Hakeem Jefferson

Hakeem Jefferson is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Stanford University, affiliated with the Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, the Stanford Center for American Democracy, and the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law. He earned his PhD in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a BA in Political Science and African American Studies from the University of South Carolina. His research focuses on identity’s role in shaping political attitudes, particularly how stigma influences Black Americans' support for punitive policies and reactions to issues like police violence. He co-won the 2020 Best Dissertation Award from the APSA Political Psychology Section for his work on respectability and punishment among Black Americans. His research also examines racial divides in public opinion, including reactions to officer-involved shootings and the limitations of traditional liberal-conservative scales for Black Americans. He has received grants from the Russell Sage Foundation and collaborates with scholars like Lauren Davenport and Koji Takahashi on projects exploring racial categorization, information avoidance, and collective policing. His teaching and public engagement emphasize clarifying racial justice issues for broader audiences, including convening experts post-George Floyd’s murder to address policing in America.

Jefferson’s work bridges academia and activism, aiming to contextualize systemic inequities affecting marginalized communities. His current book project, Respectability: Identity, Stigma, and the Politics of Punishment among Black Americans, expands on his dissertation. He remains accessible for academic collaborations, media commentary, and speaking engagements on race, politics, and equity.