James Baldwin

James Baldwin is a doctoral candidate in Sociology at Texas A&M University, set to graduate in Fall 2025. His research examines how race, governance, and organizational power shape urban inequality in the United States. He specializes in urban sociology, racialized institutions, and political sociology, with a particular focus on the mechanisms through which local organizations reinforce or contest spatial inequality.

His dissertation, Architects of Segregation: Governing the New Urban Mosaic through Racialized Housing Organizations, investigates how civic associations, homeowners’ groups, and quasi-governmental entities manage land use, influence local governance, and perpetuate racial boundaries in rapidly changing urban environments. Drawing on comparative case studies from Houston, Texas, the project analyzes how these "racialized housing organizations" (RHOs) operate as intermediaries between residents, markets, and the state—strategically navigating growth, exclusion, and access to public goods.

James’s work is grounded in a commitment to public scholarship and engaged teaching. He has taught a range of undergraduate courses and is passionate about equipping students with the analytical tools to understand power, space, and inequality in their own communities. He is also a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., where he remains actively involved in mentoring and civic engagement.

James Baldwin brings over five years of higher education experience spanning teaching, research, and student development. At Texas A&M University, he served as a Teaching and Research Assistant for five years, supporting courses in sociology, urban studies, and political science while contributing to major research projects on racial inequality and urban governance. He has guest lectured extensively across multiple departments, offering invited talks on topics such as racialized housing, institutional power, and urban exclusion.

In addition to his work at Texas A&M, James served as an Adjunct Instructor at Prairie View A&M University, where he taught a course on race and urban society. His teaching approach emphasizes critical thinking, historical context, and student-centered dialogue.

Outside the classroom, James has a strong background in student development. He served as the full-time Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) Advisor within Fraternity and Sorority Life at Texas A&M, supporting culturally based Greek-letter organizations and leading initiatives focused on leadership, equity, and inclusive community-building. He was also a founding contributor to the Race and Ethnic Studies Institute (RESI) at Texas A&M, helping shape its interdisciplinary mission and research programming around racial and ethnic equity.

James Baldwin is a Ph.D. Candidate in Sociology at Texas A&M University, with an expected graduation in Fall 2025. His dissertation, Architects of Segregation: Governing the New Urban Mosaic through Racialized Housing Organizations, explores how local institutions—such as civic associations, HOAs, and special-purpose districts—reproduce or resist racialized spatial inequality in urban governance. His academic training centers on urban sociology, race and ethnicity, political sociology, and organizational theory.

He holds a Master of Public Administration from Texas A&M University, with a concentration in public and nonprofit management, where he gained expertise in institutional governance, policy implementation, and community-based leadership.

James earned a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Alabama State University, which laid the foundation for his long-standing commitment to racial justice, public service, and equity-centered scholarship.