Urban Studies Department: Faculty
Daniel White Hodge, PHD
Adjunct Professor, Urban Studies Department
Lecturer, Cal State Los Angeles and Citrus College
Expertise
Daniel White Hodge, PhD, a Hip Hop scholar focuses on race relations, film, cultural trends, and spirituality. Having received his PhD from Fuller Graduate School of Intercultural Studies, his dissertation focused on the life, theology, and spiritual message of Tupac Amaru Shakur (TITLE: Baptized in Dirty Water: The Missiological Gospel of Tupac Amaru Shakur). He graduated cum laude from Cal State Monterey Bay where he focused on academic attainment and self-esteem among African American Adolescents.
Educator
Dan is a lecturer in the Pan African Studies department at Cal State Los Angeles & at Citrus College in the Sociology department. He has taught in higher education for 8 years and has published through Inner Varsity Press, John Knox Press, and PRISM magazine (along with various blogs & Internet websites). He has over 15 years of experience working with urban popular culture.
Dr. White Hodge is also a national speaker for the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) and the Urban Youth Workers Institute (UYWI). As a speaker, writer, and activist, Dan has spoken on many college campuses including Stanford University, UCLA, USC, & Union Theological Seminary. Dan also teaches classes around the world on subjects such as Culture, Personality, & The Self; Hip Hop 101; and diversity awareness.
Dr. White Hodge is also a national speaker for the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) and the Urban Youth Workers Institute (UYWI). As a speaker, writer, and activist, Dan has spoken on many college campuses including Stanford University, UCLA, USC, & Union Theological Seminary. Dan also teaches classes around the world on subjects such as Culture, Personality, & The Self; Hip Hop 101; and diversity awareness.
Personal
Dan has been involved with Hip Hop culture all his life. As a former music producer, Dan helped mix Bone Thugs & Harmony's first album E 1999 Eternal, along with Beastie Boys DJ Hurricane's album. Dan also helped in the formation of different background tracks for the first two seasons of New York Undercover. He continues to remain closely tuned into the music of Hip Hop.
Along with his wife, Emily, and daughter, Mahalia Joy, they currently reside in Pasadena, California where they volunteer and network with various urban organizations in the Los Angeles area. Approaching life as a team, they work together in the urban community of Los Angeles and have a deep sense of and desire for social justice.
Advocacy and Community Involvement
As a social activist, Dan co-founded the youth organization Youth On The Move which worked with pregnant teen moms, helped juvenile offenders find employment, and developed life skills for urban youth. This program went on to partner with Urban Young Life in the Bay Area of California. Dan has worked on a number of different community-based campaigns/ programs using Hip Hop to address issues of race/ ethnicity , gender based violence, literacy and immigration.
Author
Dr. White Hodge's most recent book is "The Soul Of Hip Hop: Rims, Timbs, & The Soul of A Culture" (IVP). This book deals with the theology and spirituality of Hip Hop culture in the post-soul era. It is a result of over 4 years of research and provides new insights into the complexity of Hip Hop. Dr. Hodge's other book is "Heaven Has A Ghetto: The Missiological Theology of Tupac Amaru Shakur" (VDM Academic). This book deals with the socio-theological aspects and dimensions of rapper and Hip Hop prophet Tupac Shakur. It uses narrative methodology & combines active interviews to form a unique intepretation of theology in the midst of the urban context.
Learn more by visiting www.whitehodge.com
