Patricia Hill Collins

Patricia Hill Collins is a scholar and public intellectual whose work has influenced the study of power, inequality, and social justice.

As Distinguished University Professor Emerita at the University of Maryland, Collins is known for her contributions to Black feminist thought and the development of intersectionality as a framework for analyzing how race, class, gender, and other systems of power interconnect to produce social inequalities. Her book, "Black Feminist Thought," explores the intellectual traditions of Black women in the United States and introduces new paradigms for understanding oppression and empowerment, impacting academic discourse and social movements.

Collins' scholarship bridges theory and activism, as demonstrated in works such as "Intersectionality as Critical Social Theory" and the textbook "Race, Class and Gender: Intersections and Inequalities." Her analytical tools and conceptual innovations are foundational in sociology, gender studies, and related fields, influencing academia, policy, and popular culture. Collins has served as the 100th president of the American Sociological Association, becoming the first African American woman to hold this office, and has received honors including the Berggruen Prize for Philosophy & Culture.

Collins is recognized for her ability to communicate complex ideas clearly, engaging audiences through public lectures, keynote addresses, and media appearances. Her work highlights the importance of intersectional analysis in addressing contemporary social challenges. Through scholarship and public engagement, Collins shapes conversations on justice, representation, and equality, and is regarded as a leading sociologist and intersectionality theorist.