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Dr. Melvin L. Rogers
Award-Winning Scholar & Professor of Political Science at Brown University.
Dr. Melvin L. Rogers
Award-Winning Scholar & Professor of Political Science at Brown University.
Biography
Melvin Rogers is a Professor of Political Science and Associate Director of the Center for Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Brown University, and a faculty affiliate of the Department of Africana Studies at Brown University. There Professor Rogers teaches courses on democratic theory, the history of American and African-American political philosophy, and pragmatism. In his teaching and writing, he pays careful attention to the overlapping themes of character, culture, and politics in nurturing a healthy democratic community. He is one of three co-directors of The Democracy Project at the PPE Center—a Project that promotes the study at Brown of democratic values, norms, cultures, institutions, and practices around the world, with a specific focus on North American, European, and Latin American experiences with democracy.
Professor Rogers is the author of The Undiscovered Dewey: Religion, Morality and the Ethos of Democracy and The Darkened Light of Faith: Race, Democracy, and Freedom in African American Political Thought. He is also the editor of John Dewey, The Public and Its Problems, co-editor of African American Political Thought: A Collected History, and co-editor of the Oxford New Histories of Philosophy book series. He has also published in popular venues such as Boston Review, Dissent, and The Atlantic. For his scholarship, he is the recipient of the 2023 James W. C. Pennington Award from Heidelberg University.
Rogers received his B.A. degree from Amherst College in political science, his M.Phil. in political thought and intellectual history from Cambridge, and his Ph.D. from Yale University in political science. Rogers previously served on the faculty of Carleton College, University of Virginia, Swarthmore College, Emory University, and the University of California, Los Angeles.
He and his family live in Rhode Island.
Speaker Videos
Author: Melvin Rogers in Conversation with Eddie Glaude Jr.
Our Shared Inheritance
Democracy as a Way of Life
Touchstones of Democracy: African American Thought Advancing Democracy
Civil Wars, Civil Rights, Transformation
People Beyond Ourselves
Speech Topics
On James Baldwin: Racial Progress Without Redemption
Join award-winning scholar Dr. Melvin Rogers as he delves into the heart of America’s struggle with race and identity. This lecture contrasts James Baldwin’s incisive critique with the overarching optimism of post-war racial liberalism. Dr. Rogers brings Baldwin’s twice-born faith to life, challenging the overly simplistic narratives of racial progress that emerged after World War II. This engaging presentation transcends academic discourse, serving as a compelling call to action. It invites us to deeply reconsider our notions of democracy and racial justice in the light of Baldwin’s profound insights. In the end, Baldwin insists that racial progress is possible not because we can redeem the nation but precisely because we constantly confront the racialized trauma threatening to overtake us.
Race & Aspirational Politics
How should we understand African Americans’ struggle for racial justice? How do we hold the political pessimism threatening to undercut our battle for justice at bay? For Dr. Melvin Rogers, the first place to begin is by understanding the philosophical vision of democracy that fueled African-American struggles. From abolitionists David Walker and Frederick Douglass to civil rights writer James Baldwin, all insisted that America is not a finished product and the unfinished character of American life renders democracy legitimate and compelling. This lecture journeys through the ideas of African-American intellectuals and activists, distilling the power of their ideas and the necessity of them today.
The Soul’s Journey: Voices of Resilience & Hope in African American Thought
Imagine a time when the soul wasn’t just a mystical concept, but a vibrant force for change and dignity, especially for African Americans facing the harsh realities of racism and injustice. This lecture, drawing from the rich tapestry of African American political thought, brings to life how figures like Maria Stewart, Frederick Douglass, W. E. B. Du Bois and others saw the soul as much more than a religious idea. It was their source of strength, a wellspring of hope, and a powerful tool in their fight for equality. Join Dr. Rogers on a journey through history, where the soul emerges as a guiding light in the darkest of times.
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