Walter Greason

Walter Greason serves as the Dewitt Wallace Professor of History and Wallace Endowed Chair of History in the Department of History at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He maintains research affiliate positions with Brandeis University's Institute for Economic and Racial Equity, Rutgers University's Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice, the Center for New American History at the University of Richmond, and the University of Minnesota's College of Design.

Greason earned his Ph.D. in History from Temple University as a Future Faculty Fellow, where he contributed to President William J. Clinton's National Dialogue on Race. As a Presidential Scholar at Villanova University, he studied History, English, Philosophy, Peace and Justice Studies, and Africana Studies, and organized the social justice campaign that established the first Strategic Plan for Cultural Diversity in American history.

As the founding scholar and historian of Afrofuturist Design, Greason's research spans urban history, civil rights, historic preservation, and digital history. His work uniquely bridges academic scholarship with community engagement, particularly through projects that use historic preservation as a means of reinvesting in vulnerable communities. His interdisciplinary approach connects history with economics, urban planning, and digital technology to address issues of racial justice and community development.

Greason's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the intersection of race, space, and community development, with increasing emphasis on digital approaches to historical interpretation. His recent work, particularly The Graphic History of Hip Hop, represents a significant contribution to visual historical narrative and has been featured at major cultural institutions including the United Nations, Smithsonian Institution, and Metropolitan Museum of Art.

• Award-winning author of Suburban Erasure
• Award-winning author of Illmatic Consequences
• Award-winning author of The Black Reparations Project
• Award-winning author of The Graphic History of Hip Hop
• International recognition for work on the Timothy Thomas Fortune Cultural Center

Greason has advised numerous community revitalization projects across Minnesota, Florida, New Jersey, and Louisiana. His Building One America initiative influenced state budget changes under Governor Edward Rendell and contributed to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. He has appeared on dozens of media outlets worldwide and maintains strong connections between academia, public policy, and community development efforts. His research affiliate positions demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of his work across history, economics, and design fields.

Through his program services, Greason connects academic research with community needs, providing research reports, strategic planning, program tracking, and speaking engagements focused on globalization, segregation, slavery, historic preservation, and community reinvestment. His work on virtual tours of historic sites like the Gallier House in New Orleans demonstrates innovative approaches to interpreting history through digital technology.