Nikki M. Taylor

[3] Returning to the US, she enrolled at Duke University, where she earned an MA (1996) and PhD (2001) in US history, as well as a certificate in women's studies.

[4] Her dissertation, '"Frontiers of Freedom:' The African-American Experience in Cincinnati, 1802-1862", was supervised by Sydney Nathans, Peter Wood, Raymond Gavins, John Thompson, and Robert Korstad.

[5][6] Her next book was an intellectual biography of a central figure from this area: America's First Black Socialist: The Radical Life of Peter H. Clark traces the development of Clark's evolving viewpoint, from radical abolitionist to socialist to conservative Democrat.

Examining Garner's case through a black feminist lens, Taylor argues her act of violent desperation was the last best choice available to her as an enslaved mother.

[10][11] Following on her work on Garner's case, Taylor is working on a fourth book on enslaved women's uses of violent struggle to resist slavery; the project is called 'Brooding Over Bloody Revenge:' Enslaved Women, 'Wild Justice' and Lethal Resistance to Slavery.