Ayanna Thompson

Ayanna Thompson is an American scholar and professor of English at Arizona State University who is one of the leading experts on Shakespeare, race, and performance. She is the president of the Shakespeare Association of America and has been a transformative voice in the study of race in early modern literature and contemporary theatre. Blackface examines the history, politics, and enduring legacy of blackface performance from its origins through to its contemporary manifestations. Thompson traces how this practice has shaped racial attitudes, theatrical traditions, and cultural politics, and why it continues to provoke controversy and pain. The book was praised for its scholarship, its clarity, and the urgency of its argument. Thompson's broader work has reshaped how scholars and theatre practitioners think about race in Shakespeare and in performance more broadly. She has advised major theatrical companies and institutions on issues of diversity and representation. Blackface is available as an audiobook alongside the print edition, offering listeners a thought-provoking and essential way to engage with the history and impact of one of America's most troubling cultural traditions.