O.J. Simpson’s Legacy Won’t Be the One He May Have Imagined
He will be remembered, first and foremost, as a spectacle.
By Tressie McMillan Cottom
Tressie McMillan Cottom
Tressie McMillan Cottom became a New York Times Opinion columnist in 2022. She is a sociologist, professor and cultural critic known for her incisive essays on social problems. She is the author of two books: “Lower Ed: The Troubling Rise of For-Profit Colleges in the New Economy” and “Thick: And Other Essays.” Her second book was a 2019 finalist for the National Book Award for nonfiction.
Dr. McMillan Cottom’s New York Times newsletter has covered sartorial politics, scam culture and depictions of social change in popular culture. She is a regular commentator on higher education, work, media and inequality, including for “The Daily Show,” “Fresh Air,” The Atlantic and The Washington Post. A 2020 MacArthur “genius” grant recipient, she is currently writing an essay collection and a memoir. She lives in Chapel Hill, N.C., surrounded by extended family and a dog, Kirby.
Latest
Tressie McMillan CottomBeyoncé Asks, and Answers, a Crucial Question in Her Latest Album
Beyoncé singing country music in this political climate was always going to cause a stir.
By Tressie McMillan Cottom
Tressie McMillan CottomWho Would Want to Go to a College Like This?
The national debate about so-called woke campuses does not reflect what most college students care about.
By Tressie McMillan Cottom
Tressie McMillan CottomOprah, Ozempic and Us
Her special is a harbinger of how the weight-loss industry is rebranding: Obesity is a disease, and — for the first time — it’s not your fault.
By Tressie McMillan Cottom
In Usher We Trust
Usher reminded everyone on Sunday just how deep his catalog is with a confident, energetic and sexy set.
By Tressie McMillan Cottom
The Queen Goes Country
Beyoncé isn’t making a parody of country music. She also isn’t entering country through its genre tropes.
By Tressie McMillan Cottom
The Unspoken Racial Politics of ‘Fast Car’ at the Grammys
The fine pop performance says little about social progress.
By Tressie McMillan Cottom
Tressie McMillan CottomThe Claudine Gay Debacle Was Never About Merit
Merit, itself, cannot be defined. That is why the concept is so useful for slippery slopes.
By Tressie McMillan Cottom
What the ‘Bad Vibes’ Story About the Economy Misses
And why your anxiety is not unfounded.
By Tressie McMillan Cottom and Kristina Samulewski
Tressie McMillan CottomThis Economy Has Bigger Problems Than ‘Bad Vibes’
The act of working needs to become more affordable and accessible.
By Tressie McMillan Cottom
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