American University professor Jordanna Matlon has been named the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Scholarly Book Award from the American Sociological Association for her book, A Man among Other Men: The Crisis of Black Masculinity in Racial Capitalism. Matlon is a faculty member at AU’s School of International Service.

“I am deeply honored to be this year’s recipient of the ASA Distinguished Scholarly Book Award, and to know that my book is now part of an esteemed lineage within sociology,” said Jordanna Matlon, associate professor at American University’s School of International Service. “This project was years in the making. For it to be appreciated at this level makes dreaming worth it.”

Every year, ASA recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to scholarship, teaching, practice, and public understanding of sociology. The recipients of the highest honors the association confers were announced today.

An urban sociologist and scholar of race and colonial legacies in Africa and the African diaspora, Matlon’s scholarship studies how “Blackness” operates as a signifier, intersects with gender norms, manifests in popular culture, and illuminates our understanding of political economy. Her book, A Man among Other Men: The Crisis of Black Masculinity in Racial Capitalism (Cornell University Press), investigates the relationship between masculinity, work, and globalization in the West African metropolis of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Matlon’s book has already won numerous awards, including the top book award from the International Studies Association (ISA).

This year’s ASA Awardees will be honored on Sunday, August 11, 2024, as part of the association’s Annual Meeting. The award ceremony will be followed by an address by ASA President Joya Misra.