Jeanne Theoharis

Jeanne Theoharis is a Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College, City University of New York (CUNY), where she specializes in Civil Rights and Black Power movements, 20th century African American history, and post-1960s racial politics. Her scholarship critically examines historical narratives of racial justice and their contemporary implications.

She earned a Ph.D. in American Culture from the University of Michigan, establishing the foundation for her influential career in reshaping civil rights historiography.

Theoharis is renowned for challenging sanitized accounts of civil rights history through rigorous archival work and public scholarship. Her research spans the politics of race in education, urban segregation, and the enduring legacies of social welfare policies, with particular emphasis on recovering marginalized voices like Rosa Parks’ radical activism. This interdisciplinary approach bridges historical analysis with urgent present-day debates on racial equity.

Her contributions have been honored with:

• NAACP Image Award (2014) for The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks
• Letitia Woods Brown Award from the Association of Black Women Historians
• Choice Outstanding Academic Title (2013)
• Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize in Nonfiction (2018) for A More Beautiful and Terrible History

While specific advisees and grant details are not documented in the source material, Theoharis’ prolific output—including nine books and commentary in major media outlets—demonstrates significant mentorship through public scholarship and institutional leadership at CUNY. Her work consistently influences academic discourse and policy discussions on racial justice.