Destin Jenkins

Destin Jenkins is an Associate Professor of History at Stanford University’s School of Humanities and Sciences, specializing in the intersection of capitalism, democracy, and racial inequality in post-Reconstruction America. He holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and a B.A. from Columbia University.

His research examines financial systems that perpetuate inequality, particularly through debt’s role in urban development. Notable works include The Bonds of Inequality (2021), which won multiple prestigious awards, and Histories of Racial Capitalism (2021), a co-edited interdisciplinary volume. He contributes to public discourse through writings in the Washington Post, The Nation, and New York Times.

Current projects include a concise history of American debt and a multi-faceted study on Black political representation, underground economies, and government privatization. Jenkins previously served as Neubauer Family Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago and held fellowships at Harvard and The New School.

• Awards: Multiple academic prizes recognizing his contributions to urban history and African American studies.
• Teaching: Courses on capitalism, race, African American politics, urban history, and historiography.