About
Jess Hasper is a PhD candidate in political theory. Their work primarily concerns activism and strategies for political mobilization, and intersects Black political thought, gender theory, and trans studies. Jess's dissertation employs archival and interpretive methods to construct a Black trans theoretical history. Thinking with and against Pauli Murray's writings and activism, Jess connects disparate moments of Black trans resistance across time and space (from 1920s Harlem, to 1960s Accra, Ghana), theorizing about the emergence and influence of ideas of protest and self-mastery within 20th century political movements.
Before pursuing doctoral work at Michigan, Jess was a graduate student at the University of Virginia, and Assistant Editor for the journal Political Theory.