Tukufu Zuberi
Encyclopedia
Tukufu Zuberi is an American sociologist, filmmaker, social critic, educator, and writer. He is the Lasry Family Professor of Race Relations, and Professor and Chair of the Sociology
Department at the University of Pennsylvania
. Zuberi has appeared in several documentaries on Africa and the African diaspora
, including Liberia: America's Stepchild (2002), and 500 Years Later
(2005). He is also one of the hosts of the PBS
program History Detectives
.
for “beyond praise” and “strength.” Zuberi says that he "took the name because of a desire to make and have a connection with an important period where people were challenging what it means to be a human being.”
Zuberi received a bachelor's degree from San Jose State
in 1981, a master's degree from Cal State Sacramento
in 1985, and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago
in 1989. In 1988, he joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania
, where he is now the Lasry Family Professor of Race Relations, the Chair of the Sociology Department, and the Director of the Center for Africana Studies.
He has also been a visiting professor at Makerere University
in Kampala
, Uganda
and the University of Dar es Salaam
in Tanzania
. He currently directs the African Census Analysis Project (ACAP), an international collaboration with African nations.
Zuberi’s research focuses on race and African and African diaspora
populations. He has conducted research in the fields of social statistics
and population studies (demography). He has been a guest lecturer at colleges and universities and on television programs.
Zuberi is the author of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: The Mortality Cost of Colonizing Liberia in the Nineteenth-Century and Thicker than Blood: How Racial Statistics Lie. He has written a history of the Sudan
and is the series editor of the General Demography of Africa. He has written more than 50 scholarly articles and co-edited eight volumes. He has received a number of awards for his academic work.
Zuberi is a host on the PBS
series, History Detectives
. The program explores historical mysteries and myths, seeking evidence that connects local folklore, family legends, and interesting objects.
to advance the process of census enumeration in Africa. Although census-taking eventually became routine, the preservation and analysis of the resultant data were not fully developed within African statistical offices. In recognition of the need to preserve African census data, to avoid perpetual loss due to poor storage, and to encourage and enhance further analysis, dissemination, and utilization of the massive census data, ACAP was undertaken as a joint initiative of the Population Studies Center at the University of Pennsylvania
and African governmental and research institutions. The goal was to promote collaboration among African governments and research institutions at archiving and analyzing African census data, both at national and sub-national levels, and to inform appropriate policy interventions on the continent.
in a 1932 Ford roadster and tracked down a Japanese internment camp survivor. Producer of the show, Tony Tackaberry says “Along with his expertise, Tukufu has a strong, engaging, excited personality that comes through.”
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
Department at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. Zuberi has appeared in several documentaries on Africa and the African diaspora
African diaspora
The African diaspora was the movement of Africans and their descendants to places throughout the world—predominantly to the Americas also to Europe, the Middle East and other places around the globe...
, including Liberia: America's Stepchild (2002), and 500 Years Later
500 Years Later
500 Years Later is the title of an independent documentary film directed by Owen 'Alik Shahadah, written by M. K. Asante, Jr. released in 2005. It won five international film festival awards in the category of Best Documentary...
(2005). He is also one of the hosts of the PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
program History Detectives
History Detectives
History Detectives is a documentary television series on PBS. A group of researchers help people to seek answers to various historical questions they have, usually centering around a family heirloom, an old house or other historic object or structure...
.
Biography
Born Antonio McDaniel to Willie and Annie McDaniel, and raised in the housing projects of Oakland, California in the 1970s, he changed his name to Tukufu Zuberi, which is SwahiliSwahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
for “beyond praise” and “strength.” Zuberi says that he "took the name because of a desire to make and have a connection with an important period where people were challenging what it means to be a human being.”
Zuberi received a bachelor's degree from San Jose State
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
in 1981, a master's degree from Cal State Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...
in 1985, and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
in 1989. In 1988, he joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, where he is now the Lasry Family Professor of Race Relations, the Chair of the Sociology Department, and the Director of the Center for Africana Studies.
He has also been a visiting professor at Makerere University
Makerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
in Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and the University of Dar es Salaam
University of Dar es Salaam
The University of Dar es Salaam is a university in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam. The university was born out of a decision taken in 1970 to split the then University of East Africa into three independent universities; Makerere University , University of Nairobi and University of Dar es...
in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. He currently directs the African Census Analysis Project (ACAP), an international collaboration with African nations.
Zuberi’s research focuses on race and African and African diaspora
African diaspora
The African diaspora was the movement of Africans and their descendants to places throughout the world—predominantly to the Americas also to Europe, the Middle East and other places around the globe...
populations. He has conducted research in the fields of social statistics
Social statistics
Social statistics is the use of statistical measurement systems to study human behavior in a social environment. This can be accomplished through polling a particular group of people, evaluating a particular subset of data obtained about a group of people, or by observation and statistical...
and population studies (demography). He has been a guest lecturer at colleges and universities and on television programs.
Zuberi is the author of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: The Mortality Cost of Colonizing Liberia in the Nineteenth-Century and Thicker than Blood: How Racial Statistics Lie. He has written a history of the Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and is the series editor of the General Demography of Africa. He has written more than 50 scholarly articles and co-edited eight volumes. He has received a number of awards for his academic work.
Zuberi is a host on the PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
series, History Detectives
History Detectives
History Detectives is a documentary television series on PBS. A group of researchers help people to seek answers to various historical questions they have, usually centering around a family heirloom, an old house or other historic object or structure...
. The program explores historical mysteries and myths, seeking evidence that connects local folklore, family legends, and interesting objects.
African Census Analysis Project (ACAP)
Zuberi has headed the African Census Analysis Project (ACAP), a project initiated by the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
to advance the process of census enumeration in Africa. Although census-taking eventually became routine, the preservation and analysis of the resultant data were not fully developed within African statistical offices. In recognition of the need to preserve African census data, to avoid perpetual loss due to poor storage, and to encourage and enhance further analysis, dissemination, and utilization of the massive census data, ACAP was undertaken as a joint initiative of the Population Studies Center at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
and African governmental and research institutions. The goal was to promote collaboration among African governments and research institutions at archiving and analyzing African census data, both at national and sub-national levels, and to inform appropriate policy interventions on the continent.
International activities
| International Activity | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Activity | Location |
| 1989 | Makerere University Makerere University Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London... (Professor of African Demography) |
Kampala, Uganda |
| 1990–1991 | University of Dar es Salaam University of Dar es Salaam The University of Dar es Salaam is a university in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam. The university was born out of a decision taken in 1970 to split the then University of East Africa into three independent universities; Makerere University , University of Nairobi and University of Dar es... (Professor of African Demography) |
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| 1993 | Workshop on Male Role in Contraception in Sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara... (organizer) |
University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution... |
| 1995–2005 | Summer Institute for Demographic Research (organizer) | University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution... |
| 1996 | African Dissertation “Distance Training” Workshop (organizer) | University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution... |
| 1997 | Workshop on the African Census Project (organizer) | University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution... |
| Du Bois Collective Colloquium Series (organizer) | University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution... |
|
| 1998–present | 2nd Workshop on the African Census Analysis Project (ACAP) (organizer) | Pretoria, South Africa |
| 1999 | “The Study of African American Problems: Papers Presented in Honor of W.E.B. Du Bois W.E.B. Du Bois William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was an American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author, and editor. Born in Massachusetts, Du Bois attended Harvard, where he was the first African American to earn a doctorate... ” (organizer) |
University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution... |
| “Workshop on the African Census Analysis Project,” A 10-day workshop at The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Study and Conference Center (organizer) | Bellagio, Italy | |
| 2000 | Transcending Tradition: African, African-American, and Diaspora Diaspora A diaspora is "the movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland" or "people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location", or "people settled far from their ancestral homelands".The word has come to refer to historical mass-dispersions of... Studies in the 21st Century Conference (organizer) |
University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution... |
| Racial Statistics and Public Policy Conference (organizer) | University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution... |
|
| 2001 | International Expert Group Meeting on Mechanisms for Ensuring Continuity of 10-Year Population Censuses: Strategies for Reducing Census Costs and African Census Analysis Project Meeting (presenter) | Pretoria, South Africa |
| “Social Change and the Demography of Africa: Evidence from the Analysis of Census Data” presented by the African Census Analysis Project (organizer) | Dakar, Senegal | |
| 2002 | “Demography and Health in Africa,” An International Workshop with African Scholars in the ACAP and INDEPTH projects. (organizer) | Bellagio, Italy |
| 2003 | “Data Needs for District Level Planning in Uganda Uganda Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by... ,” An International Workshop with African Scholars in the ACAP and INDEPTH projects. (organizer) |
Kampala, Uganda |
| 2004 | “From African Demography to African Population Studies: Memory and the Future,” 47th Annual Meetings of the African Studies Association African Studies Association The African Studies Association is an association of scholars and professionals in the United States and Canada with an interest in the continent of Africa. Started in 1957, the ASA is the leading organization of African Studies in North America. The associations headquarters are Rutgers... (participant) |
New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population... |
| 2005 | “The Demography of South Africa” Book Launch (co-editor) | Pretoria, South Africa |
| “Census in the 21st Century: Improving Data Utilization and Dissemination, International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP)” XXV International Population Conference (panelist) | Tours, France | |
| 2006 | “Improving the Quality of Life for Older Persons: Advancing United Nations United Nations The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace... Global Strategies” (panelist) |
United Nations Headquarters United Nations headquarters The headquarters of the United Nations is a complex in New York City. The complex has served as the official headquarters of the United Nations since its completion in 1952. It is located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, on spacious grounds overlooking the East River... , New York City, NY |
| “Les systemes d’information en demographie et en sciences sociales Nouvelles question, nouveaux outils?” at Chaire Quetelet 2006 (speaker) | Louvain-la-Neuve Louvain-la-Neuve Louvain-la-Neuve is a planned city in the municipality of Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, situated 30 km southeast of Brussels, in the French-speaking part of the country... , Belgium Belgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
|
| “Strengthening South Africa’s Reconstruction and Development Program Through Poverty Mapping” at Statistics South Africa (Internal) Workshop (speaker) | Pretoria, South Africa | |
| “Statistics Forum: Africa Counts,” presented by the African Census Analysis Project (organizer) | Durban, South Africa | |
| 2007 | “Memoires et demographie: Regards croises au Sud et au Nord” 7th Journees scientificqudes du Reseau Demographie (presenter) | Praia, Cape Verde |
| “2010 Round of Population and Housing Censuses: Workshop on Advocacy for Use of Census Data and Resource Mobilization” (presenter) | Université Laval Université Laval Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French... , Quebec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... |
|
| 2008 | Kerner Plus 40 Report Conference (organizer) | University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution... and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a land-grant university located in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest publicly funded historically black college in the state of North Carolina.NC A&T is a constituent institution of the University of North... |
| World Economic Forum World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland.... , Global Agenda Council on Human Equality and Respect (participant) |
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | |
| 3rd Annual Conference of the Population Association Convention, “Deracializing Social Statistics and Quantifying Underrepresented Groups” (plenary speaker) | Durban, South Africa | |
| 2009 | “Perspectives on Africa and the World” (organizer) | University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution... |
| World Economic Forum World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland.... , "Shaping the Post-Crisis World" (panelist) |
Davos, Switzerland | |
| Louis Towers and Palenke in Concert (co-host) | Philadelphia, PA | |
| World Economic Forum World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland.... , Global Agenda Council on Values (participant) |
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | |
| Afro-Colombian Afro-Colombian Afro Colombians refers to Colombians of African ancestry, and the great impact they have had on Colombian culture. Notable Afro-Colombians include Colombian scientists like Raul Cuero, writers like Manuel Zapata Olivella and politicians:... Month sponsored by Colombia es Pasion. (International expert panelist) |
Bogota, Colombia | |
| “Issue of the Moment: The Changing Face of Race” (speaker) | United Nations Headquarters United Nations headquarters The headquarters of the United Nations is a complex in New York City. The complex has served as the official headquarters of the United Nations since its completion in 1952. It is located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, on spacious grounds overlooking the East River... , New York City, NY |
|
| 2010 | African Presidential Roundtable (participant) | Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ... Tanzania |
| World Economic Forum World Economic Forum The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland.... , Global Agenda Council on Human Rights (participant) |
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | |
History Detectives
Zuberi is an expert host on the PBS television program, History Detectives. The show devotes itself to "to exploring the complexities of historical mysteries, searching out the facts, myths and conundrums that connect local folklore, family legends and interesting objects." Zuberi has taken the audience on an investigation by racing around Death ValleyDeath Valley
Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California. Situated within the Mojave Desert, it features the lowest, driest, and hottest locations in North America. Badwater, a basin located in Death Valley, is the specific location of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet below...
in a 1932 Ford roadster and tracked down a Japanese internment camp survivor. Producer of the show, Tony Tackaberry says “Along with his expertise, Tukufu has a strong, engaging, excited personality that comes through.”
Books
- Tukufu Zuberi. Thicker Than Blood: An Essay on how Racial Statistics Lie (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2001). Honorable Mention for the 2002 Gustavus Myers Book Award.
- Antonio McDaniel. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: The Mortality Cost of Colonizing Liberia in the Nineteenth-Century (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995)
Edited Volumes
- Tukufu Zuberi and Eduardo Bonilla-Silva (editors). White Logic, White Methods: Race and Methodology (New York: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2008) Winner of the 2009 Oliver Cromwell Cox Book Award, American Sociological AssociationAmerican Sociological AssociationThe American Sociological Association , founded in 1905 as the American Sociological Society , is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the discipline and profession of sociology by serving sociologists in their work and promoting their contributions to serve society.The ASA holds its...
. - Tukufu Zuberi, Amson Sibanda and Eric Udjo (editors). The Demography of South Africa Volume 1 of the General Demography of Africa series, General Editor Tukufu Zuberi (New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2005).
Edited journal issues
- Tukufu Zuberi and Tanji Gilliam(Special Editors) Perspectives on Africa and the World. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science November 2010 vol. 632 (132 pages)
- Tukufu Zuberi and Gale Garrison(Guest editors) Back to the Future of Civilization: Celebrating 30 Years of African American Studies. Special Issue of Journal of Black Studies 2004, Vol. 35, Number 2
- Tukufu Zuberi (Guest editor), Racial Statistics and Public Policy. Special issue of Race and Society 2003 (mistakenly listed as 2001 on volume cover), Volume 4, Issue 2 (132 pages)
- Laura Chrisman, Farah Griffin and Tukufu Zuberi (Guest editors) Transcending Traditions: African, African Diaspora, and African American Studies in the 21st Century Special issue of Black Scholar 2000, Vol. 30, No. 3-4 (80 pages).
- Elijah Anderson and Tukufu Zuberi (Guest editors) The Study of African American Problems: Papers In Honor Of W.E.B. Du Bois. Special issue of The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 2000, vol. 568 (316 pages)
Selected video clips
- History Detectives- Fan Q&A
- How Many in the Slave Trade
- Global Agenda Summit-Dubai-2008
- Divided and Dangerous: Human History from a Different Angle