Title: Languaging in Hampton Roads

Episode 23 Bonus: Interview with hip hop scholar Dr. Travis Harris, PhD. 

Hosts: Jill Winkowski and Prue Salasky

Date: July 24, 2026

Length: 37 minutes

Publication Frequency: Fourth Friday (approx) of each month

In this bonus episode, languagingHR shares their interview with Dr. Travis Harris, PhD,

assistant professor of English and African American literature at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va.

We spoke to Harris,  a hip hop scholar specializing in the intersection of religion and hip hop, for languagingHR Episode 22 on African American English in the 757. In it he spoke about the importance of language to maintaining identity in the face of pressures to conform, 

 Our interview spanned many topics and ran 90 minutes. Here, edited down to 37 minutes, Harris talks about his childhood and his journey to his academic specialty; his passion for hip hop, both local and international; his research into a displaced black community in Williamsburg; and his favorite African American authors.

For those interested in hip-hop, the W&M Hip Hop Collection, started in the 1980s,  is part of Swem Library’s Special Collections and includes recordings, publications, and ephemera from Virginia-based hip hop artists. Local stars include Pharell and Clipse (the brothers Pusha T and No Malice).

Send your questions and feedback to [email protected]; and for more information and to listen to previous episodes, check out our website, www.languaginghr.wordpress.com.