Michele Morgan

Joan Morgan, born in Jamaica and raised in New York City, is an author and journalist who coined the term "hip hop feminist." Her work delves into the intersection of Black feminism and hip-hop culture, examining the perceived contradictions and nuances for women navigating these spaces. Morgan's career began in journalism, contributing to prominent publications before publishing her seminal 1999 book, "When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost." This book critically explored how women could embrace feminist ideals while engaging with aspects of hip-hop and patriarchal culture. She later earned a PhD in American Studies, with her dissertation focusing on Black feminist thought and pleasure politics. Morgan has also taught at various universities and appeared in documentaries.

Born in Jamaica in 1965, Joan Morgan moved to the South Bronx, New York City, at the age of two. Her father was involved in Jamaican politics, and her mother worked as a nurse and community teacher. Morgan attended public schools before graduating from the Ethical Culture Fieldston School. She pursued higher education at Wesleyan University, with a semester at Howard University, and later earned a PhD in American Studies from New York University in 2020. Her doctoral research centered on Black feminist thought and pleasure politics, with her dissertation later being published.

Morgan established herself as a freelance journalist in 1988, contributing to publications such as SPIN, Working Mother, More, Ms., Interview, and GIANT. Her early work at The Village Voice included articles on the Central Park jogger case and coverage of the Mike Tyson rape trial, earning her an Excellence Merit Award. She was an original staff writer for Vibe magazine from 1993 to 1996 and later served as executive editor of Essence magazine from 2000 to 2002. She also held editorial roles at SET Magazine and participated in panel discussions on the relationship between hip-hop and women.

Joan Morgan is best known for coining the terms "hip hop feminist" and "Black girl magic" through her influential 1999 book, "When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost." In this work, she critically examines the challenges and complexities faced by Black women who identify as feminists while also being immersed in hip-hop culture, which often contains patriarchal elements. She explores the idea of reconciling seemingly conflicting desires and beliefs, such as supporting Black male-centric movements and enjoying aspects of patriarchal culture. Her later book, "She Begat This: 20 Years of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," offers a cultural history of Lauryn Hill's iconic album.

Beyond her journalistic and literary career, Morgan has made significant contributions to academia. She has taught courses at institutions including Stanford University, The New School, Duke University, and Vanderbilt University. Her teaching often explored themes related to Black feminist thought, hip-hop culture, and politics of pleasure. Her doctoral work at NYU further solidified her academic standing, focusing on reclaiming pleasure within Black feminist discourse. She also appeared in the 2020 documentary "On the Record."

“Can you be a good feminist and admit out loud that there are things that you kinda dig about patriarchy?”

“Suppose you don't want to pay for your own dinner, hold the door open, fix things, move furniture, or get intimate with whatever's under the hood of a car”