Xavier Sivels

Xavier Sivels is an instructor in the Department of Southern Studies at the University of Mississippi. He holds a BA in history and philosophy from Virginia State University and a PhD in history from Mississippi State University. His doctoral dissertation, titled “Freakish Man: Sexual Blues, Sacred Beliefs, and the Transformation of Black Queer Identity, 1870-1957,” explores intersections of race, sexuality, and religion in African American history.

He has taught courses on early U.S. history, Mississippi history, early world history, and African American history. Sivels was a Study the South Fellow and an advanced doctoral fellow at The Center for Black, Brown, and Queer Studies. He delivered a lecture titled “‘Ain’t I Pretty?’: Sweet Daddy Grace and the Sacred Blues of the Badman” at a SouthTalk event.

• Awards: Society of Mississippi Archivists Distinguished Student Presentation Award (2022)

No grants or labs are explicitly mentioned, though his research focuses on marginalized histories and cultural expression.