Biography
Dr. Travis Wright is a historian specializing in U.S. and African American history, with a focus on twentieth century social movements, particularly the Civil Rights Movement. His research and teaching emphasize Black social, cultural, and political history.
Dr. Wright is currently editing the manuscript for his book, the first comprehensive study on the Friends of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (FSNCC)—a network of northern activists who supported southern freedom workers during the 1960s. His work highlights the crucial yet overlooked role FSNCC played in sustaining the Civil Rights Movement by raising money, spreading information, and mobilizing northern support.
His most recent publication, "Social Media and Continuity in the Black Freedom Struggle," explores the role of media, both historically and contemporarily, in Black activism. From impact of photographs in the civil rights era, such as those of Emmett Till, to the role of social media in the Black Lives Matter movement, Dr. Wright examines how racial violence has been made visible and how these platforms continue to mobilize collective action for racial justice.