Pope Joins Political Science as Visiting Professor

Dr. H Lavar Pope

Dr. H. Lavar Pope joined the Political Science Department in Spring 2015 as a Visiting Assistant Professor.

His research focuses on the intersection between race and ethnic politics, political communication, and American political development.

Pope has written journal articles and book chapters on rap music as a form of political communication in the aftermath of the Civil Rights and Racial Justice Movement, including: “Hyphy Rap Music, Cooptation, and Black Fanatics in Oakland, CA (1994–2010)” and ” The Politics of Violence, Hustling, and Contempt in the Oakland, CA Rap Music Scene.” 

He developed this focus and specialization through practice as a professional disc jockey, through research while earning a Ph.D. in Politics at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and though course design and instruction at undergraduate, graduate, and community college levels.

Pope also created multiple special topics Political Science, Africana Studies, and Gender Studies courses including: a course on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s COINTELPRO program and quest to hunt the “Black Messiah” and a course on the local development of rap music in 24 inner-city locations.

Read more at Pope’s personal website.