What’s for you will not pass you by.”
Logan Phillips (she/her)
PhD Student in the Department of Black Studies
Logan Phillips is a PhD student in the Department of Black Studies in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Her research is rooted in the exploration of alternative projects and possibilities for Black education. Logan’s current work focuses on the history and politics of Freedomways, a quarterly journal that ran from 1961-1985, with a special concentration on their writings about education. Examining the ways that activist-intellectuals mobilized this tool of Black intellectual thought within the context of the transnational Black liberation struggle, she is exploring how Freedomways dually functioned as a vehicle of Black cultural politics, and a modality through which Black education could be, and was explicitly theorized.
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience?
I study alternative projects of and possibilities for Black education. In my work, I build upon the idea of education as a site of liberation and explore how Black people have envisioned a more expansive tradition of education—one that combats various forms of injustice and refuses the dominant model of brutal competition and rampant individualism.
What have been some of the most memorable twists and turns of your career?
In undergrad, I was originally a pre-med student and planned on becoming a pediatric pulmonologist. I stayed on that pre-professional track with my Black Studies and Sociology majors up until my junior year, when I realized the questions, concerns, and methods that I was interested in did not directly involve, nor would they be answered by going to medical school.
Back then, I was interested in exploring how the absence of Black history in the standardized U.S. history curriculum impacted the identity, self-actualization, health, and overall life of Black youth. While I am still interested in how curriculum in the formal U.S. education system impacts students’ well-being, I’ve become more interested in broader questions about education that, 1.) are grounded in a Black Studies perspective and 2.) continue to fuel my commitment to my goal of becoming a professor in this field.
How do you unwind after a long day?
After a long day, I tend to unwind by listening to an album from start to finish. Lately I've been alternating between Earth Wind & Fire's I Am and Braxton Cook's Who Are You When No One Is Watching?
What books are on your bedside table?
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes and The Black Woman: An Anthology by Toni Cade Bambara
How would your closest friends describe you?
“Logan is a kind, thoughtful, and genuine person who cares deeply for her people and her community. These qualities make her a reliable friend and sister, a moving visual artist, a dedicated scholar, and a beloved auntie. She loves music, nature, her favorite movies, and being an at-home barista.”
“I would describe you as someone with a strong grasp on their core beliefs, who is always searching for ways to improve their surroundings for the people there now and for those who will come later. You’re intentional with your actions, passionate about empowering others, and a great friend in general.”
What did you originally want to be when you grew up?
An artist and a chef.
What advice would you give your younger self or someone considering a similar path?
What's for you will not pass you by.
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
Right now, I'm most proud of how far I've come to reach this point in my career. I don't always give myself the grace or time to sit with all of my accomplishments. Graduate school has been challenging, but also a time to immerse myself in this work. I’ve been able to reflect on where I've been, be present where I am, and look forward to where I'm headed. I'm also privileged to be able to mentor students in various positions. I'm incredibly proud of them and honored that they've allowed me to be a small part of their journeys.
Publish Date: February 6, 2023
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