Imani Perry is the Henry A. Morss, Jr. and Elisabeth W. Morss Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University and the Carol K. Pforzheimer Professor at Harvard Radcliffe Institute. Perry is the author of 9 books, including the New York Times Bestseller South to America: A Journey Below the Mason Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation which received the 2022 National Book Award for Nonfiction. Perry's other award-winning titles include: May We Forever Stand: A History of the Black National Anthem, and Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry. Her work has been recognized by the Pen America Foundation, Phi Beta Kappa, And the Hurston Wright Awards. Her book: Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People, was published in January of 2025 and was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize. Perry has written for numerous publications including: The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Bitter Southerner, Harper's and Harper’s Bazaar. Perry is the recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the American Historical Association Award for Scholarly Distinction.
