My scholarship examines the lived experiences of African Americans through two complementary lenses. First, I investigate how social structures and phenomena shape Black Americans' lives through broader forces such as racism and racial inequality. This includes analyzing family dynamics—such as economic arrangements in Black marriages and their associated health outcomes—and exploring colorblind racist discourse and racial narrative formation via social media.

Second, I explore the lived experiences of African Americans through the concept of institutional elasticity. This concept refers to institutions' capacity to temporarily adapt and modify while remaining durable when confronted with race-related legitimacy crises or when marginalized groups briefly transform institutions to achieve specific aims. This research spans from examining law enforcement's short-term behavioral changes following high-profile encounters with Black individuals to studying how marginalized communities, displaced by gentrification, temporarily claim spaces never intended for them.

This work highlights the paradox of institutions that are highly malleable yet fundamentally resistant to long-term change. By employing mixed methods at multiple levels of analysis, I seek to crystallize how these institutional dynamics intersect with the lived experience of African Americans—and influence pathways to racial equality.