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Bio
Cathy J. Cohen is the D. Gale Johnson Distinguished Service Professor and the inaugural chair for the Department of Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity at the University of Chicago. She formerly served as chair of the Department of Political Science, Director of the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture and Deputy Provost for Graduate Education at the University of Chicago. Cohen is the author of The Boundaries of Blackness: AIDS and the Breakdown of Black Politics (University of Chicago Press, 1999). She is co-editor of Women Transforming Politics: An Alternative Reader (NYU Press, 1997) with Kathleen Jones and Joan Tronto. She also has a new book entitled Democracy Remixed: Black Youth and the Future of American Politics (Oxford University Press). Her articles have been published in numerous journals and edited volumes including the American Political Science Review, NOMOS, GLQ, Social Text, and the DuBois Review.Cohen is the recipient of numerous awards including the Robert Wood Johnson Investigator’s Award, the Robert Wood Johnson Scholars in Health Policy Research Fellowship, and two major research grants from the Ford Foundation for her work as principal investigator of the Black Youth Project, the Mobilization, Change and Political and Civic Engagement Project, and the GenForward Survey. Cohen serves on a number of national and local advisory boards and is the co-editor with Frederick Harris of a book series at Oxford University Press entitled “Transgressing Boundaries: Studies in Black Politics and Black Communities.”
In addition to her academic work, Cohen has always been politically active. She was a founding board member and former co-chair of the board of the Audre Lorde Project in NY. She was also on the board of Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press as well as the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies (CLAGS) at CUNY. Cohen was a founding member of Black AIDS Mobilization (BAM!) and one of the core organizers of two international conferences “Black Nations / Queer Nations?” and “Race, Sex, Power.” Cohen has also served as an active member in numerous organizations such as the Black Radical Congress, African American Women in Defense of Ourselves, and Ella’s Daughters. Currently, Cohen serves as a Board Member of the Arcus Foundation and a Governing Board member of the University of Chicago’s four charter schools. She is also the founder of Black Youth Project, a website devoted to black youth.
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Books
Democracy Remixed: Black Youth and the Future of American Politics (Oxford University Press 2010)
The Boundaries of Blackness: AIDS and the Breakdown of Black Politics (University of Chicago Press 1999)
Women Transforming Politics: An Alternative Reader Co-edited with Kathleen Jones and Joan Tronto (NYU, 1997) -
Articles, Papers and Monographs
- “Black Youth Sexuality: Established Paradigms and New Approaches,” in Black Sexualities: Probing Powers, Passions, Practices and Policies. J. Battle and S. L. Barnes (eds.), New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2009 (with Marcus A. Hunter and Marissa Guerrero).
- “From Kanye West to Barack Obama: Black Youth, the State and Political Alienation,” in The Unsustainable American State, L. Jacobs and D. King (eds.), New York: Oxford University Press, 2009.
- “Black Sexuality, Indigenous Moral Panics and Respectability: from Bill Cosby to the ‘Down-Low’,” in Moral Panics and Sexual Rights, G. Herdt (ed.), New York: New York University Press, 2009.
- “Race, Sex, and Space: The Reproduction and Policing of Race and Segregation in Sexual and Intimate Spaces,” paper prepared for the Conference of the International Association for the Study of Sexuality, Culture, and Society, June 27-29, 2007, Lima, Peru (with Marcus Hunter).
- The Attitudes and Behavior of Young African Americans: Research Summary, monograph from the Black Youth Project, February 2007 (with Jamilia Celestine-Michener, Crystal Holmes, Julie Lee Merseth and Laurence Ralph).
- “Nihilism and Politics: The Constrained Life Chances of African American Youth,” paper prepared for the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, August 2006, Philadelphia, PA. (with Jamila Celestine-Michener and Crystal Holmes)
- Reclaiming Our Future: The State of AIDS among Black Youth, monograph published by the Black AIDS Institute, September 2005 (with Alexandra Bell and Mosi Ifatunji).
- “Health Activism and the Black Church,” in The Public Influences of African American Churches: Policy Studies, D. Smith (ed.), Durham: Duke University Press, 2005.
- “African-American Youth: Broadening Our Understanding of Politics, Civic Engagement, and Activism,” research note prepared for Social Science Research Council, Youth Activism Web Forum, 2005, http://ya.ssrc.org/african/Cohen/.
- “Deviance as Resistance: A New Research Agenda for the Study of Black Politics,” in Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race, 1:1, 2004: 27-45.
- “A Portrait of Continuing Marginality: Studying Women of Color in American Politics,” in Women and American Politics: New Questions, New Directions, S. Carroll (ed.), New York: Oxford University Press, 2003, 190-213.
- “We are Family: Embracing Our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Family Members,” in The State of Black America, L.A. Daniels (ed.), National Urban League, 2003, 93-106 (with Juan Battle, Angelique Harris and Beth E. Richie).
- “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud: Black Pride Survey 2000,” monograph published by The Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 2002 (with Juan Battle, Dorian Warren, Gerard Fergerson and Suzette Audam).
- “Problems in the Study of the Politics of Race,” in Political Science: State of the Discipline, I. Katznelson and H. V. Milner (eds.), New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2002, 488-510 (with Michael Dawson).
- “Social Capital, Intervening Institutions and Political Power,” in Social Capital and Poor Communities, S. Saegert, J. P. Thompson and M.R. Warren (eds.), New York: Russell Sage Foundation, 2001, pp. 267-289.
- “Education Attainment and Sex Differentials in African American Communities,” American Behavioral Scientist, Vol. 43, No. 7, April 2000: 1159-1206 (with Claire Nee).
- “Organizing at the Intersection of Labor and Civil Rights: A Case Study of New Haven,” University of Pennsylvania Journal of Labor and Employment Law, Vol. 2, No. 4, Spring 2000: 629-655 (with Dorian Warren).
- “What is This Movement Doing to My Politics?” Social Text 61, Vol. 17, No. 4 (Winter) 1999, pp. 111-118.
- “Fighting Homophobia versus Challenging Heterosexism: ‘The Failure to Transform’ Revisited,” in Dangerous Liaisons: Blacks and Gays, E. Brandt (ed.). New York: The New Press, 1999, pp. 80-101 (with Tamara Jones).
- “Black Political Participation: Structural Racism and Disfranchisement—Past and Present,” paper prepared for the Aspen Roundtable’s Comprehensive Community Initiative, October 1998.
- “Punks, Bull Daggers and Welfare Queens: The Real Radical Potential of ‘Queer’ Politics,” GLQ, Vol. 3, 1997, pp. 437-485.
- “Contested Membership: Black Gay Identities and the Politics of AIDS,” in Sociology / Queer Theory, S. Seidman (ed.), Oxford: Blackwell, 1996, pp. 362-394.
- “Straight Gay Politics: The Limits of an Ethnic Model of Inclusion,” in NOMOS XXXIX: Ethnicity and Group Rights. New York: New York University Press, 1997, pp. 572-616.
- “The Struggles Continues.” PS: Political Science & Politics, XXIX, no. 2 (June 1996): 184-85.
- “Racial Group Interests, African-American Presidential Approval, and Macroeconomic Policy,” in Behind the Mule: Race and Class in African-American Politics, M. Dawson, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1994, (with M. Dawson and R. Brown).
- “Neighborhood Poverty and African American Politics,” American Political Science Review, Vol. 87, No. 2 (June) 1993 (with M. Dawson).
- “Racial Differences in Social Support and Mental Health in Men with HIV Infection: a Pilot Study,” AIDS CARE, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1991 (with David Ostrow et al.).
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Blogs/Editorials
Learned From the Midterms. Are You Listening President Obama?
Cathy Cohen, Huffington Post, November 17, 2010A Message to President Obama
Cathy J. Cohen, Wall Street Journal | November 4, 2010- Piece also featured in:
- A Message to President Obama
Mark Anthony Neal, NewBlackMan, November 3, 2010 - Cathy Cohen: A Message to President Obama
Black and Brown News Facebook Page - 8 Reasons to Address Romance in the Black Community
Mark Anthony Neal, NewBlackMan - Cathy J. Cohen: Did President Obama Miss an Opportunity to Get Young Blacks to Rally behind Democrats?
Eurweb, November 7, 2010
- A Message to President Obama
The Democrats and Young Black Voters
Cathy J. Cohen, New York Times, October 24, 2010- Piece also featured in:
- Dems Suffer Without Young Voters of Color Who Stole the ‘08 Show
Jamilah King, Colorlines, November 3, 2010 - The Democrats and Young Black Voters – Letter to the editor
VillageChief, October 25, 2010
- Dems Suffer Without Young Voters of Color Who Stole the ‘08 Show
Another Tea Party, led by black youth?
Cathy Cohen, Washington Post | October 14, 2010- Piece also featured in:
- Atlanta Post, October 16, 2010
- Forbes, October 17, 2010
- Piece also featured in:
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Press/Media on Cathy Cohen
- University of Chicago Interview: Cathy Cohen, “Democracy Remixed: Black Youth and the Future of American Politics”
C-SPAN, Aired June 12, 2011 and June 13, 2011 - Chicago Study Proves That All Young Black Voters Aren’t the Same
Asraa Mustufa, Colorlines, June 7, 2011 - ‘Democracy Remixed’: Cathy Cohen on Black youth and LGBT politics
Rod McCullom, Windy City Times, June 1, 2011 - Among Blacks, Mayoral Election Forces a Push for New Ideas and Leaders
Don Terry, New York Times, March 5, 2011 - Young, Black, And Blogging: Project Fuels Minority Education Debate
Huffington Post, December 1, 2010 - The Black Youth Project Adds a New Voice to the Education Reform Conversation
Liz Dwyer, GOOD Magazine, November 30, 2010 - Democracy Remixed: Exploring the political views of African American youth
Lisa Parks, Iconowatch, November 28, 2010 - DADDY-ING While Black: Un-married mothers yes, but not always single
Mark Anthony Neal, Lipstick Alley, November 11, 2010 - Behind the low voter turnout
Gene Clancy, Worker’s World, November 11, 2010 - Who’s Rocking the Vote?
LeonorVivanco, Chicago Now-RedEye, November 2, 1010 - Left of Black with Mark Anthony Neal, Episode 7 (VIDEO)
Duke University U-Stream, November 1, 2010 - Black youth, mid-term elections and Obama’s age of hope
Nisa Islam Muhammad, The Final Call, November 1, 2010 - Why the ‘Obama Effect’ is Waning
WBEZ (Chicago Public Radio), October 21, 2010
Listen here - Study shows black youth are politically involved, critical of rap music and skeptical of a post–racial society
University of Chicago – Press Release, October 19, 2010 - University of Chicago Professor Cathy Cohen is Interviewed on her new book “Democracy Remixed: Black Youth and the Future of American Politics”
Jonathan Jelks, Theblackbottom, October 19, 2010 - Washington Watch w/ Roland Martin (VIDEO)
TV One, October 17, 2010
Click here to read transcript (PDF) - Book Review – Democracy Remixed: Black Youth and the Future of American Politics
Theodore Miller, Hip Hop Archive, October 15, 2010 - Black voters may sway 20 House races in Nov. vote
Sonya Ross, Associated Press Writer, October 14, 2010
Piece also featured in: - To Whom Apologies are Really Due
Melissa Harris-Perry, The Nation, October 27, 2010 - New Study Shows Obama Effect is Waning
Emily Wilensky, WBEZ Chicago | October 20, 2010 - Black youth are politically involved, shows study
Newstrack India | October 20, 2010 - Study shows black youth are politically involved, disputes other stereotypes
Science News | October 19, 2010 - Democracy Remixed: Black Youth and the Future of American Politics (Podcast)
Open Society, September 20, 2010 - Interview with Cathy Cohen (VIDEO)
Hip Hop Archive, January 2010 - Talking to Strangers
Here on Earth – Radio Without Borders, January 17, 2010
Listen here - Black Youth Project Creates Web Hub for Young African Americans
Eight Forty-Eight (Chicago Public Radio) | November 16, 2009
Listen here
- University of Chicago Interview: Cathy Cohen, “Democracy Remixed: Black Youth and the Future of American Politics”