Emory Professor Erica Dunbar Shapes HBO's Gilded Age Return

Erica Dunbar, chair of the African American Studies Department at Emory University, is preparing to return to HBO’s The Gilded Age as a co-executive producer for the fourth season. The series premieres soon, and Dunbar’s role focuses on embedding historical accuracy into narratives set in 1880s New York. Her involvement began as a historical consultant, a position she held from the start of production.

Dunbar helped shape storylines and expanded the screen presence of African American characters. She was among the first Black creatives to hold a producer title on the show. By the time the first season aired on HBO, she had been promoted to co-executive producer. The promotion reflected her ongoing contribution to the series' creative direction.

The professor views the television project as a platform for historical storytelling that reaches a wide audience. Although the show is designed primarily for entertainment, Dunbar noted she hopes viewers leave an episode "maybe a bit smarter" about the period. This goal aligns with her academic work in African American Studies.

Her production experience has also altered her approach to teaching at Emory. Dunbar said she aims to pass on the skills required to capture an audience through television writing and production. She believes these practical insights benefit her students in a traditional academic setting.

This spring semester, she will lead a course titled "Lights, Camera, Action: Black Life and Culture in HBO’s The Gilded Age." The class connects her on-set work with classroom analysis. The course examines how the series portrays Black life and culture during the Gilded Age era.

Dunbar’s dual role as a historian and producer allows for a direct exchange between academic research and popular media. The fourth season will feature her continued influence on the show's historical framework. Her work ensures that specific period details inform the characters and plot developments.