Dr. Jennifer Jones

Biography

Jennifer Jones’ research lies at the intersection of sociology, race, immigration, and politics. Her scholarship examines how race 'works,' exploring the relationship between categorical ascription and meaning-making, such as identity and a sense of group belonging. Jones seeks to examine the social construction of race by exploring distinct sources of change in the contemporary racial landscape, including immigration, a growing multiracial population, and shifting social relations among racial groups. Focusing on these themes, she expands the understanding of how people become racialized and how these identities impact social relations and politics. A key interest of hers is the positive social relations and solidarity that can emerge among ostensibly distinct ethnoracial groups. Jones authored 'Browning New South' (University of Chicago Press, 2019), which examines the shifting race relations experienced by Mexican immigrants in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and argues that in the Southeast, Latinos are often seen as allies rather than adversaries by African Americans. Moreover, her work has significant implications for local, state, and national politics. Additionally, she is completing a new monograph in collaboration with Hana Brown on immigrant-serving institutions in the South, explaining how racial ideologies shape political and social landscapes. Her research has been funded by notable institutions, including the National Science Foundation and the Russell Sage Foundation.

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