Shelby Sinclair

I am a historian of the modern United States and Caribbean. My work focuses on Black women's experiences and their ideas about freedom. So much of my historical research overlaps with themes in popular culture and the arts today, as artists create work that reflects the politics and poetics of Black life in the Americas. 

My classes pose questions about what's happening in popular culture and use historical evidence to explain why. I help students develop the research and analysis skills required to paint rich pictures of Black life and expression. What stories are being told through a red carpet dress, a film scene, or the set design of a music video? How do artists craft performances that transport us in space and time? What can Black performance teach us about the meaning of freedom? My classrooms are highly interactive and my syllabi are dynamic-- we study music, visual arts, literature, architecture, historical manuscripts, film, and more! My student's curiosity and passion for all things art and culture makes my job fun.