CJ Martin

CJ Martin is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the College of the Holy Cross, specializing in African American History with a focus on the abolitionist movement, slavery and abolition, and the political dimensions of the Early Republic. He holds a PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

His research explores themes of Black leadership in voting rights struggles, such as his book The Precious Birthright, which details how Black Rhode Islanders regained voting rights pre-Civil War. Current projects include a biography of Reverend John W. Lewis, a key figure in spreading anti-slavery ideas in Northern New England and New York.

Martin teaches courses spanning African American history, emphasizing struggles for justice from slavery to contemporary movements like Black Lives Matter. He engages in public history collaborations with museums and social justice organizations. His scholarship bridges academic and community-oriented work, highlighting underrepresented narratives in U.S. history.