Rhodes Institute for Regional Studies (RIR) has welcomed Dr. Regina N. Bradley, associate professor of English and African diaspora studies at Kennesaw State University, as its scholar-in-residence to engage with its fellows conducting research this summer based on questions they have about Memphis and the Mid-South area.
A prominent public voice and leading scholar on contemporary Southern Black life and hip-hop culture, Bradley is no stranger to Rhodes, having given various presentations on campus since 2014. This June, she presented a talk about the multiple public personas of André “3000” Benjamin of Atlanta hip-hop duo OutKast. Bradley is author of Chronicling Stankonia: the Rise of the Hip-Hop South, which was named one of the “Books All Georgians Should Read” in 2022.
Bradley’s other expertise and research interests include post-Civil Rights African American literature, race and the contemporary U.S. South, and sound studies. Her work also has been featured in Netflix’s docuseries Hip-Hop Evolution, on NPR, and in a range of media outlets including The Washington Post and the Atlanta Journal Constitution. In addition, she co-hosts the podcast Bottom of the Map with music journalist Christina Lee.
In the eight-week Rhodes Institute for Regional Studies, fellows not only conduct research but also participate in field trips and student-faculty interaction. Projects can range from research papers to podcasts to documentary films and more. In addition, students are encouraged to continue their research beyond the Institute, and many projects serve as the foundation for senior capstones and postgraduate opportunities. Fellows will make presentations to the campus community in July.
Dr. Charles McKinney, associate professor of history and the Neville Frierson Bryan Chair of Africana Studies, serves as director of RIS and says about this year’s program: “We are excited to have such a smart, inquisitive cohort of students. They’re working on a wide range of projects, all with an eye on creating new perspectives on Memphis and the Mid-South. Dr. Bradley’s time with us will supercharge these projects in some very compelling ways. We are so very fortunate that she was able to spend some time with us again.”
The Rhodes Institute for Regional Studies is made possible by the generous support of the Robert and Ruby Priddy Charitable Trust of Wichita Falls, TX, and the Mike Curb Family Foundation.
WMC/NBC TV Coverage of Talk by Dr. Regina N. Bradley at Rhodes College on June 21