Babette Thomas

An artist, radio producer and doctoral student in the departments of American and African-American Studies

Black radio history; public humanities; sound studies; radio studies; media studies; new media studies; Black feminist theory; affect theory

babette.thomas@yale.edu

B.A. from Brown University in Africana Studies (Honors) and Modern Culture and Media.

Babette Thomas is a media artist, radio producer and doctoral candidate in the departments of Black Studiesand American Studies. Their creative practice constantly informs their research interests in Black new media, more broadly.

In their forthcoming dissertation, “Can You Hear Me Now? 20th Century Black Feminist Soundwork in Transmission and Reception,” they analyze Black women and girls’ relationship to the radio during the postwar era. They argue that, despite their long-neglect, Black women’s contributions to radio, as both listeners and producers, have heavily impacted Black radio and American radio culture at large.

Having held positions and affiliations with institutions such as The Whitney Museum, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The Center For the Study of Slavery and Justice, The Museum of African American History and Culture, SF MOMA, and NPR, Babette is interested in how digital media, specifically sound media can be used as a tool towards public education and memorialization of site-specific Black history.

Department:

Combined Ph.D. with American Studies