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Jabari Evans

Dr. Jabari Evans is an Assistant Professor of Race and Media at the University of South Carolina in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC). His research focuses on the subcultures that urban youth and young adults of color develop and inhabit to understand their social environments, identity development, and pursue their professional aspirations. He generally explores strategies these youth use for self-expression on social media platforms as well as other digital media tools and technologies. His forthcoming book project, Hip-Hop Civics (University of Michigan Press, forthcoming) centers on a Hip-Hop Based Education program in Chicago Public Schools and argues for rap song-making’s utility for fostering connected learning in the formal classroom. Dr. Evans’s research has been recognized for awards by the International Communication Association, published in the Journal of Global Hip Hop Studies, Journal for Media Literacy Education and has been covered by the Chicago Reader, Chicago Tribune, Rolling Out Magazine, Ebony Magazine, and Chicago Crains Business. He earned his PhD at Northwestern University’s School of Communication.

Twitter:@naledgesince82

Associated Works

Uncommon Naledge: Episode 10 | Meredith D. Clark

Visiting Scholar Jabari Evans speaks with Meredith D. Clark, who will be joining the 23-24 Visiting Scholar cohort.

Black Twitter Is Dead… But Its Spirit Will Live On

As Twitter undergoes massive change, Visiting Scholar Jabari Evans reflects on the legacy of Black Twitter and its impact on future digital spaces.

Uncommon Naledge: Episode 4 | Catherine Knight Steele

On his latest podcast episode, Visiting Scholar Jabari Evans sits down with Dr. Catherine Knight Steele, Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Maryland and Director of the Black Communication & Technology Lab, to discuss digital Black feminism, resistance, and joy.

Exploring Social Media Contexts for Cultivating Connected Learning with Black Youth in Urban Communities: The Case of Dreamer Studio

Through digital ethnography, Visiting Scholar Jabari Evans explores outcomes of a hip-hop-based education program that aims to open music-related career pathways for Chicago youth.

The Audacity of Clout (Chasing): Digital Strategies of Black Youth in Chicago DIY Hip-Hop

Visiting scholar Jabari Evans and coauthor Nancy K. Baym explore and learn from the unique digital and cultural practices of Chicago's hip-hop scene.

Uncommon Naledge

Visiting scholar Jabari Evans engages Dr. Andre Brock in a conversation on Black Cyberculture for the seventh episode of his podcast, "Uncommon Naledge."