Mark D. Cunningham is a Professor in Radio-Television-Film at Austin Community College in Austin, Texas. He received his PhD in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Cunningham has contributed essays to national publications, several anthologies, and peer-reviewed journals focusing on such topics in film and television/media studies as John Singleton’s film Poetic Justice, Spike Lee’s semi-autobiographical film Crooklyn, actor/rapper/activist Ice T’s role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, alternative spaces of blackness in Barry Jenkins’ debut film Medicine for Melancholy, and the importance of black popular culture. He has also presented papers at nationally recognized cinema and media studies conferences, facilitated talk back sessions at community events, and participated in both media and education related panel discussions.

Additionally, Dr. Cunningham is currently writing a book on race, gender, and narrative in the trilogy of films about South Central Los Angeles written and directed by the late John Singleton to be published by Columbia University Press.