UC Berkeley African American Studies Alumna J Finley began her career researching reparations and the legacy of slavery. But after studying how Black people navigate and resist oppression, she was eventually drawn to a subject – and a form of resistance – that was personally meaningful to her: comedy. As someone long drawn to comedy shows, Finley committed herself to collecting and honoring the stories Black women tell about themselves by becoming an audience member, critic and comedian herself.
Based on her research and experiences, Finley published the book Black Women’s Humor and Humanity, which theorizes humor – particularly sass – as a tool Black women use to articulate political marginalization and subvert power. Her book challenges the notion that sass is merely a personality trait, reframing it instead as a genre of discourse through which Black women speak back to authority.
Finley began her journey in academia with a bachelor’s degree in Black Studies and Legal Studies from Hampshire College. She later earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in African Diaspora Studies from UC Berkeley in 2008 and 2013, respectively. Her scholarly background played a critical role in shaping her work.
Finley spoke to Berkeley Social Sciences recently about her experiences at UC Berkeley and her new book. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Read the full article at UC Berkeley College of Letters and Sciences.