John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute at Duke U.

Julianne Werlin on the Death of the Writer and Life of the Author | John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute Her latest tgiFHI talk focused on the lives and ambitions of writers from the 16th and 17th century grappling with mortality, fame and their varied lived experiences.

Duringf tgiFHI, Prof. Julianne Werlin shared research from her book-in-progress, "English Renaissance Authors: A Demographic History", which examines over 600 writers’ lives—from education and class to marriage, maternity, and death.

Read more about her research here:

fhi.duke.edu/news/juliann...

Jennifer Flaherty on the Conditions of the Working Class in Russia | John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute Flaherty reevaluates 19th-century Russian radical thought by showing how its political and philosophical complexities emerge through literature rather than traditional po

Prof. Jennifer Flaherty’s tgiFHI talk explored how 19th century Russian writers used narrative and early empirical methods to document poverty, labor, and inequality—challenging Cold War frameworks and highlighting the humanities’ role today.

Read more here:

fhi.duke.edu/news/jennife...

Preserving Resistance Movements in Digital Toolkits | John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute The SNCC Digital Gateway Toolkits extends the spirit, as well as the playbook, of the civil rights movement by preserving its lessons in grassroots organizing and collect

SNCC digital toolkits make the strategies, stories, and organizing lessons of the 1960s youth-led civil rights movement accessible to new generations. Editorial committee member Judy Richardson spoke with FHI about the project’s impact and relevance today. Read more:
fhi.duke.edu/news/preserv...

John Supko on Artistic Expression in the Age of AI | John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute Supko argues that artificial intelligence should serve as a creative collaborator rather than a replacement for human thought, using modernist art’s embrace of ambiguity

Duke composer John Supko argues that modernist art’s openness, and its resistance to instant understanding, offers a counter to how we use AI. He treats AI as a creative partner, not an oracle, crafting works that are “provocatively incomplete.”

Read more here:

fhi.duke.edu/news/john-su...

Student Spotlight: Trisha Santanam on Literature, Music and the Power of the Humanities | John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute A Duke senior, Santanam speaks on her research linking literature and music and her vision of the humanities as a space for critical and creative inquiry.

Trisha Santanam, Duke senior in English & Music, explores how literature and music help us think, feel, and engage with life’s contradictions. Her work shows that analysis and enjoyment can coexist 🎶📚

Read more: fhi.duke.edu/news/student...

Jennifer Knust on The New Testament Apparatus as a War Machine | John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute Knust reflects on the material history of early Christian manuscripts and the role of critical thought in a rapidly changing academic landscape.

Our latest tgiFHI talk was led by Jennifer Knust, professor of Religious Studies at Duke. FHI's weekly series helps amplify the work of Duke humanities faculty.

She spoke on “The New Testament Apparatus as a War Machine,” an argument against extractive systems of documentation.
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Khwezi Mkhize on Reclaiming the Pan-African Narrative | John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute Mkhize explores how African and diasporic narratives challenge colonial histories, showing how the humanities can reclaim voice, identity, and belonging in a global conte

For Professor Khwezi Mkhize, the humanities are fundamentally about storytelling—not only the stories themselves, but the structures that govern who tells them and to what effect, as well as how they’re told.

Read more about his research here:
fhi.duke.edu/news/khwezi-...

Building Community Through the Solarities Contemporary Poetry Series | John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute Graduate working groups help to create more avenues of support for doctoral students and one in particular seeks to emphasize experimental literary writing as a unique mo

Graduate students at FHI are redefining poetry’s place in academia ✒️

Through book discussions, reading groups, and public programming, a new working group seeks to support grad students from various humanities disciplines.

Read more about them here:

fhi.duke.edu/news/buildin...

Charmaine McKissick-Melton Communications Fellows at FHI | John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute The Charmaine McKissick-Melton Communications Fellowship embeds NCCU Mass Communications majors in working communications offices throughout Duke University.

Honoring Dr. Charmaine McKissick-Melton, whose work at Duke’s FHI helped students explore a century of media through race and culture. Her legacy lives on in the internship “boot camp” now named in her honor—empowering future leaders in communications. 👏

fhi.duke.edu/news/charmai...

How The Black Archival Imagination Lab Engages History | John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute The lab seeks to engage with histories of enslavement, empire, apartheid, and anti-colonial struggle informed by Black thought and creativity today.

The Black Archival Imagination Lab (BAIL) at FHI explores how Black experiences challenge imperial representations. Led by Professors Ouma and Mkhize, it bridges scholarship and community, using memory as a tool for resistance and renewal. Read more about it here: fhi.duke.edu/news/how-bla...

This weekend, FHI celebrated the brilliant seniors of the Human Rights Certificate Program. Through ethics, law, policy, history & the arts, they’ve shown deep commitment to justice & global equity. We’re proud of your passion & drive to build a more just world! ✨

A group photo of various people stand in rows during a research workshop at Duke university

The CCDGB workshop at FHI explores how race, colonialism, and environmental justice reshape climate change conversations. It highlights Indigenous resilience and creative solutions. Learn more about this important shift in climate dialogue

🌍 fhi.duke.edu/news/reframi...

How do the ways we remember the past shape our understanding of ourselves and our hopes for the future? Join Duke’s Kenan Institute for Ethic for The Ethics of Memory w/ David Treuer, Ryan Falcioni, and Bz Zhang.

Learn more: duke.is/memory

One person, one vote is the law of the land. Rally to make sure every vote counts in Raleigh *today* Monday, May 17th at the state Capitol at 12pm.

WESLEY HOGAN: Don't allow 'Jellybean Men' to rob us of our vote, voice Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 -- The right to vote is foundational -- it safeguards every other political right by ensuring the election of fair and accountable officials. When access to this right is denied,...

"The right to vote is foundational ... When access to this right is denied, all of our other rights are left vulnerable, reduced to empty promises without the power to enforce them."

@wesleyhogan.bsky.social, Research Professor at FHI

www.wral.com/21842228/

New Fellowship Brings Graduate Researchers Closer to the Work of Theorist Stuart Hall | John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute The fellowship, focused on the legacy of the noted cultural theorist and political activist, gives Duke graduate students an opportunity to research Hall’s historic work

The John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute and Stuart Hall Archive Project hosted three Duke graduate students for an 8-week fellowship exploring Hall’s work on race, identity, and media. Read more here: fhi.duke.edu/news/new-stu...

New Fellowship Brings Graduate Researchers Closer to the Work of Theorist Stuart Hall | John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute The fellowship, focused on the legacy of the noted cultural theorist and political activist, gives Duke graduate students an opportunity to research Hall’s historic work

A small but exciting summer program at my job @fhiduke.bsky.social Long live archival research, long live critical thought!