price was encouraged to enter the field of african american history by his graduate advisor at the university of bridgeport, bruce m. stave. as a doctoral candidate at rutgers university-new brunswick, price began researching newark's and new jersey's african-american history, and taught for the 1968–69 academic year at the newly opened essex county college. in february 1969, a group of black rutgers university-newark students occupied the campus's conklin hall, demanding increased enrollment of minority students and increased hiring of minority professors. as one result of the university's response to the students' demands, price was hired and began teaching history at rutgers university-newark in the fall semester of 1969. he remained an active member of the history faculty until his death, including serving as director of the graduate program and chair of african and african-american studies. in 2002 he was named rutgers university board of governors distinguished service professor.