Roger House

Roger House serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism at Emerson College, specializing in African American cultural and political history. His scholarship centers on jazz heritage, Black self-governance, and urban Black communities, with significant contributions to redefining regional jazz narratives beyond traditional hubs.

Education:

• B.A., Columbia University
• M.A., Boston University
• Ph.D., Boston University

House's research interrogates intersections of race, music, and power structures. His monograph South End Shout reconstructs Boston's interwar Black jazz ecosystem through 20 original line drawings and archival analysis of segregated musicians' unions, venues, and cross-racial collaborations. Current work examines Atlantic World political culture in Five Hundred Years of Black Self Governance. He contextualizes these themes through regular op-eds for The Nation, The Hill, and The Amsterdam News on contemporary Black politics.

His publications reveal consistent focus on African American cultural production, emphasizing localized histories and transnational connections in music and governance. The works demonstrate methodological innovation through integrating visual art with historical analysis and bridging academic scholarship with public discourse.

Scientific recognition:

• 2011 finalist for Excellence in Historical Writing by the Association of Recorded Sound Collections (for Blue Smoke)

House extends his scholarship through public-facing projects including the Boston's Forgotten Jazz Scene Calendar 2024, NPR historical documentaries, and the Victory Stride blog chronicling Black experiences during Emerson College's first African American presidency (2011-2021). His prior role as Providence Journal staff writer informs his narrative approach to historical storytelling.