Patricia A. Turner

Patricia A. Turner is a folklorist who documents and analyzes the stories that define the African American experience. A professor in World Arts and Cultures/Dance and African American Studies at UCLA, Turner is the author of of five books on topics including rumors, legends, and conspiracy theories; to African American quilters; and images of African Americans in popular culture. She is a 2021 recipient of the Linda Dégh Lifetime Achievement Award for legend scholarship. Her latest book,Trash Talk: Anti-Obama Lore and Race in the Twenty-First Century, will be published by the University of California Press in September 2022. Dr. Turner’s commentary on issues related to race in America is frequently sought by print, radio, television and online journalists. She has been interviewed for stories in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New Yorker, and many other prominent publications including the highly regarded fact checking website Snopes. Turner has participated in dozens of radio interviews including features on Fresh Air, Talk of the Nation, and All Things Considered. She has appeared on the NBC Nightly News, the CBS Evening News, the O’Reilly Factor and ABC’s 20/20. She has also been interviewed on podcasts such as Stitch Please and The Root. Turner has taught in the University of California system for more than 30 years. For much of her career she provided leadership in higher education serving in vice provost and dean roles at UC Davis and UCLA. She is very active in professional societies devoted to folklore, and oversees UCLA’s Arthur Ashe Legacy Project.