Robin D.G. Kelley
Encyclopedia
Robin Davis Gibran Kelley (born 1962) is a professor of History and American Studies
& Ethnicity at the University of Southern California
. From 2003 to 2006 he was the William B. Ransford Professor of Cultural and Historical Studies at Columbia University
. From 1994-2003, he was a professor of history and Africana
Studies at New York University
as well the chairman of NYU's history department from 2002-2003. Robin Kelley has also served as a Hess Scholar-in-Residence at Brooklyn College
. In the summer of 2000, Dr. Kelley was honored as a Montgomery Fellow at Dartmouth College
, where he taught and mentored a class of sophomores, as well as wrote the majority of the book, Freedom Dreams. During the academic year, 2009-2010, Kelley held the Harmsworth Chair of American History at Oxford University, the first African-American historian to do so since the chair was established in 1922.
After earning his doctorate, he began his career as an Assistant Professor at Southeastern Massachusetts University, then to Emory University
, and the University of Michigan
, where he was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. He later moved to the Department of History at New York University, where he was promoted to the rank of Professor and taught courses on U.S. history, African-American history, and popular culture. At the age of 32, he was the youngest full professor at NYU.
Kelley has spent most of his career exploring American and African-American history, with a particular emphasis on radical social movements and the political dynamics at work within African-American culture, including jazz
, hip-hop, and visual arts.
Although influenced by Marxism, Kelley has eschewed a doctrinaire Marxist approach to aesthetics and culture, preferring a modified surrealist approach. He has described himself in the past as a "Marxist surrealist feminist who is not just anti something but pro-emancipation, pro-liberation."
Robin Kelley earned his Bachelor's degree
from California State University, Long Beach
in 1983. By 1987 he had earned his Master's in African history and doctorate
in U.S. history from UCLA.
He has published several books focusing upon African-American history and culture as well as race relations, including Race Rebels: Culture, Politics, and the Black Working Class
, and Yo' Mama's DisFunktional!: Fighting the Culture Wars in Urban America. Kelley is also a prolific essayist, having published dozens of articles in scholarly journals, anthologies, and in the popular press, including the Village Voice and the New York Times.
His most recent book, Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original (Free Press, 2009), received several honors, including Best Book on Jazz from the Jazz Journalists Association and the Ambassador Award for Book of Special Distinction from the English Speaking Union. It was a finalist for PEN USA Literary Award. The Monk family, notably Thelonious Monk Jr., granted Kelley access to rare historical documents for his biography. No other scholar has ever had such access and support from the Monk family. Kelley is also working on two other books: Africa Speaks, America Answers: Modern Jazz in Revolutionary Times and A World to Gain: A History of African Americans, with Earl Lewis
and Tera Hunter.
On May 20, 2007, Kelley delivered the keynote address for the graduation ceremony of Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley
, where his mother, Ananda Sattwa, was graduating with a Ph.D. The department had sought him to speak before, but this seemed to be the perfect opportunity, as he would be able to place the hood on his mother's head.
In August of 2009, Kelley married actress Lisa Gay Hamilton
.
American studies
American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban...
& Ethnicity at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. From 2003 to 2006 he was the William B. Ransford Professor of Cultural and Historical Studies at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. From 1994-2003, he was a professor of history and Africana
African people
African people refers to natives, inhabitants, or citizen of Africa and to people of African descent.-Etymology:Many etymological hypotheses that have been postulated for the ancient name "Africa":...
Studies at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
as well the chairman of NYU's history department from 2002-2003. Robin Kelley has also served as a Hess Scholar-in-Residence at Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
. In the summer of 2000, Dr. Kelley was honored as a Montgomery Fellow at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, where he taught and mentored a class of sophomores, as well as wrote the majority of the book, Freedom Dreams. During the academic year, 2009-2010, Kelley held the Harmsworth Chair of American History at Oxford University, the first African-American historian to do so since the chair was established in 1922.
After earning his doctorate, he began his career as an Assistant Professor at Southeastern Massachusetts University, then to Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
, and the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, where he was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. He later moved to the Department of History at New York University, where he was promoted to the rank of Professor and taught courses on U.S. history, African-American history, and popular culture. At the age of 32, he was the youngest full professor at NYU.
Kelley has spent most of his career exploring American and African-American history, with a particular emphasis on radical social movements and the political dynamics at work within African-American culture, including jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, hip-hop, and visual arts.
Although influenced by Marxism, Kelley has eschewed a doctrinaire Marxist approach to aesthetics and culture, preferring a modified surrealist approach. He has described himself in the past as a "Marxist surrealist feminist who is not just anti something but pro-emancipation, pro-liberation."
Robin Kelley earned his Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
in 1983. By 1987 he had earned his Master's in African history and doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in U.S. history from UCLA.
He has published several books focusing upon African-American history and culture as well as race relations, including Race Rebels: Culture, Politics, and the Black Working Class
Race Rebels: Culture, Politics, and the Black Working Class
Race Rebels: Culture, Politics, and the Black Working Class is a 1994 non-fiction book by American writer Robin D. G. Kelley. The book, a cohesive adaptation of several articles previously published by Kelley, concerns the impact made by black members of the American working class on American...
, and Yo' Mama's DisFunktional!: Fighting the Culture Wars in Urban America. Kelley is also a prolific essayist, having published dozens of articles in scholarly journals, anthologies, and in the popular press, including the Village Voice and the New York Times.
His most recent book, Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original (Free Press, 2009), received several honors, including Best Book on Jazz from the Jazz Journalists Association and the Ambassador Award for Book of Special Distinction from the English Speaking Union. It was a finalist for PEN USA Literary Award. The Monk family, notably Thelonious Monk Jr., granted Kelley access to rare historical documents for his biography. No other scholar has ever had such access and support from the Monk family. Kelley is also working on two other books: Africa Speaks, America Answers: Modern Jazz in Revolutionary Times and A World to Gain: A History of African Americans, with Earl Lewis
Earl Lewis
Earl Lewis is Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Asa Griggs Candler Professor of History and African American Studies at Emory University...
and Tera Hunter.
On May 20, 2007, Kelley delivered the keynote address for the graduation ceremony of Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, where his mother, Ananda Sattwa, was graduating with a Ph.D. The department had sought him to speak before, but this seemed to be the perfect opportunity, as he would be able to place the hood on his mother's head.
In August of 2009, Kelley married actress Lisa Gay Hamilton
Lisa Gay Hamilton
Lisa Gay Hamilton is an American film, television, and theater actress known for her role as attorney Rebecca Washington on the ABC legal drama The Practice, and for her critically acclaimed performance as young Sethe in Jonathan Demme's film adaptation of Toni Morrison's Beloved...
.
External links
- Acclaimed Cultural Historian Robin D.G. Kelley Comes to Brooklyn College as Hess Scholar-in-Residence
- Columbia U. Snares NYU's Robin D.G. Kelley
- Robin D.G. Kelley, Leading African-American Studies Historian, Joins Columbia
- Robin D.G. Kelley lecture on Monk to anchor Black History Month event
- a Local Phase of a World Problem": Black History's Global Vision, 1883-1950
- Robin Kelley brings grass-roots movements to history’s grand narrative
- Dr. Robin D. G. Kelley "Multiculturalism and the Global Youth Culture"
- Social Justice Wiki
- Race-The Power of an Illusion. Interview with Robin D.G. Kelley.
- Renowned Scholar Joins USC College
- Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original - Official Website