Dr. Neal A.
Lester


Neal A. Lester is professor of English and director of Project Humanities at Arizona State University. 

Articles by Dr. Neal A.

“Playing Black” for Laughs

Costumes and makeup aren’t the only markers for cultural appropriation. Dr. Neal Lester explains the prevalence of—and problems with—“figurative blackface.”

'Tis the Season: Christianity and Jesus in Black and White

What message does a white Jesus send to Christians who are not white?

'Redskins,' Names and Being Named

Controversy over a team name opens a national dialogue about race, identity and what’s in a name.

The Infamous N-word

No matter the spelling or context, the n-word remains intertwined with American racial tensions past and present.

Cheerios Ad Touches Racial Nerve

A recent Cheerios commercial reminds us of the historical roots of race in the United States. Those roots still cause social and political upset.