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\u201cNo one, no, nor no one million<\/p>\n
ones dare deny me God, I go forth<\/p>\n
along, and stand as ten thousand.\u201d<\/p>\n
-Maya Angelou, \u201cOur Grandmothers\u201d<\/p>\n
I bring my whole self to work every day, but I never come alone. I bring everyone I have ever known, young people from around the globe, and all of the ancestors \u2013 mine and ours \u2013 with me. That I have the privilege to serve in this institution at this moment is an experience that honestly transcends all the words I have in my vocabulary. I will give it a try anyway. I prayed for this, but that\u2019s another story for another time.<\/p>\n
I am the 2016-2017 Mellon Curatorial Fellow at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. My research explores student activism at HBCUs in the Black Power era, particularly the concept of the Black University. I also work in the Office of Curatorial Affairs (OCA). Some of what I do includes researching potential acquisitions, making recommendations on accessions to the permanent collection, completing paperwork, giving talks, and collaborating with OCA colleagues on various projects.<\/p>\n
In many ways I was prepared for this: I completed a BA in History Magna Cum Laude with W.E.B. DuBois Honors at Fisk University and a PhD in African Diaspora and Public History with Distinction at Howard University. For six years I served in the National Park Service in a variety of positions. I interviewed my great-grandfather for a family oral history project at age 9. I have been \u201cdoing\u201d history for years.<\/p>\n