My passion has always been rooted in and centered around community. I am particularly interested in the history of African American places and spaces. This includes the study of Black geographies, communities, and regions, how these communities are similar and differ, how they intersect or influence each other and transform America. This undoubtedly has been influenced by my own cultural and ancestral background. For one, I lived in different communities and boroughs of New York City, each possessing its own spatial identity, distinct style, and cultural history. Growing up in New York City during the dynamic 1980s and 1990s, I witnessed firsthand how the diverse communities collectively shaped a unique cultural landscape that impacted history. My family tree stretches its branches far and wide, from the soulful streets of Memphis, Mississippi, to the intriguing connections of South Carolina and Barbados, to the mills and mines of Ohio, Appalachia, and Upstate New York, reaching the vibrant island of Jamaica( possibly Puerto Rico). The far-reaching branches of my family tree eventually converged on Harlem, the Mecca of Black America, where I and my parents were born. This collective journey, from diverse places to a shared home, has always fueled my curiosity. Before transitioning to history, I had a dedicated career in medicine. My career as a physician in community health also nurtured an interest in the intersections of local history, urban policy, and minority health outcomes. The insights gained from my professional and personal journey fostered a greater appreciation and interest in the history of Black communities.
The accumulation of these experiences and study reinforced my interest in researching the history and culture of the Black community. I’m interested in preserving the history, sounds, culture, language and lives of African American places and spaces through historical research and scholarship. I am also interested in studying the impact of past policies on Black communities or neighborhoods and confronting past interpretations of urban Black America. I also have an interest in migration and interactions between various ethnic groups and nationalities within these communities including Caribbean Americans and Afro-Latinos. My long term aspirations are still being developed, but goal is to marry my interest in African American spaces with digital preservation, archiving and history. This blog will highlight topics revolving around the history of African American communities and while helping further form my interest, will share the reimagining, resilience, promise and pain of Black communities.
