Niambi Carter

Niambi Carter is an American political scientist, author, and media commentator. She is an associate professor of political science at the University of Maryland, known for her expertise in African American political behavior, public opinion, and immigration. Her book, American While Black: African Americans, Immigration, and the Limits of Citizenship, examines Black attitudes toward immigration and the intersection of race and national identity.

Niambi Carter
Born	Maryland
Nationality	American
Education	Temple University (B.A.), Duke University (Ph.D.)
Alma mater	Duke University
Occupation(s)	Political scientist, author, media commentator
Known for	African American political behavior, immigration, race and political identity
Title	Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Maryland

Early life and education

Carter was born and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies from Temple University and a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in political science from Duke University in 2007. Her dissertation focused on African Americans, immigration, and race.

Academic career

Carter began her academic career as a visiting assistant professor at Duke University, followed by a fellowship at Denison University. She later held faculty appointments at Purdue University, Temple University, and Howard University, where she was promoted to associate professor and served as Director of Graduate Studies. Carter joined the University of Maryland, College Park in 2022 as associate professor of political science and a faculty affiliate in African American Studies.

Fellowships and affiliations

• Predoctoral Fellow, Ford Foundation
• Predoctoral Fellow, Consortium for Faculty Diversity
• Fellow, Center for the Study of African American Politics
• Good Authority Fellow (2024–25)

Awards and honors

• W.E.B. Du Bois Distinguished Book Award, National Conference of Black Political Scientists (2020), for American While Black.
• Centennial Fellow, American Political Science Association (2018).
• Howard University Summer Faculty Fellowship, 2017.
• APSA Congressional Fellowship (declined), 2015.
• Alternative Textbook Project Recipient, Temple University, 2013.
• James Weldon Johnson Institute Visiting Scholar, Emory University (declined), 2012.

Media

Appearances

• C-SPAN: In 2018, Carter’s televised interviews and expert commentary were featured and archived by C-SPAN.
• NPR: In 2009, Carter appeared on Tell Me More with Michel Martin to discuss challenges faced by highly educated Black women in the marriage market.
• Political Science Now: In 2017, Carter discussed her career path and academic work, including her leadership role at Howard University.
• PBS: In 2021, she discussed her academic journey and Black identity on The Journey.
• WUSA-9: In January 2025, Carter explained the context and pace of executive orders early in a presidential term.
• MSNBC: In 2025, Carter discussed the evolving dynamics of U.S. national identity and political polarization.

Print

• Wilson Center: In 2024, Carter wrote about the global dimensions of race and politics, emphasizing how African American experiences shape international dialogue.
• Good Authority: In 2023, Carter wrote about the historic rise of Black women in the United States Senate.
• The Washington Post: In 2020, she authored an opinion piece on the federal government’s response to protests in Washington, D.C..
• CNN: In 2020, Carter commented on the MOVE bombing and the city’s apology.
• The Washington Post: "D.C. is the one city where Trump can indulge his police and military fantasies", June 5, 2020
• The Grio: "What we have to lose with Trump: Fair and compassionate immigration policy", August 19, 2020

Selected works

• Carter, Niambi (2019). American While Black: African Americans, Immigration, and the Limits of Citizenship. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190053543.

Synopsis

In American While Black: African Americans, Immigration, and the Limits of Citizenship, Niambi Carter examines how African Americans view U.S. immigration policy. Drawing on surveys and interviews, she argues that their attitudes are shaped by racial identity, group threat perceptions, and historical exclusion. Rather than being indifferent or hostile, Carter shows that Black views on immigration are nuanced, strategic, and grounded in broader struggles for justice and inclusion.

Reception

• In Political Psychology, David L. Leal discussed Carter’s analysis in the context of American public opinion on immigration, emphasizing the book’s insights into the relationship between racial identity and attitudes among Black Americans.
• Writing in the National Review of Black Politics, Najja K. Baptist described the book as a valuable contribution to the literature on Black public opinion and immigration, noting its role in correcting common misunderstandings in the field.
• A review published on ResearchGate discussed the book’s exploration of Black identity in the context of immigration, emphasizing its detailed examination of how these topics intersect in U.S. policy.
• Lauren Henley, writing for Not Even Past, characterized the book as a meaningful addition to research on Black public opinion, noting its relevance to ongoing scholarly discussions on race and immigration.
• Ethnic Studies Review also noted the book’s contribution to understanding how Black identity influences perspectives on immigration policy.

Publications

Title	Journal/Publisher	Year	Role	Citations	Reference
Gender and black presidential politics: from Chisholm to Moseley Braun	Journal of Women, Politics & Policy	2005	Co-author	32
Racial distancing in a southern city: Latino immigrants' views of Black Americans	The Journal of Politics	2006	Co-author	454
Black Americans and Latino immigrants in a southern city: Friendly neighbors or economic competitors?	Du Bois Review: Social Science Research on Race	2007	Co-author	82
Moving from victims to victors: African American attitudes on the “culture of poverty” and Black blame	Journal of African American Studies	2012	Co-author	39
Race and nation: How racial hierarchy shapes national attachments	Political Psychology	2016	Co-author	90

• All publications can be referenced via this link.

Legacy and impact

Niambi Carter’s scholarship has significantly influenced the study of African American political behavior, public opinion, and immigration. Her book, American While Black: African Americans, Immigration, and the Limits of Citizenship, has been widely cited in academic discourse on race, citizenship, and national identity in the United States.

Carter’s research has been referenced across disciplines including political science, sociology, and African American studies. In recognition of its scholarly impact, American While Black received the W.E.B. Du Bois Distinguished Book Award from the National Conference of Black Political Scientists.

Her work continues to shape academic and public conversations about Black identity, immigration, and the meaning of citizenship in contemporary America.

See also

• African-American studies
• Black conservatism in the United States
• Political science