Hajar Yazdiha (born 1983)[1] is an American sociologist focusing on the politics of inclusion and exclusion with regard to ethno-racial identities.
[1] She was inspired by a high school AP English teacher who wrote her a note saying, "You are one of a handful of true academics.
[1] After spending six years in New York City, Yazdiha graduated from Brooklyn College with a master's degree in sociology.
[1][5][4] She continued to study sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning a master's degree in 2013 and a doctorate in 2017.
[3][7][8] She was first inspired to write the book when reading coverage of the Abigail Fisher case against the University of Texas at Austin, in which she saw the words of King "were being misappropriated to claim affirmative action was anti-white racism.