Jeanne Theoharis facts for kids
Jeanne Theoharis is a well-known professor who teaches about politics and history. She works at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City. She is known for her important work on the Black freedom struggle.
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About Jeanne Theoharis
Early Life and Family
Jeanne Theoharis grew up in Fox Point, Wisconsin. Her mother, Nancy Artinian, was an activist. Her father, Athan Theoharis, was a professor.
Jeanne has two siblings. Her sister, Liz Theoharis, helps lead the Poor People's Campaign. Her brother, George Theoharis, is also a professor.
Education and Teaching Career
Jeanne Theoharis studied at Harvard College. She focused on Afro-American and Women's Studies. After that, she earned her PhD from the University of Michigan.
Today, she is a Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College. She also teaches history at the City University of New York (CUNY). Her work focuses on how race and gender affect politics. She also studies social policies and African American history.
Important Books and Documentaries
Professor Theoharis has written many books and articles. These works often explore the Black freedom struggle. One of her most famous books is The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks. This book won an NAACP Image Award.
Her book about Rosa Parks was also made into a documentary. Jeanne Theoharis helped as a consulting producer for the film. The documentary won a Peabody Award and a Television Academy Honor Award.
Another important book she wrote is A More Beautiful and Terrible History. This book won the Brooklyn Public Library Prize in Nonfiction in 2018.
Public Discussions and Research
In 2013, Professor Theoharis helped start a discussion series. It is called Conversations in Black Freedom Studies. This series takes place at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Each month, scholars and writers meet to talk about Black history. They often discuss new books in the field. This program helps people learn more about important historical topics.
Published Works
Essays and Articles
Jeanne Theoharis has written many essays. These articles often share new ideas about history. She has written for publications like The Root and The Nation.
Some of her essays include:
- "MLK Would never shut down a freeway and 6 other myths about the civil rights movement and Black Lives Matter" (2016)
- "Rosa Parks wasn't Meek, Passive or Naive--and 7 Other Things You Probably Didn't Learn in School" (2015)
- "Why It Matters That Hillary Clinton Championed Welfare Reform" (2016)
Books Authored
- The rebellious life of Mrs. Rosa Parks (2013)
- Not working: Latina immigrants, low-wage jobs, and the failure of welfare reform (2006)
Books Edited
- Freedom North: Black Freedom Struggles Outside the South, 1940-1980 (2003) - Co-edited with Komozi Woodard.
Awards and Recognition
Jeanne Theoharis has received several awards for her work. These awards recognize her important contributions to history and writing.
- 2013: Letitia Woods Brown Award from the Association of Black Women Historians for The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks.
- 2014: NAACP Image Award for The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks.
- 2018: Brooklyn Public Library Literary Award for Nonfiction for A More Beautiful and Terrible History; The Uses and Misuses of Civil Rights History.
- 2022: Peabody Award for The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks (documentary).
- 2023: Television Academy Honors for The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks (documentary).
See also
In Spanish: Jeanne Theoharis para niños