Morehouse College was recently well-represented at the 44th Annual South-Eastern Undergraduate Sociology Symposium. Keaton Anderson '26, Daymond Johnson '26, Tre'von Henderson '26, and Jackson Buckner '26 all showcased their innovative research that spanned urban planning, identity formation, and Black masculinity, exploring pressing social issues with rigor and insight.
Exploring Urban Inequality
Keaton Anderson '26 presented his research, “The Transit Trade-Off: How Density, Public Transportation, and Commute Times Relate to Economic Outcomes in American Cities,” as part of Panel 1 on Urban Inequality. Guided by faculty sponsor Nia Reed, Anderson examined data from 14 U.S. cities to investigate the relationships between transit infrastructure, urban density, commute times, and economic outcomes.
His findings revealed complex patterns: higher car usage correlated with lower average incomes and home prices, while greater transit usage strongly predicted reduced car dependency. Dense urban centers tended to have longer commute times, yet density showed little correlation with household income or housing affordability, challenging some conventional assumptions. Anderson’s work defended the importance of transit-oriented development, advocating for collaborative solutions between transit agencies, developers, and city governments to create denser, more affordable, and economically resilient urban spaces.
Negotiating Identity Across Borders
In Panel 2, DayMond Johnson '26 presented “An Ambassador or Anomaly? Exploring How Black Students Negotiate Their Identity in Study Abroad Experiences,” under the guidance of Dr. Marisela Martinez-Cola. Johnson’s research explores the unique challenges Black male students from HBCUs face while studying abroad. Drawing on frameworks such as Double Consciousness, Intersectionality, and Framing Theory, the study highlights how these students navigate global and domestic perceptions of identity, producing nuanced forms of self-understanding that expand beyond traditional U.S.-centric models.
Also in Panel 2, Tre’von Henderson '26 presented “You Speak So Well,” examining the ongoing practice of code-switching among Black students at HBCUs. Supported by faculty sponsor Dr. Marisela Martinez-Cola, Henderson’s research draws on W. E. B. Du Bois’s concept of double consciousness, Elijah Anderson’s racial navigation, and Frantz Fanon’s ideas on Black impression management. The study demonstrates how code-switching functions as both a strategy for navigating social expectations and a lens for understanding the tension between authenticity and performance in Black collegiate environments. Henderson’s work contributes to broader conversations on identity performance, racialized socialization, and the complexities of negotiating Blackness in higher education.
Defining Black Masculinity
Jackson Buckner 26' presented his research in Panel 6 on Racial Identities, titled “Authentic Black Masculinity: An Exploration of Black Men’s Perceived and Experienced Identities.” Mentored by Dr. Derrick Brooms, Buckner examines how Black men navigate societal expectations shaped by classist, racist, and sexist cultural norms. His work investigates questions such as: What constitutes “authentic Black masculinity”? How does patriarchal oppression manifest in Black spaces, and how does it affect men and women? Using Mutua’s and Patricia Hill Collins’ frameworks on progressive masculinities, Buckner explores the ways Black men balance social pressures, personal identity, and communal responsibility, providing critical insight into evolving conceptions of masculinity within Black communities.
By presenting their work at the South-Eastern Undergraduate Sociology Symposium, Anderson, Johnson, Henderson, and Buckner all join a vibrant community of scholars who are pushing the boundaries of sociological inquiry, bringing critical perspectives to questions of urban life, identity, and culture.
Congratulations to these scholars!