor.

Publications A Socio-Psychological Study of Negro Children of Superior Intelligence The Case of "B"—A Gifted Negro Girl The Mental Ability of the American Negro Current Trends in Higher Education: Democratic Government in Negro Colleges Enrollment in Institutions of Higher Education of Negroes, 1940–1941 Case Studies of Negro Children of Binet IQ 160 and Above A Listing of the Significant Programs in Institutions of Higher Education of Negroes Enrollment in Institutions of Higher Education for Negroes, 1944-1945 Enrollment in Institutions of Higher Education for Negroes 1946-47 Graduate Work in Negro Institutions of Higher Education The Availability of Higher Education for Negroes in the Southern States The Upper Limit of Ability among American Negroes Intellectually Superior Negro Youth: Problems and Needs Problems Incident to Racial Integration and some Suggested Approaches to these Problems The Future of the Desegregated Negro College Education: A Critical Summary