Cedric Burrows

Cedric Burrows is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at Arizona State University (ASU), specializing in cultural rhetorics, Black rhetoric, and their interpretations in mainstream culture. Previously, he held the same rank at Marquette University. His research explores the intersection of race, rhetoric, and cultural representation, culminating in his award-winning book Rhetorical Crossover: The Black Presence in White Culture (2020), which examines how Black cultural expressions are received and misinterpreted in white-dominated spaces. He has also received the 2020 Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Faculty Award from Marquette.

Education: Ph.D. in English from the University of Kansas, M.A. in English from Miami University (Ohio), and B.A. in English from Alcorn State University.

Research interests include African American Studies, Civil Rights history, and decolonial pedagogical practices. His work challenges systemic inequities in education and media representation, emphasizing the 'Black tax' faced by marginalized communicators in white spaces. His scholarship bridges historical analysis (e.g., Malcolm X and MLK narratives) with contemporary issues like textbook bias and microaggressions in academia.

Key contributions include critiques of composition textbooks’ handling of non-white voices and advocacy for inclusive curricula. His teaching focuses on the African American Rhetorical Tradition and Black Freedom Movement studies, described as transformative by colleagues.