Jelani Cobb Biography

Jelani Cobb is an author, historian, educator, and dean of the Columbia Journalism School. He is best known for his focus on race, politics, history, and culture.

A native of Queens, New York, Cobb was the son of a modest family that relocated from the South. His parents valued education despite their limited access to it. His father only had a third-grade education but instilled a deep passion for learning in his son. 

Cobb earned a B.A. from Howard University and a Ph.D. in American history from Rutgers University. He became an associate professor of history and director of the Institute for African American Studies at the University of Connecticut. 

His books include "The Substance of Hope: Barack Obama and the Paradox of Progress" and "To the Break of Dawn: A Freestyle on the Hip Hop Aesthetic." His PBS “Frontline” documentary “Whose Vote Counts?” earned him a Peabody Award in 2020. 

He remains a prominent voice on racial justice and journalism’s role in democracy, frequently contributing to outlets like the Washington Post, Essence, and TheRoot.com and appearing on NPR, CNN, and MSNBC.

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