Convocation: Mark Anthony Neal

Mark Anthony Neal jokes that if you "Google" the term "black male feminist," his name will invariably show up near the top of the search results. His work, and life, are dedicated to challenging sexism and misogyny. Professor of Black Popular Culture in the Department of African and African-American Studies at Duke University, Neal teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in black popular culture, black masculinity and hip hop aesthetics. A nationally recognized scholar, Neal has been examining issues of race, gender and sexuality for more than a decade. His book Soul Babies examines black popular culture since the end of the civil rights movement. Two of his books, What the Music Said and Songs in the Key of Black Life, examine the ties between black music and culture in the post-civil rights movement. The title of his presentation was "Barack Obama and the Era of the New Black Man."