KEISHA L. BENTLEY-EDWARDS, PHD
THE LATEST
Duke TEDxDuke: A Matter of Time
February 20, 2021
I am joining an awesome line up of speakers for the 2021 TEDxDuke. This year's theme is "A Matter of Time." This year will be a little different - the audience will be virtual, but it will still be dynamic! You can watch it live for free, but you still need to register with the link below.
BACKGROUND
An Interdisciplinary Approach
I am an interdisciplinary scholar. I investigate how racism, gender, and culture influence development throughout the lifespan, primarily focusing on African Americans. An underlying thread in my research is the use of cultural strengths to promote resiliency in families, communities, and schools in the face of racial stressors and challenging social contexts.
I earned my doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development. There, I received in-depth training on methodology, theory, and the study of racial stress, racial socialization, and gender. My Master of Arts degree in Developmental Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, and my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Howard University, were the foundations for my interest in resiliency.
As an Assistant Professor of General Internal Medicine and the Associate Director of Research/Director of the Health Equity Working Group at the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University, I conduct research on how racism, gender, and culture influence health, social and educational outcomes. Beyond identifying disparities, I also investigate the ways that systems can be improved and how cultural strengths can be used to promote resiliency and positive health outcomes in African Americans throughout their lives.
My research has been supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. I regularly share my expertise with policymakers, practitioners, the media, and the broader community.
PUBLISHED WORK
Scholarly Papers, Book Chapters, Research Briefs & Op-Eds
OVERVIEW
My work crosses into the realms of psychology, health, education, and Black studies. Overall, I study how race, racial socialization, and racism affect the health and well-being of children and adults. Most of my research is on African Americans, however, I also examine how White families socialize their children on race. My currently funded research examines the influence of religion and spirituality on cardiovascular disease in Black adults.
RACIAL SOCIALIZATION
Bentley, K. L., Adams, V. N., & Stevenson, H. C. (2009). Racial Socialization: Roots, Processes & Outcomes. In H. Neville, B. Tynes & S. Utsey (Eds.), Handbook of African American Psychology (pp. 258-267). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Bartoli, E., Bentley-Edwards, K. L., Michael, A., Garcia, A. M., & Ervin, A. (2015). What do White counselors need to know about race?: White racial socialization in counselor education programs. Journal of Women & Therapy: Special Issue on Whiteness & White Privilege in Therapy. 38(3-4), 246-262. doi: 10.1080/02703149.2015.1059206
RACIAL COHESION
Bentley-Edwards, K. L. & Chapman-Hilliard, C. (2015). Doing Race in different places: Black Racial Cohesion on Black and White college campuses. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education 8(1), 43-60. doi: 10.1037/a0038293.
BLACK WOMEN & GIRLS
Adams-Bass, V. N., Bentley-Edwards, K. L., & Stevenson, H. C. (2014). That’s Not Me I See On TV: African American youth interpret media images Of Black females. Women, Gender and Families of Color, 2(1).
Bentley-Edwards, K. L., & Adams-Bass, V. N. (2013). The Whole Picture: Examining Black women through the life span. In H. O. Jackson Lowman (Ed.), Afrikan American Women: Living at the Crossroads of Race, Gender, Class, and Culture: Cognella Press/University Readers.
BLACK BOYS
Thomas, D. E., Coard, S. I., Stevenson, H. C., Bentley, K. L., & Zamel, P. C. (2009). Racial and emotional factors predicting teachers' perceptions of classroom behavioral maladjustment for urban African American male youth. Psychology in the Schools, 46(2), 184-196. DOI: 10.1002/pits.20362
Bentley-Edwards, K. L., Thomas, D. E., & Stevenson, H. (2013). Raising Consciousness: Promoting healthy coping among African American boys at school. In C. Clauss-Ehlers, Z. Serpell & M. Weist (Eds.), Handbook of Culturally Responsive School Mental Health: Advancing Research, Training, Practice, and Policy Springer.
PRE-SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE & EDUCATION ISSUES
RACE,
BLACK STUDIES & RACISM STRESS
AFRICAN AMERICANS, RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY & HEALTH
Robbins, P. A., Scott, M. J., Conde, E., Daniel, Y., Darity, W. A., & Bentley-Edwards, K. L. (2020). Denominational and Gender Differences in Hypertension Among African American Christian Young Adults. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. doi: 10.1007/s40615-020-00895-4
Bentley-Edwards, K. L., Blackman Carr, L. T., Robbins, P. A., Conde, E., Zaw, K., & Darity, W. A. (2019). Investigating Denominational and Church Attendance Differences in Obesity and Diabetes in Black Christian Men and Women. Journal of Religion and Health. doi: 10.1007/s10943-019-00888-6
PUBLIC LECTURES &
EXPERT COMMENTARY
““…I am deliberate and
afraid of nothing.”
-Audre Lorde's New Year's Day Poem
SHARING MY INSIGHTS & EXPERTISE
I often provide insight to local and national media outlets on a wide range of issues that deal with youth, race & racism, health and education. I often do lectures, panels and workshops in university, community, school, and church settings. Links to some of these appearances are below. You can click here for the video gallery.
IN THE MEDIA
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NPR Source of the Week
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Dawson, A. & Joyner, I. (2018). Juneteenth & Reparations. Durham, NC: WNCU; Legal Eagle Review Radio Show.
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Why Schools Should Refine Black History Education. The Joy Cardin Show (Wisconsin Public Radio).
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Bentley-Edwards, K. L. (2016, Feb 6). We Need to Change How We Teach Black History. TIME.
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Teaching Black History. (2016, February 19). In R. Gilbert (Producer), Good Day Austin (Fox 7).
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Dearman, E. (2015, October 15). The Q&A: Keisha Bentley-Edwards, The Texas Tribune.
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Alcindor, Y. (2014, June 19). Slavery records will soon be easily searchable online, USA Today.
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Latson, J. (2014, December 22). Two Shootings, 30 Years Apart, Linked by Fear. TIME.
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Alcindor, Y. (2014, August 28). Ferguson violence could be a catalyst for change, USA Today.
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Alcindor, Y. (2013, February 27). A year after Trayvon Martin death, families reflect, USA Today.
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Wallace, M. J. (2012, November 12; 7pm CST). The People's Show with Mark J. Wallace. WVON 1690 AM.
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Alcindor, Y. (2012, November 12). Racial slurs at college protests prompt a deeper look, USA Today.
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McGuinness, C. (2012, April 18). Billboard showcases rising cost of prom, Killean Daily Herald.
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Lary, B. (Writer). (2010). Educational Psychology in the Classroom [DVD]. In Promedion Productions (Producer), Educational Psychology in the Classroom.