Lori Tharps

About the Author

Lori Tharps is an acclaimed author, journalist, and professor whose work explores the intersections of race, identity, and culture with unflinching honesty and profound insight. Drawing from her own multicultural heritage as the daughter of a Black American father and a white American mother, Tharps has dedicated her career to illuminating the experiences of people of color in America. Her writing bridges personal narrative and historical analysis, challenging readers to confront the legacies of prejudice while celebrating resilience and beauty. As a faculty member at Syracuse University, she inspires the next generation of writers to tell their truths. Tharps' debut book, Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America, remains a seminal work on the cultural significance of Black hair, blending memoir, history, and social commentary to reveal how hair has shaped Black identity for generations.