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The University of Memphis History Department excels in African-American and Southern historical studies. Though these represent separate academic disciplines where students may focus solely on one area, our program offers a distinctive chance to explore how these two histories have continuously influenced each other through countless significant and subtle interactions over time. Our primary focus spans the 19th and 20th century United States, yet faculty expertise extends beyond national boundaries, geographic limitations, and temporal constraints, allowing students to conduct research that's simultaneously global in scope while rooted in African-American and/or Southern contexts. The department's strong emphasis on labor history, racial studies, gender analysis, political developments, women's experiences, and economic transformations creates additional avenues for specialized research. Therefore, while Southern and African-American narratives form the core of our academic work, students discover plentiful opportunities to carve out their unique scholarly niche within and between these two vibrant, interconnected fields with their own complex historical relationships.