Dr. William Sturkey

Biography

William Sturkey is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in the history of race in the American South since 1865. As an innovative narrative historian, he employs a variety of methodologies spanning social, economic, and diplomatic history. His research particularly focuses on the experiences of working-class racial minorities in the United States. Sturkey teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in Modern American History, African American History, Southern History, and Historical Research Methods. His notable publications include 'Write Light Freedom,' a co-edited collection on the writings of young activists during the Mississippi Freedom Summer of 1964, and 'Hattiesburg: An American City,' which analyzes the racial and economic history of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, from 1880 to 1966. He has also written for prominent journals and essays related to African American history and Civil Rights. Sturkey is a passionate educator and public scholar, involved in K-12 education initiatives, and has contributed to various media outlets such as The Atlantic and The Washington Post. He is currently seeking graduate advisees in African American Southern History.

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