George Yancy facts for kids

George Dewey Yancy (born June 3, 1961) is an American philosopher. He is a professor of philosophy at Emory University. He is also a special fellow at Dartmouth College, which is one of the college's top honors.

From 2019 to 2020, he was a visiting professor at the University of Pennsylvania. George Yancy is known for his work on race, especially in areas like critical whiteness studies and African American philosophy. He has written or helped edit more than 20 books. He has also published over 250 articles and interviews in journals, books, and news sites.

Yancy has written many essays and done interviews for The New York Times and Truthout. Truthout is a news group that shares independent reports on social justice. He has also published in CounterPunch, The Guardian, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. "Academic Influence" named Yancy one of the top 10 influential philosophers between 2010 and 2020. This was partly because his work is often cited and he has a strong online presence.

George Yancy's Education and Career

George Yancy earned his first degree in philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh in 1985. He then received his master's degree in philosophy from Yale University in 1987. Later, he earned another master's degree in Africana studies from New York University (NYU) in 2004. He completed his Ph.D. in philosophy from Duquesne University in 2005.

He started teaching at Duquesne University in 2005. He quickly moved up from assistant professor to full professor in just eight years. After teaching there for ten years, he began teaching philosophy at Emory University in 2015.

Early Studies and Influences

While at the University of Pittsburgh, Yancy wrote his honors paper on Bertrand Russell's theory of sense data. He also studied with famous philosophers like Wilfrid Sellars and Nicholas Rescher. At Yale, he took classes with important thinkers such as John Edwin Smith. At New York University, he studied democracy and Black history. He also took a class with poet Kamau Brathwaite, which introduced him to new ways of thinking about stories and history.

Media Appearances

George Yancy has been interviewed on many radio stations across the U.S. He has also appeared in three documentaries. These include Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story (2018) and Lillian Smith: Breaking the Silence (2019). He was also interviewed for the Netflix documentary Power (2024), which is about policing in America.

"Dear White America" Article

In 2015, Yancy wrote an article for The New York Times called "Dear White America." This article caused a lot of discussion and some controversy. He received many hateful messages and was harassed.

Standing Up for Free Speech

Because of this experience, the American Philosophical Association later spoke out against bullying and harassment. In 2016, Yancy was added to the Professor Watchlist. This website claims to list college professors who are against conservative ideas. However, Yancy also received over 1,000 messages of support. Sixty-eight philosophers and thinkers signed a letter defending his freedom to discuss important social issues. In response to being on the Professor Watchlist, Yancy wrote another article for The New York Times titled "I am a Dangerous Professor."

Books by George Yancy

George Yancy has written and edited many books that explore important ideas about race and society. Here are some of his notable works:

• Black Bodies, White Gazes, The Continuing Significance of Race in America. (Third Edition, 2025). This book looks at how race continues to be important in America.
• In Sheep's Clothing: The Idolatry of White Christian Nationalism. (2024). This book explores ideas about white Christian nationalism.
• Until Our Lungs Give Out: Conversations on Race, Justice, and the Future. (2023). This book won awards for being a top social sciences book.
• Black Men from Behind the Veil: Ontological Interrogations. (2022). This book was chosen as a "Top 75 Community College Title."
• Across Black Spaces: Essays and Interviews from an American Philosopher. (2020).
• Buddhism and Whiteness: Critical Reflections. (2019).
• Educating For Critical Consciousness. (2019).
• Backlash: What Happens When We Talk Honestly about Racism in America. (2018).
• On Race: 34 Conversations in a Time of Crisis. (2017).
• Our Black Sons Matter: Mothers Talk about Fears, Sorrows, and Hopes. (2016). This book was highly praised and made a list of the best diverse nonfiction titles.
• White Self-Criticality beyond Anti-Racism: How Does It Feel to Be a White Problem? (2015).
• Exploring Race in Predominantly White Classrooms: Scholars of Color Reflect. (2014).
• Pursuing Trayvon Martin: Historical Contexts and Contemporary Manifestations of Racial Dynamics. (2013). This book discusses the historical background of racial issues.
• Look, A White! Philosophical Essays on Whiteness. (2012).
• Christology and Whiteness: What Would Jesus Do? (2012).
• Reframing the Practice of Philosophy: Bodies of Color, Bodies of Knowledge. (2012).
• Therapeutic Uses of Rap and Hip-Hop. (2011).
• The Center Must Not Hold: White Women Philosophers on the Whiteness of Philosophy. (2010).
• Critical Perspectives on bell hooks. (2009).
• Black Bodies, White Gazes: The Continuing Significance of Race. (2008). This book received an honorable mention for its work on bigotry and human rights.
• Philosophy in Multiple Voices. (2007). This book won an award for being an outstanding academic book.
• Narrative Identities: Psychologists Engaged in Self-Construction. (2005).
• White on White/Black on Black. (2005). This book also won an outstanding academic book award.
• What White Looks Like: African American Philosophers on the Whiteness Question. (2004).
• The Philosophical I: Personal Reflections on Life in Philosophy. (2002).
• Cornel West: A Critical Reader. (2001).
• African-American Philosophers: 17 Conversations. (1998). This book won an award for being an outstanding academic book.

See also

• Hypatia transracialism controversy