Kerry Goldmann

• 20th Century U.S., Cultural History, Jewish American History, African American History

(She/Her/Hers)

I am an historian of Jewish American history, African American history, and American culture. My research investigates the intersecting histories of subaltern communities and art used for social change. I am currently working on a book project that examines the sharp rise in black-owned theatre companies between 1960 and 1980. In the 1960s, Cultural Nationalism mobilized alongside Black Nationalism and placed great value on cultural ownership, in the structural sense of owning theatres, as the most effective avenue for achieving liberation. By examining these black-owned theatres, which provided black-centric art, communal programs, and economic opportunity, it's clear that artistic institutionalization not only mirrored Black Nationalism, but was indeed the enduring, physical manifestation of the heart of the movement.

My philosophy is that research and teaching reciprocally enrich one another. Though I highly value my personal research, I am passionate about investing in the classroom as a site that fosters intellectual curiosity and a reverence for history. As an interdisciplinary student myself, I employ various methodologies in each class ranging from traditional historical approaches to viewing history through the lenses of culture and social performativity. I prioritize accessible education and extending relevance for students by broadening what and who we deem significant in American history. In addition to the courses I teach, I serve as the Associate Director of Graduate Studies for the History Department. I am deeply committed to preparing both undergraduate and graduate students for the vast landscape of professions that stem from the discipline of history.

Selected Publications

"Hamilton and Historical Memory: An American Musical Raises the Curtain on Historical Trauma and Decolonization of American Identity," in The Hamilton Phenomenon, edited by Chloe Northrop (Wilmington, DE: Vernon Press, 2022).

"The Keepers of the Culture at 3201 Adeline Street: Locating Black Power Theatre in Berkeley, California," in California History, Vol. 98, No. 1 February (Spring) 2021.

"The Transatlantic Stage: The Aesthetic Debate Surrounding Diaspora in Early Black Drama," in African and Diasporic Intersections: Politics, Economy and Societal Perspectives; Africa Conference Series (University of Texas Press) (2019).

"The Complexity of Teaching Play Analysis," in Texas Theatre Journal, XII, # 1 (January 2016).

Selected Awards

Robert Trennert and Peter Iverson Conference Scholarship Award from the Western History Association (2019)

University of Texas at Dallas Office of Graduate Education Dissertation Research Award (2019)

Charles Redd Center PCB-AHA Conference Award (2019)

Betty and Gifford Johnson Graduate Studies award at the University of Texas, Dallas (2018)

UNT Faculty Profile