Dr. Derrick Lanois aka "Dr. kNOw"
Dr. Derrick “Dr. No” Lanois is a Black Southern historian, storyteller, and media scholar born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. Shaped by the storytelling traditions of his mother, Deborah A. Lanois, he considers himself a modern-day Southern griot. He earned a master’s degree in multimedia journalism from the University of Memphis, completed M.F.A. coursework in Documentary Expressions at the University of Mississippi, and received his Ph.D. in History from Georgia State University, specializing in African American history and culture. He developed the Black Southern Aesthetic and is the founder and Executive Director of The Southern Griot, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Black Southern stories. Dr. Lanois is an Assistant Professor of African American History and Studies, documentary filmmaker, and podcaster.