Mark Anthony Neal

Mark Anthony Neal is a distinguished academic and author currently serving as the James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of African & African American Studies at Duke University.12 He also holds the position of Chair in the Department of African & African American Studies and is a Professor of English at Duke.2

Academic Career

Professor Neal has made significant contributions to the field of Black Popular Culture and African American studies. His work focuses on various aspects of black culture, including:

• Black masculinity
• Sexism and homophobia in Black communities
• History of popular music
• Post-modern African-American experiences

He is known for his innovative approach to studying and teaching these subjects, often using black vernacular forms to bridge academic and street perspectives.1

Achievements and Recognition

• Won the 2010 Robert B. Cox Award for Teaching at Duke University1
• Founder and managing editor of the blog NewBlackMan
• Host of the weekly webcast "Left of Black" in collaboration with the John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University1

Publications

Professor Neal has authored several influential books, including:

• "Soul Babies: Black Popular Culture and the Post-Soul Aesthetic"
• "New Black Man: Rethinking Black Masculinity"

His work has been praised for its ability to develop groundbreaking ideas in academia while maintaining a connection to contemporary black culture.1

Public Engagement

As a frequent commentator for NPR and contributor to online media outlets like Huff Post Black Voices and SeeingBlack.com, Professor Neal actively engages in public discourse on issues related to black culture and society.1

On LinkedIn, his profile can be found under the username mark-anthony-neal-01279a3.3