Marcia Chatelain - College of Arts & Sciences

Georgetown University Faculty in Research

Dr. Marcia Chatelain is a Provost’s Distinguished Associate Professor of History and African American Studies at Georgetown University. Marcia is a public voice on the history of African American children, race in America, and social movements. In 2014, Marcia organized her fellow scholars in a social media response to the crisis in Ferguson, Missouri, entitled #FergusonSyllabus. This project has led to similar initiatives online and has shaped curricular projects in K-12 settings, as well as academia. In 2015, she published her first book, South Side Girls: Growing up in the Great Migration. Her latest book, Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America, examines the intersection of the post-1968 civil rights struggle and the rise of the fast food industry. It will be published in early 2020. A frequent public speaker and consultant to educational institutions, Marcia delivers lectures and workshops on inclusive teaching, social movements, and food justice. She hosts “Office Hours: A Podcast,” in which she talks to millennials about what is most important to them, and she has contributed to countless news outlets and organizations in the mainstream media. Table of Contents: 0:00: Introduction 1:45: How did you choose to be a historian? 7:33: Why did you choose history to pursue writing? 9:52: How did you choose southside girls as the focus for your first work? 11:32: What is the work of a research project like this? 14:32: Can you tell us about the discoveries in your second book? 17:50: How do you balance academic research and impact beyond academia? 20:17: What is your daily routine like? How do you balance your schedule? 22:30 Tell us what you’re working on right now? Music: Main Theme: Corporate Technology by Scott Holmes Background: Horizon Soundscapes by RF Soundtracks