Christopher Rounds

Christopher Rounds is an Assistant Professor of History in the Department of Social Science at South Carolina State University, teaching American and African-American History courses.

His academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in History from the University of South Carolina (2008)
• M.A. from The Catholic University of America (2003)
• B.A. from Marist College (2001)

Dr. Rounds specializes in African-American history with a research focus on the long civil rights movement. His work critically examines how 21st-century activists interpret and apply the African-American freedom struggle legacy in contemporary contexts, analyzing manifestations from Colin Kaepernick's protests to Malcolm X's enduring cultural relevance. This research bridges historical analysis with current socio-political dynamics through interdisciplinary lenses of race, ethnicity, and social movement theory.

His recent publications demonstrate consistent engagement with African-American cultural and political history across diverse domains. Works span safe-sex discourse in 1980s-1990s rap music, athlete activism at the intersection of sports and racial justice, and political appropriations of civil rights iconography. These studies reveal thematic continuity in examining how historical narratives are mobilized in modern social justice movements.

Dr. Rounds maintains extensive teaching experience across multiple institutions including Winthrop University (2007-2010), Allen University (2011-2021), Claflin University (2018-2021), and Augusta University (2021-2022). A New York native, he has resided in Columbia, SC for nearly two decades with his family.