RL Watson

RL Watson is an Assistant Professor of English and African American Studies at Lake Forest College. Their research focuses on intersections of race, religion, and representation in literature and culture. Watson holds a PhD in Religion & Literature from the University of Chicago (2018), an MA in Religion from Yale Divinity School (2010), and a BA in Film Studies/Theatre Studies from Yale University (2003).

Research interests include American racial culture, African-American literature, religious history, and multispecies studies. Recent work explores moral metaphors of darkness, racial representation in media, and the ethics of invisibility through fungal ecologies.

Key presentations include discussions on Black activism (2020), climate justice (2019), and the N-word's cultural significance (2019). Awards include the 2020 Outstanding Program Award and 2019 Mojekwu Recognition Award.

Teaching spans African American drama, creative writing, and courses on race and representation. Advises projects at the intersection of literature, theology, and social justice.