Zandria Felice Robinson

Dr. Zandria Felice Robinson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Black Studies at Georgetown University. A native Memphian and classically-trained violinist, she is a writer and ethnographer whose work centers on race, gender, sound, and spirit at the crossroads of the living and the dead, with deep roots in Southern Black experiences.

Her academic credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Sociology from Northwestern University
• M.A. in Sociology from the University of Memphis
• B.A. with Honors in English Language & Literature and African American Studies from the University of Memphis

Dr. Robinson's research synthesizes Black feminist theory, urban sociology, and Afro-futurism to explore how Black communities navigate identity, memory, and spatial belonging. Her ethnographic approach uniquely integrates sound studies and spiritual traditions, examining how connections with ancestors inform contemporary Black life. She investigates regional distinctions within Black America, particularly challenging Northern-centric frameworks through Southern perspectives.

Her publications reveal a trajectory mapping Black life across geographic, cultural, and temporal dimensions—from the regional identity studies in This Ain't Chicago to the national urban cartography of Chocolate Cities, culminating in current explorations of grief and ancestral communication. Collectively, her work establishes a framework for understanding Black existence through intersectional, place-based, and intergenerational lenses.

Her major honors include:

• Eduardo Bonilla-Silva Outstanding Book Award (2014)
• CHOICE Award for Outstanding Academic Title (2018)
• Robert E. Park Book Award (2018)

As Past President of the Association of Black Sociologists and editorial board member for Southern Cultures, she shapes scholarly discourse while bridging academic and public spheres through contributions to Oxford American, The New York Times Magazine, and NPR. Her teaching in Black feminist theory and memoir writing cultivates critical engagement with identity and narrative.