معرفی
Cynthia Blair is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), and Director of the African American Cultural Center. Her research focuses on the intersection of race, sexuality, and urban history in 19th- and 20th-century America, with a particular emphasis on African American experiences, West Indian migration, and transnational identities.
Education:
- PhD in History of American Civilization, Harvard University (1999)
- MA in History, Harvard University (1989)
- BA in American Culture and English, University of Michigan (1986)
Her research interests include African American urban history, American film and popular culture, and the sociohistorical dynamics of Black women’s labor and criminalization. Her award-winning book, I’ve Got to Make My Livin’, examines Black women’s sex work in early 20th-century Chicago and its intersection with reform movements and urban development. Current projects include a cultural biography of comedian Moms Mabley and an oral history of Jamaican migrants to the Midwest (1940–1964).
Awards: The Lora Romero Book Prize (2021) from the American Studies Association for her first book.
Grants/Advising: No specific grants or advising details listed, though her research projects suggest active engagement in academic collaborations and oral history initiatives.
Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the African American Cultural Center at UIC, fostering interdisciplinary research and community engagement in Black Studies.
