About Dr. Jerry Rafiki Jenkins
Jerry Rafiki Jenkins holds a doctorate in Literature from the University of California, San Diego, and his work focuses on Black speculative fiction and film, with an emphasis on horror and future human studies. He is current Assistant Director of the Institute for African American Studies at the University of Georgia.
Recent Awards
The Nosferatu Award
Dr. Jenkins received The Nosferatu Award for "New-Black Backness and Vampire Supremacism in 'Black as Night,'" a paper presented at the Popular Culture Association National Conference in 2026.
Books Written and Edited by Dr. Jenkins
Reviews and Shoutouts
In addition to his work being positively reviewed by scholars in venues such as Science Fiction Studies, SFRA Review, and MELUS, Dr. Jenkins's The Paradox of Blackness in African American Vampire Fiction appears in "The Sinners Movie Syllabus" created by Jemar Tisby and Keisha N. Blain
Keynotes, Presentations, and Media Appearances
Festival of Monsters
Festival of Monsters
Festival of Monsters
Dr. Jerry Rafiki Jenkins was a keynote speaker at the Festival of Monsters, presented annually by the UC Santa Cruz Center for Monster Studies
THE FACE
Festival of Monsters
Festival of Monsters
Dr. Jerry Rafiki Jenkins is featured in "Sinners: the anti-capitalist vampire film everyone is talking about," an article in THE FACE
ANTI-LIBRARY PODCAST
Festival of Monsters
Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association (PAMLA)
Dive into the fascinating world of Black horror with Dr. Jerry Rafiki Jenkins in an episode of "The Anti-Library Podcast"
Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association (PAMLA)
Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association (PAMLA)
Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association (PAMLA)
Dr. Jenkins currently serves as the Second Vice-President of PAMLA and appears regularly at the organization's annual conference
THE SHOW WHERE THEY TALK ABOUT MONSTERS
Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association (PAMLA)
THE SHOW WHERE THEY TALK ABOUT MONSTERS
Dr. Jenkins appears in episode 3.7, "Human Monstrosity" on the podcast, The Show Where They Talk About Monsters
University of Georgia (UGA)
Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association (PAMLA)
THE SHOW WHERE THEY TALK ABOUT MONSTERS
As Assistant Director of the Institute for African American Studies at UGA, Dr. Jenkins is a featured speaker for and facilitator of numerous on-campus and local events