Carol Anderson

Carol Anderson is a world-renowned author and professor whose work spans multiple genres and topics, from history and politics to memoirs and essays. A core component of her writings is her audit of power both domestically and internationally, as well as her deepened understanding of the enduring legacy of racism and white supremacy. Anderson offers a lens of analysis on historical moments and movements throughout the United States and abroad. She brings to life complex, yet relatable narratives by compelling storytelling.

Born in 1957 in Washington, D.C., Anderson grew up in segregated neighborhoods, which had an ever-lasting impact on her belief that racism is deeply connected to possession of power. Early in her life, she developed a passion for literature and education. Anderson went on to become a distinguished student and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Princeton University in 1979. Later, she completed a Masters in 1990 and Ph.D. in 1997 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Anderson currently serves as the Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. She also serves as the president of the Southern African American Studies Association. Anderson has taught a variety of subjects, including African-American history, the civil rights movement, African American women's history, and race and the law.

Anderson's work often reveals the vulnerability of those whose voices are silenced in the fight for equality. She gained national attention for her award-winning book, "White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of our Nation's Divide," which covers an intricate history of white resistance to racial progress in America.

"White Rage" started a powerful conversation on race and was included in President Obama's summer reading list in 2016. Anderson explored the oppression of Black Americans both historically and in contemporary society. She argued the roots of America's racial divide run deeper than slavery and the backlash that followed with policies implemented through the judicial system.

In "White Rage," Anderson showed how even today, white resistance continues to subvert progress. Anderson also drew upon the historical accounts of NAACP officials to emphasize the pressure and struggles of African Americans. Anderson continued this questioning of contemporary structures and authority in her book, "One Person, No Vote: How Democratic Gerrymandering is Changing the American Landscape."

The book delves into the practice of gerrymandering and how it works to diminish the power of Black communities by keeping African Americans from voting, thereby shifting the flow of power away from those who would likely oppose the people in office. Anderson exposed how the Republican Party has increasingly used this practice, especially in the wake of President Obama's election in 2008.

At the local level, Anderson emphasized how racial gerrymandering has weakened the voting power of Black people in cities such as Atlanta, Detroit, and Madison. Anderson also highlighted the powerful and compelling responses of activists and organizers, who have organized and protested against the practice.

In 2018, Anderson was awarded the National Humanities Medal, the highest honor awarded by the government for an individual's work in the humanities. Proving that Anderson’s work extends beyond written word, her recent documentary released in 2019, "Seeing White," was produced by an organization called Scene on Radio. The series examined how present-day structures and institutions, from media portrayal to systems of justice, benefit white people and leave those of color at a disadvantage.

Overall, Carol Anderson’s extensive career has established her as a thought-leader within the African American Studies field. She has published books, chapters, articles, and provided years of service as an educator and activist committed to making the world a better place. Anderson continues to challenge our ideas of justice, power and fairness. By breaking down oppressive systems, she cites a hopeful and just vision for a future where everyone can have the freedom they deserve.