November 21, 2019 Dr. Jennifer Patrice Sims, Assistant Professor of Sociology at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) recently published her second book Photo Credit Michael Mercier Dr. Jennifer Patrice Sims, Assistant Professor of Sociology at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) recently published her second book, Mixed-Race in the US and UK: Comparing the Past, Present, and Future coauthored with UK-based scholar Dr. Chinelo L. Njaka. The book is the second in the Critical Mixed Race Studies book series by Emerald Publishing. According to census data, mixed-race people are one of the fastest growing demographic groups in both the US and UK. However, there are differences. “How one understands race, being mixed-race, and what types of social experiences one has are all dependent upon context, which is why it is so important to study cross-nationally” explains Dr. Sims. “Early in the book, we point to the different reactions to Meghan Markle’s marriage to Prince Harry: #BlackPrincess was used on social media in the US while people in the UK declared love for their new ‘mixed-race Princess.’ Despite the shared history and culture between the US and UK, race is constructed, understood, and experienced somewhat differently.” Drawing on original data collected by the authors, Mixed-Race in the US and UK focuses on the census, racial identity, civil society, and everyday experiences at the intersection of race, gender, class, and sexuality. A methodological discussion of qualitative cross-national research practices is included at the end. “It was important to us to not only be transparent about how our data were collected and analyzed, but also to reflect on the research process and share what we have learned with future researchers,” says Dr. Sims. Dr. Sims joined the UAH Department of Sociology after completing her PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and teaching at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. She regularly offers Introduction to Sociology, Race/Ethnicity, and both general and qualitative Research Methods courses. For more information: Dr. Jennifer Sims Department of Sociology Phone: 256.824.2301 soc@uah.edu
