"The Worker must work for the glory of [God and] his handiwork, not simply for pay; the thinker for truth, not fame."
-W.E.B. Du Bois (Personal Adaptation)
Dr. Morris
Interdisciplinary Meta-Historian | Professor | Preacher
Welcome
Welcome to my digital home, where faith, community, and the academy intersect. My work centers on our vibrant cultural past and the hidden histories embedded in everyday artifacts, revealing how they shape the modern world. I invite you to explore my curriculum model and flagship initiatives in the Pedagogy Lab, or view my full CV for a deeper look at my professional journey. Whether you are a student, fellow academic, or curious visitor, I’m glad you’re here. This is where you can explore my latest scholarship, public commentary, and collaborative projects.
Interdisciplinary
Meta-Historian
Working at the intersection of the pulpit and the academy, I am an Interdisciplinary Meta-Historian exploring religion, Black popular culture, and the textures of everyday life.
With advanced training in the humanities, sociology, and theology, I use history as a methodological anchor to explore social problems and meaning, transforming cultural artifacts into compelling historical narratives.
Beyond just chronicling history, I examine how historical narratives are shaped, framed, and powered by deeper philosophical and ideological underpinnings—offering insights into our contemporary world.
Flagship Initiatives
Black Popular Culture & Heritage: A History
Who truly owns and defines the Black experience?
In this course, we dive into phonograph race records and modern digital media to explore how Black culture and heritage is created and consumed. Students investigate essential questions of cultural ownership, authenticity and identity and representation from the Industrial Revolution through today’s digital age. Join us to analyze how community history is preserved and resisted within the global culture industry.
Coming to Spelman College History Department soon.
Consuming History: Industry, Identity, and the Heritage Marketplace
Who truly owns our collective memory in an age where the past is packaged for sale?
This course examines the workings of the past in our everyday lives by exploring the interfaces of academic history and its consumption by the public—analyzing the rapid broadcasting and commodification of history.Moving beyond traditional paper archives, our class enters the modern marketplace to examine digital landscapes, media, performance, and the heritage industry. Together, we will grapple with how contemporary popular culture shapes our deeply held ideas about history, identity and heritage.
Therapeutic Culture & Faith: A History
In an age of digital wellness and self-help, how do we navigate the complex intersection of psychology and spiritual authority?
In this course, we will unpack the ways psychology and the wellness industry have fundamentally reshaped major social institutions, including politics and the Black Church. Students critically analyze the rise of the 'therapeutic gospel' and the commercialization of emotional survival in popular culture, examining the shifting boundaries of authority between clinical expertise and faith-based leadership. By investigating these intersections, we reveal how the pursuit of secular optimization confronts traditional religious institutions in the modern age
Selected Publications & Conference Papers
A curated selection of recent work exploring Black cultural history and heritage within the broader American landscape, featuring scholarly contributions that bridge community tradition and academic inquiry to examine Atlanta’s role in the early recording industry.
Southern Historical Association |presentation scheduled November 2026
The Powerful Triumvirate: Ralph Peer, Polk Brockman and Frank Walker
Atlanta Studies Symposium |presented May 2026