A cultural anthropologist, her research interests include African American history and culture; the construction and performance of race and gender in music; and the relationship between race, class, generation, and culture. She is the author of Right To Rock: The Black Rock Coalition and the Cultural Politics of Race (Duke University Press, 2004) and has published articles on African-Americans and rock music in academic venues and at EbonyJet.com. Her current research on the music and legacy of black women in rock examines the intersection of gender, race, sexuality, and music production. She has held fellowships from the National Science Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the American Association of University Women and has taught at Wesleyan University and UCLA.