William Sturkey

William Sturkey is the Roy F. and Jeannette P. Nichols Associate Professor of American History at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies and teaches about the history of race in the United States. Professor Sturkey is the author of several books and articles, including Hattiesburg: An American City in Black and White (2019) and, most recently, The Ballad of Roy Benavidez: The Life and Times of America’s Most Famous Hispanic War Hero (2024). Dr. Sturkey’s writing has appeared in academic journals such as The Journal of African American History and Southern Cultures and in major news venues such as The New York Times and The Atlantic. Professor Sturkey is currently at work on a new book project, Precious Lord, Take My Hand: A People’s History of the 1960s. At the University of Pennsylvania, Professor Sturkey teaches a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses in Southern History, African American History, Modern United States History, and Historical Methods. Sturkey is also an ardent supporter of K-12 teachers and has participated in numerous K-12 workshops, including those sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Children’s Defense Fund.