Alabama State University and the broader academic community are mourning the loss of Derryn Moten, Ph.D., a devoted historian, educator and advocate for justice, who died Feb. 3.
Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Moten’s academic journey led him to Howard University, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in English. He continued his education with a master of science in library and information science from the Catholic University of America before earning both a master of arts and a doctorate in American studies from the University of Iowa. His groundbreaking dissertation, A Gruesome Warning to Black Girls: The Aug. 16, 1912 Execution of Virginia Christian, later inspired Ross Howell Jr.’s novel, Forsaken (2016).
Moten joined the Alabama State University family in 1996, dedicating nearly three decades to educating students and preserving historical truth. He taught in the department of humanities before achieving tenure and rising to the rank of professor.
In 2015, he became chair of the department of history and political science, a role he held until his retirement in December 2024. Beyond his department leadership, Moten was deeply involved in faculty governance, serving as president of the university’s faculty senate and co-president of the university’s chapter of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Faculty-Staff Alliance.
A passionate researcher and writer, Moten played a crucial role in reviving the first biography of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Crusader Without Violence, originally published in 1959 by Lawrence D. Reddick, Ph.D. Thanks to Moten’s efforts, the book was republished for its 60th anniversary in 2018 by NewSouth Books, with Moten writing the introduction. That same year, he led a campaign to clear the records of nine Alabama State College students who had been expelled in 1960 for their role in the first student sit-in demonstration against segregation in the deep South. His advocacy resulted in the Alabama Board of Education officially expunging their records.
Moten’s commitment to justice extended beyond academia. In 2022, he collaborated with Case Western University professor Jonathan Entin, Ph.D., to urge former President Joe Biden to award civil rights attorney and university alumnus Fred D. Gray Sr. the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Their efforts were successful, Moten was present at the White House for the award ceremony.
Throughout his career, Moten was a key contributor to public history projects. A frequent consultant for the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), he played a pivotal role in efforts to memorialize Montgomery’s history of racial injustice. He helped erect historical markers acknowledging the city’s involvement in the 19th-century slave trade and was actively engaged in the community’s reckoning with the history of lynching violence. His presence and insights were also featured in a documentary at EJI’s Legacy Museum.
History professor Aaron Horton, Ph.D., spoke to the magnitude of Moten’s work.
“Dr. Derryn Moten had a tremendous passion for history and keeping the past alive, as evidenced by his ongoing engagement in the community and his efforts to commemorate important events here in Montgomery. He was an advocate of the ongoing importance and relevance of history, and he will be greatly missed.”
Bertis English, Ph.D., professor of history and editor of the Journal of African American History (JAAH), described him as “the quintessential scholar-activist” and emphasized that beyond his professional achievements, “Moten was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather.”
His colleagues at the university recall his deep impact as a mentor and leader. Associate professor of communications media, Ashla C. Hill Roseboro, Ph.D., reflected on his guidance.
“Dr. Moten was a history maker. He used his voice as a drum major for justice, keeping Alabama State University aware of policies and discourse. When I arrived at ASU in 2019, Dr. Moten willingly mentored me by sharing lessons of importance for me to be successful. His loss will be felt, but his legacy will remain. Our deepest sympathies are extended to Mrs. Moten and their family.”
Assistant professor of history and book review editor of JAAH, Maurice Robinson, Ph.D., also spoke to Moten’s character and leadership.
“Dr. Moten was a steadfast and reliable chair of the department of history and political science,” Robinson said. “He was the first colleague to welcome me to Alabama State University and went out of his way to help me adjust and thrive. The campus, and community, has lost a resolute standard-bearer of academic excellence and moral integrity. I will sorely miss his professional drive and his personal determination to always speak up for others. Prayers and condolences to his family.”
Moten’s legacy extends beyond academia. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Inga, who retired from the university in 2021, and a loving father to their four children—Viola, Danielle, Cole and James.