Imani Perry, JD, Ph.D.

Imani Perry, JD, Ph.D., is the Henry A. Morss, Jr. and Elisabeth W. Morss Professor of Studies of Women, Gender and Sexuality and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University and the Carol K. Pforzheimer Professor at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. Perry is the author of nine books, including the New York Times bestseller South to America: A Journey Below the Mason Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation which received the 2022 National Book Award for Nonfiction and the inaugural Inside Literary Prize, the only book award judged by incarcerated Americans. It was also one of President Obama’s favorite books of 2022. Perry’s other award-winning titles include May We Forever Stand: A History of the Black National Anthem and Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry. Her most recent book, Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People, was published in January of 2025.

Perry’s work has been recognized by the PEN America Foundation, Phi Beta Kappa, The Hurston Wright Foundation, the NAACP, and the National Magazine Awards. She has written for numerous publications including The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Bitter Southerner, Harper’s, and Harper’s Bazaar.

Perry is a 2023 recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship and has been awarded fellowships from the Guggenheim and Pew Foundations. She earned her Ph.D. in the History of American Civilization from Harvard University, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, an L.L.M. in 19th century property and contract law from Georgetown University Law Center, and a B.A. in American Studies and Literature from Yale College. Prior to Harvard, she served on the faculties of Princeton University’s Department of African American Studies and Rutgers School of Law.