James B. Haile III

James B. Haile III weaves Afrosurrealist and Afrofuturist visions that upend familiar stories of freedom, identity, and Black life. An award-winning writer, collage artist, and the Jane Cotton Ebbs Endowed Professor of Philosophy (jointly appointed in English) at the University of Rhode Island, James pairs scholarly rigor with genre-bending imagination.

• Newest release: The Dark Delight of Being Strange: Black Stories of Freedom (2024)

• Winner, 2025 Hugh J. Silverman Book Award (Association for Philosophy and Literature)

• Longlisted, 2025 PEN Open Book Award

• Previous work: The Buck, the Black, and the Existential Hero: Refiguring the Black Male Literary Canon, 1850–Present (2020)

James is currently developing both fiction and nonfiction projects that push the boundaries of speculative narrative and critical theory. Agents and editors looking for fresh, daring voices are invited to connect. Reach him at james_haile@uri.edu to explore representation, speaking engagements, or collaborative opportunities.