Angeline Butler

Angeline Butler is an Adjunct Professor of African American Studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York. She previously taught Ethnic Studies at the University of Southern California. Her academic focus includes ethnomusicology, civil rights history, and social justice. Butler holds a Master of Arts in Music and Ethnomusicology from Columbia University, with earlier education at Fisk University, Juilliard School of Music, and UCLA.

Her career spans music, theatre, and activism. Notably, she was a key figure in the Nashville Sit-Ins, founding member of SNCC, and participated in Freedom Rides. Awards include the 2023 Gandhi-King Award and 2021 Omni Award. She has produced cultural events and written plays like Voices of a Sit-In. At John Jay, she has developed projects such as the Ellington Tree Project, highlighting African American contributions to music. Butler’s work bridges academia, art, and civil rights advocacy.