Professor Daniel McNeil

Professor Daniel McNeil

Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology
Stuart Hall Interdisciplinary Chair

Contact details

Address
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Daniel McNeil is an award-winning historian and cultural studies scholar whose work explores how migration, media, and memory shape cultural identities and social movements. At the heart of his work is a commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry, inclusive education, and the transformative power of the humanities and social sciences.

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in History – University of Toronto (2007)
  • M.A. in History and Ethnic and Immigration Studies – University of Toronto (2002)
  • B.A. (Honours) in Modern History – Oxford University (2001)

Biography

Daniel McNeil is a distinguished historian, cultural critic, and public intellectual whose groundbreaking work bridges the fields of Black Atlantic Studies, Diaspora Studies, Cultural Studies, and anti-racist education. Currently the inaugural Stuart Hall Interdisciplinary Chair at the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, McNeil has spent over two decades shaping scholarly and public conversations about anti-racism, migration, multiculturalism, and cultural politics.

Born in Merseyside, England, McNeil holds a B.A. (Honours) in Modern History from Oxford University and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in History from the University of Toronto. His academic journey has taken him across the UK, Canada, and the United States, with faculty appointments as a research chair in Black Studies, a strategic hire in Migration and Diaspora Studies, and a lecturer in Media and Cultural Studies.

McNeil’s teaching and mentorship have inspired students across disciplines to engage the connections between the arts, social justice, and decolonial thought. His courses on Black Atlantic history, migration, and cultural criticism have produced award-winning student projects and fostered inclusive intellectual communities. In recognition of his ability to seek out the strengths of others and facilitate their flourishing, he has received multiple mentorship awards, including the from the Caribbean Philosophical Association.

McNeil is the author of several influential books, including and . He is also the co-editor of and a prolific author of academic articles, chapters and essays. His interdisciplinary research has been recognised with numerous accolades, visiting professorships and fellowships, including the Editor’s Award from the Canadian Journal of Communication, the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Visiting Professorship of African and Black Diaspora Studies at DePaul University, and the inaugural Visiting Public Humanities Faculty Fellowship at the University of Toronto.

Beyond academia, McNeil is deeply committed to public scholarship. From 2022 to 2025, he produced and hosted The Black Studies Podcast, a platform that assembled artists, activists, curators, and scholars to explore creative and collaborative knowledge-making. He has also co-designed museum exhibitions, curated gallery events, and developed award-winning online educational resources.

Whether in the classroom, on the page, or behind the microphone, Daniel McNeil continues to challenge conventional narratives and expand the boundaries of interdisciplinary scholarship. His work exemplifies the power of the humanities and social sciences to illuminate histories, confront inequalities, and imagine more just futures.

Postgraduate supervision

Professor Daniel McNeil is available to supervise graduate students and postdoctoral researchers working in interdisciplinary areas that intersect with Black Studies, Cultural Studies, and Public Humanities. He welcomes students from diverse academic backgrounds who are interested in exploring the cultural, political, and historical dimensions of race, migration, and identity. Professor McNeil is particularly interested in supervising projects related to:

  • Black Atlantic History and Diaspora Studies
  • Migration and Multiculturalism
  • Cultural Studies and Public Humanities
  • Black Popular Culture and Media Criticism
  • Anti-racist Education and Decolonial Thought
  • Mixed-Race Identity and Representation
  • Global Intellectual History
  • Performance, Visual Culture, and Sound Studies
  • Digital Humanities and Community-Based Research

Research

Professor Daniel McNeil’s research explores the intersections of Black Atlantic history, migration, multiculturalism, and cultural criticism. His work spans scholarly writing, public humanities, and collaborative media projects, with a focus on how race, identity, and belonging are represented and contested across time and space. 

Research Interests

  • Black Atlantic History & Diaspora Studies
  • Migration, Multiculturalism & Citizenship
  • Cultural Studies & Media Criticism
  • Public Humanities & Anti-Racist Education
  • Black Popular Culture (Music, Film, Literature)

Current Projects

  • An Immigrant’s Guide to Canada

Considers how migrants and ‘familiar strangers’ help us to navigate the cultural codes, unspoken expectations, and national myths that shape life in Canada. 

  • Black History in Motion

A project that reimagines public transit as a site of cultural pedagogy and civic dialogue.

Recent Research

  • Thinking While Black (Rutgers University Press, 2023)
    A uniquely interdisciplinary study of Black cultural expression and political thought across the Atlantic.
  • The Black Studies Podcast (2022–2025)
    A platform for collaborative knowledge-making in Black Studies.
  • Multiculturalism & Media (2021-2025)
    Articles on multiculturalism, race, and media discourse in Canada, such as “Even Canadians Find It a Bit Boring: A Report on the Banality of Multiculturalism.” 
  • Migration and Stereotypes in Performance and Culture (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020)
    Co-edited volume on migration, identity, and performance.

Foundational Work

Sex and Race in the Black Atlantic (Routledge, 2010)
A landmark study on mixed-race identities and cultural representation.

Expertise

Daniel McNeil’s media expertise and experience are extensive and interdisciplinary, spanning academic, public, and creative domains.

Academic Expertise in Media and Cultural Studies

  • Lecturer in Media and Cultural Studies at Newcastle University (2010–2012)
  • Lecturer in Black and Minority Studies at the University of Hull (2007–2010), affiliated with departments focused on media, culture, and society
  • Taught courses such as:
    • Introduction to Media Studies
    • Themes and Issues in Media, Communication and Cultural Studies
    • Cultural Criticism in the Digital Age
    • Black Cultural Criticism

These roles reflect deep engagement with media theory, representation, and critical media literacy.

Publications and Criticism

  • Author of numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on media, including:
    • “The Last Honest Film Critic in America: Armond White and the Children of James Baldwin”
    • “The Public Sphere of Film Criticism”
    • “Obama and the Children of Fanon” (on media representation and race)
  • McNeil’s most recent book, Thinking While Black (2023), explores how music, film, and popular culture shape political consciousness and social movements.

Media experience

Public Engagement and Media Production

  • Host and Executive Producer of The Black Studies Podcast (since 2022), which brings together artists, scholars, and activists to discuss media, culture, and politics.
  • Contributor to documentary films, gallery exhibitions, and public lectures on media and race.
  • Published cultural criticism in outlets such as:
    • NOW Magazine
    • Pop Matters
    • Bright Lights Film Journal
    • The Conversation

Recognition and Impact

  • McNeil’s media work has been recognised with:
    • A Canadian Podcast Award nomination (2023)
    • Invitations to speak on platforms like Left of Black, Global News, and The Conversation
    • Reviews and interviews in Open Book, 49th Shelf, and City News

Expertise

Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Policy

  • McNeil has been a consultant and advisor to:
    • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
    • Canadian Museum of Human Rights
  • His award-winning article, “Even Canadians Find It a Bit Boring: A Report on the Banality of Multiculturalism” (2021), provides a historically informed and forward-looking analysis of multicultural policy discourse in Canada.
  • He has contributed to international research handbooks on multiculturalism, offering frameworks for understanding it as:
    • A government strategy
    • A media discourse
    • A mythology and idea with global implications

Migration and Diaspora Policy

  • As Carleton University’s strategic hire in Migration and Diaspora Studies, McNeil:
    • Led SSHRC-funded projects on migration, representation, and stereotypes
    • Co-edited Migration and Stereotypes in Performance and Culture (2020), which received national recognition
    • Organised conferences and workshops that bridged academic and policy communities

Public Humanities and Policy Communication

  • McNeil’s public-facing scholarship includes:
    • The Black Studies Podcast, which engages artists, scholars, and activists in policy-relevant dialogue
    • Museum exhibitions and educational modules
    • Public lectures and media commentary on race, migration, and cultural policy

Publications and Thought Leadership

  • Books:
    • Thinking While Black (2023): Explores how cultural production informs political consciousness and policy critique.
    • Sex and Race in the Black Atlantic (2010): Challenges racialized policy narratives through cultural analysis.
  • Chapters and Articles:
    • Contributions to volumes on multiculturalism, diaspora, and anti-racism.
    • Frequent engagement with policy-relevant themes such as representation, identity, and systemic inequality.

Recognition and Impact

  • Multiple mentorship and research awards from Queen’s University, Carleton University, and the Caribbean Philosophical Association.
  • Recognised by the Canadian Journal of Communication, Canadian Association for Theatre Research, and Canadian Podcast Awards for his contributions to public discourse and policy education.

Policy experience

Institutional and Leadership Roles in Policy Contexts

  • Queen’s National Scholar Chair in Black Studies (Queen’s University): A role emphasising equity, diversity, and inclusion in curriculum and research.
  • Stuart Hall Interdisciplinary Chair (ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø): Focused on anti-racist education and Cultural Studies.
  • Director of Oxford Access Scheme Summer School (Oxford University): Leadership in widening participation and educational equity.

Policy Consultation and Advisory Roles

  • Consulting for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canadian Human Rights Museum: McNeil has been invited to provide advice, consultation, and lectures on multiculturalism and anti-racism that shaped internal policy discussions and public-facing events, curricula and exhibitions.