One of my major research products, a historical timeline of the various waves of voluntary and involuntary migration of African descended people, can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BIxDvOODXZuT9ZSaO0MDHT0zvxoK6DCvrTcW5w7aJ6s/edit?usp=sharing
The Transformative Power of Historical Research
I spent the past eight weeks doing intensive research on the migration of African descended peoples to Harlem. Essentially, I was tasked with taking on 400 plus years of history. My initial reactions were mixed; I was excited to embark upon the discovery of rich histories of the African diaspora in New York–to delve into…
Harlem’s “Little Africa”
In the last few weeks of my research, I’ve sought to hone in on the most recent wave of voluntary African migration to New York since the 80s. My maps seek to illuminate the settlement patterns of West Africans in Harlem as of the 2016 American Community Survey. My first map outlines the Harlem area…
A Chat with ACT’s Maimouna Dieye
I sat down with Maimouna Dieye, program manager at African Communities Together (ACT), earlier this week to hear her thoughts on my historical research project on African migration into Harlem. At ACT, Maimouna works on the organization’s language access and hair braiding initiatives within the African community. She leads the language access program which recruits…
African Communities Together’s “Right to the City”
Being from a city as large and as diverse as New York City, a multitude of groups struggle to carve out space for their respective communities in the public arena. This is no different for African Communities Together (ACT), an advocacy-based organization fighting for the rights of African immigrant communities in New York and beyond….
The Organizational Landscape of Research on African Migration
For the past few weeks, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time researching the roots of African migration in New York City focusing on the colonial period in New York until the Harlem Renaissance. I have had the privilege to use the resources provided by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, a research…
In Reference: Money Has No Smell
My research encompasses over 400 years of African migration into New York and Harlem, so I have had to rely on many sources to get a broader understanding of the multiple histories involved. However, aligning with the African Communities Together (ACT) membership, I am hoping to focus on the recent wave of African migration into…
A Brief History of African Migration to Colonial New York
My work for the summer involves conducting extensive historical research on African migration to New York City, with an emphasis on movements to Harlem, from the colonial period until today. The history of African descended people in New York encompasses the more recent wave of migration, as well as the Great Migration of multigenerational black…
First Day Selfie
First week in! Let the reading begin!!
