Jason Young

Jason R. Young is an Associate Professor of History and Director of the Institute for the Humanities at the University of Michigan, holding the Mary Fair Croushore Professorship of the Humanities. He specializes in 19th-Century U.S. History, African American History, and the African Diaspora, with expertise in art, religion, and folk culture.

Education: PhD in History from the University of California, Riverside (200?).

Research Interests: Young explores the intersections of art, religion, and resistance in enslaved communities. His work emphasizes the transatlantic cultural links between Kongo and the U.S. Lowcountry, particularly through religious practices and material culture. He co-curated the Hear Me Now exhibit at the MET (2022–2023) and authored Rituals of Resistance (2007), which examines Kongo religious practices in the Americas.

Articles Overview: His research spans topics like African Atlantic religion, flying African folklore, and the role of art in enslaved resistance. Recent works include studies on material culture’s role in cultural memory and post-slavery societal transitions.

Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Global Islamic Studies Center and the Department of History, he collaborates on interdisciplinary projects linking art, history, and cultural studies.