By Deena Campbell
Photography by Noah Kalina

HE IS: A Princeton professor who teaches religion and African-American studies, but drops knowledge on a wide range of topics from the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson and James Baldwin to the birth of black power. The 41-year-old Mississippi native and author of 2007’s In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America (The University of Chicago Press) wears a goatee in honor of Malcolm X.

SCHOOL SMARTS: In 2008, Glaude joined the board of directors for Teach for America, which places recent college grads in teaching positions in low-income communities. This coming fall, the well-known nonprofit will have more than 8,200 first- and second-year corps members conducting classes in over 100 school districts across the country. “Education is a civil right,” he says. “Our goal is to ensure that all children can dream and achieve skills to make their dreams a reality.”

OUTSIDE THE BOX: Whether posting to his blog or speaking on TV, Glaude promotes the importance of understanding black history and present-day social injustice. He’s quick to warn against imitating timeworn approaches from the 1960s. “We need a new generation of political voices,” he says. Additionally, Glaude worked with fellow Princeton professor Cornel West to develop a 15-week online course, Covenant Curriculum: A Study of Black Democratic Action, for use by church groups and civic societies around the country.

EYES ON THE PRIZE: During his off hours, Glaude plays golf or watches his son shoot hoops, but his mind never strays too far from issues affecting black America: “We’re in a time of transition. From now to when we are called, our goal is to develop our imagination to the fullest. Emerson said it best, ‘Insist on yourself; never imitate’. ”