Imani Perry ’94

The Art of Profile Writing

Join National Book Award-winning author Imani Perry ’94 in a conversation on the art of profile writing. Moderated by Tia Smith and Lara Sachdeva, MFA candidates in Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism at David Geffen School of Drama at Yale, this event reflects on Perry’s training as an interdisciplinary scholar and its influence on her profile writing for The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Harper’s Bazaar. The conversation will also address Perry’s celebrated books, such as Looking for Lorraine (2018) and Black in Blues (2025), considering them as long-form profiles. A light reception will follow the event. 

Location

Loria Center, Room 351

190 York St.

About the Speakers

Imani Perry is the Henry A. Morss, Jr. and Elisabeth W. Morss Professor of Studies of Women, Gender and Sexuality and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University and the Carol K. Pforzheimer Professor at Harvard Radcliffe Institute. Perry is the author of 9 books, including the New York Times Bestseller South to America: A Journey Below the Mason Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation which received the 2022 National Book Award for Nonfiction. Perry's other award-winning titles include: May We Forever Stand: A History of the Black National Anthem, Breathe: A Letter to My Sons, and Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry. Her most recent book: Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People, was published in January of 2025. Perry has written for numerous publications including: The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Bitter Southerner, Harper's and Harper’s Bazaar. She is a 2023 recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. Perry has also received fellowships from the Guggenheim and Pew Foundations. Perry earned her Ph.D. in the History of American Civilization from Harvard University, a J.D. from Harvard Law School, an L.L.M. in 19th century property and contract law from Georgetown University Law Center, and a B.A. in American Studies and Literature from Yale College. Prior to Harvard, she served on the faculties of Princeton University's Department of African American Studies and Rutgers Law School.

Co-sponsored by the Dramaturgy and Dramatic Criticism's Hot Topic Lecture Series, David Geffen School of Drama, Yale Schwarzman Center, Department of Music, Institute for Sacred Music, and African American Studies.