Dr. Sheena Howard, the trailblazing founder of Power Your Research, recalls her journey to becoming a celebrated scholar in Black comics, a path that wasn’t without challenges.
“When I was in my PhD program, a fellow student told me that my existence in the program devalued her degree,” she remembers. “I was studying Black comics and superheroes — topics people didn’t quite understand back then. But I knew what I wanted to do with my dissertation.”
Today, over a decade later, Dr. Howard’s groundbreaking work has made a significant impact.
Her first book, based on her dissertation, earned her the distinction of becoming the first Black woman to win an Eisner Award at San Diego Comic-Con.
Her book Encyclopedia of Black Comics, with a foreword by renowned scholar Henry Louis Gates, was the first of its kind, and her book Why Wakanda Matters was even featured as a clue on Jeopardy!.
Reflecting on these achievements, Dr. Howard emphasizes the importance of resilience in the face of doubt.
“I am a Black history fact,” she says, urging others to not let others’ insecurities hinder their ambitions. “You’ve just got to believe in yourself — and eventually, they’ll catch up.”
