AmericanStudies

Following the shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina last week, Kimberly Moffitt, an associate professor of American studies, was a guest on WYPR’s Midday with Dan Rodricks to share her thoughts and perspective. Moffitt said that she is largely focusing her energy on what she is teaching in her classes: “I try to talk to my students and educate them on what the power structures are that exist in American society that are implicitly embedded in ways where we carry out certain actions in life that impact other groups of people in very negative ways,” she said. “We… Continue Reading Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on Midday with Dan Rodricks and WBAL-TV

Kimberly Moffitt, an associate professor of American studies, was interviewed by ABC 2 Baltimore for a segment that explored the fixed nature of race in society following up on the Rachel Dolezal story. “We’re so comfortable to fixate people into boxes to say this is where you belong because of skin hue because of the activities you do,” Moffitt said. Commenting on race as a social construction, she added: “I also think that it proves to us that as much as we as individuals would want to embody or claim our own racial categories, the reality is society dictates that to… Continue Reading Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, Responds to Rachel Dolezal Story on ABC 2 Baltimore

Last week, country radio promoter Keith Hill made a controversial comment about female singers that many decried as an example of country music’s misogynistic politics. In an article for The Conversation, Clifford Murphy, an ethnomusicologist and adjunct lecturer of American studies, provides a broader context, writing that the comments show how the centralization of country music has helped create a misogynistic environment. Murphy describes how women have had a long history in country music, but often have a difficult with the country music industry when they go against expectations of female country stars. “The popularity of female country stars threatens Nashville’s… Continue Reading Clifford Murphy, American studies, Examines Country Music’s Misogyny and Centralization in The Conversation

As part of the Baltimore Traces: Communities in Transition project, several American studies and media and communication studies students produced a radio series about two Baltimore neighborhoods in transition: Greektown and Station North. Baltimore Traces is an interdisciplinary project and collaborative teaching innovation that produces audio and video oral histories focused on Baltimore residents and neighborhoods. On Friday, May 22, the radio series aired on WEAA’s The Marc Steiner Show. Bill Shewbridge, professor of the practice of media and communication studies, worked with students in Michelle Stefano’s class, a visiting assistant professor of American studies, to produce an audio journey through the East Baltimore neighborhood of… Continue Reading American Studies and Media and Communication Studies Students Produce Radio Series for The Marc Steiner Show

On April 23, WEAA’s The Marc Steiner Show hosted a panel discussion on reaction to the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old man who died of a spinal injury a week after being chased and tackled by police officers in Baltimore. The story has drawn national attention and has sparked widespread discussion and debate. Kimberly Moffitt, an associate professor of American studies, participated in the discussion along with several longtime community organizers and activists, including Rev. Dr. Heber Brown, Pastor of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church and Executive Director of Orita’s Cross Freedom School; Tawanda Jones, sister of Tyrone West, a man who died while… Continue Reading Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, Reacts to the Freddie Gray Story on The Marc Steiner Show

A film by Bill Shewbridge and Michelle Stefano has been selected to be screened at several prestigious film festivals in May and June. Produced by Shewbridge, professor of the practice of media and communication studies, and Stefano, visiting assistant professor of American studies, Mill Stories: Remembering Sparrows Point Steel Mill is a documentary based on the stories gathered through the “Mill Stories” project. The project seeks to document the sociocultural impacts of industrial decline and help amplify the voices of those affected by it in the Baltimore region. The documentary has been selected to screen at three upcoming film festivals: the 14th Royal… Continue Reading Mill Stories to be Screened at International Film Festivals

In response to legislation being tabled that would have allowed Baltimore City schools’ police force to carry handguns while working inside or patrolling school buildings, Kimberly Moffitt published an op-ed in the Baltimore Sun outlining her viewpoints on the issue. Moffitt, an associate professor of American studies, previously discussed her thoughts on the legislation on WEAA’s The Marc Steiner Show.   In her article, Moffitt wrote about the importance of guidance and affirmation of self-worth of school children: “…as a community we should come together to strategize ways to cultivate healthy relationships with students and ensure the necessary support mechanisms are in place to… Continue Reading Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, Op-Ed in the Baltimore Sun