Dr. Karima K. Jeffrey

Karima Jeffrey is especially interested in Interdisciplinary Studies, incorporating film, music, visual arts, and other forms of media and technology into her courses. At Hampton University, she instructs ENG 101/102 (Written Communication), ENG 303/304 (Ethnic Literature), ENG 306 (African American Literature and Film), ENG 307 (Caribbean Literature and Film), ENG 311/312 (American Literature), and ENG 313/314 (African-American Literature). She has offered specialized courses in ENG 316 (African Writers II), ENG 323 (The Bible as Literature), ENG 403/404 (Contemporary Themes in African-American Literature (and film)), and ENG 430 (Senior Thesis).

Research/Scholarly Interests:

Notable works by her are: SPECULATIVE FILM AND MOVING IMAGES BY OR ABOUT BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS: WATCH IT! (2023); “George Lamming’s ‘The Boy and the Sea’–A Littoral Artist’s Experimentation with Language and a Postcolonial Examination of the Self” (Anthurium, 2015), “Mother of a New World? Stereotypical Representations of Black Women in Three Post Apocalyptic Films” (Journal of Feminist Scholarship, 2014), “George Lamming’s IN THE CASTLE OF MY SKIN: A Littoral Figure Discovers Self-Identity and Authorial Language” (Journal of Literature and Art Studies, 2012), “Littoralia or the Littoral as Trope: Developing a Paradigm of Post-coloniality”(C.L.R. James Journal, 2010). She has biographies on Nalo Hopkinson (ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT, 2020/2025) and Langston Hughes (ICONS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE, 2011). Currently, she is working on her second book project on Speculative Fiction:  BLACK GIRLS RIGHT/WRITE THE FUTURE: SPECULATIVE FICTION BY AND ABOUT BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS.

Honors/Awards:

Dr. Jeffrey was a Residential Fellow at the National Humanities Center (NHC: 2022-2023, 2023-2024); the fellowship supported work on her two monographs: WATCH IT! and BLACK GIRLS WRITE/RIGHT; it also enabled her to launch her website: www.blkgirlswrite.com.  Other distinctions include a UNCF/Mellon Faculty Residency Release Time Award (2020), a UNCF/Mellon Faculty Residency Summer Research Award at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (2016), an invitation for summer study with Toril Moi at the National Humanities Center (2011), participation in the University of Richmond Tocqueville Seminar on Transatlantic Studies (2011), and a New York University Faculty Resource Network Summer Seminar on Classical Studies and Postcolonial Literature (2013).

Dr. Jeffrey has coordinated two UNCF/Mellon Teaching and Learning Institutes at Hampton University:  “Black Girls Right/Write the Future!!!” (June 2018) and “Extending a Legacy of International Presence and Outreach at HBCUs-Social Justice and Educational Policy for the Twenty-First Century” (August 2011). She has moderated panels and been a presenter at various professional conferences.  Additional efforts in support of her research, teaching, and service include:  Faculty Development Awards from the Historically Black Colleges/Universities-Faculty Development Network (2012), the University of Richmond Tocqueville Seminars (2011-2012), UNCF/Mellon Programs (2010-2020), Hampton University (2009), and Hope College (2005).

Of all her professional achievements, Dr. Jeffrey is most proud of her work with UNCF/Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows (MMUF). Having been a MMUF fellow at her undergraduate alma mater, she sees it as a privilege to support the insights and intellectual curiosities of a younger generation–who will ideally go on to join the professoriate.

Work

“Karima K. Jeffrey-Legette” – National Humanities Center

SPECULATIVE FILM AND MOVING IMAGES BY OR ABOUT BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS

“George Lamming’s ‘The Boy and the Sea’–A Littoral Artist’s Experimentation with Language and a Postcolonial Examination of the Self”

“Mother of a New World? Stereotypical Representations of Black Women in Three Post Apocalyptic Films”

“Littoralia or the Littoral as Trope: Developing a Paradigm of Post-coloniality”

“George Lamming’s IN THE CASTLE OF MY SKIN: A Littoral Figure Discovers Self-Identity and Authorial Language”

Encyclopedia of the Black Arts

Icons of African-American Literature