Dr. Walter Johnson

Biography

Walter Johnson is the Winthrop Professor of History at Harvard University, where he specializes in African American studies and the history of slavery in the United States. He earned a prominent reputation through his notable publications, including 'Soul by Soul: Life Inside the Antebellum Slave Market' (1999) and 'River of Dark Dreams: Slavery and Empire in the Cotton Kingdom of the Mississippi Valley' (2013). His scholarly contributions also include an autobiographical essay titled 'Guns and Family,' which was part of the 2019 edition of American Essays and originally published in the Boston Review. Johnson's research reflects on agency and commemoration in American history, highlighted by his 2003 article 'On Agency' in the Journal of Social History. His recent work, 'Broken Heart: A History of Violence in St. Louis,' was published in 2020. In addition to his books, he has received various fellowships from prestigious institutions, including the Center for Humanities at Wesleyan University and the Guggenheim Foundation. Johnson is actively involved in social change initiatives, serving on the advisory board for the City of St. Louis Reparations Commission and as a founding member of the Commonwealth Project, which aims to foster collaboration among academics, artists, and activists.

Research Interests

Experience