Through The Eyes Of A Daughter: Blues City Cultural Center And The Black Arts Movement, Ayana Williams

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This creative dissertation examines the Blues City Cultural Center (BCCC) as a living continuation of the Black Arts Movement in the American South. Founded in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1979 by Deborah Frazier and Levi Frazier, Jr., BCCC emerged from the cultural and political momentum of the Black Arts and Black Power Movements and continues to sustain their principles through original theater, community-based arts education, and grassroots cultural organizing. Challenging the notion that the Black Arts Movement is a concluded historical period, this study argues that the movement remains ongoing, adaptive, and deeply embedded within Southern Black communities. Using a creative …

Digital Griots Playing Lottery Tickets: A Study Of Hip Hop And Social Transformation In Ghana's #Fixthecountry Movement, Jaime M. Kowlessar

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

On June 28, 2021, activist Ibrahim Mohammed (Macho Kaaka) was murdered in Ejura, Ghana, after using social media to criticize government failures. When protesters demanding justice were shot by security forces, politically engaged Ghanaian hip hop artists refused silence, contributing to Ghana’s #FixTheCountry movement—the nation’s largest youth mobilization in a generation. Yet scholarly debates about how hip hop contributes to social change remain unresolved, divided between those celebrating its activist potential and those critiquing its limitations. This dissertation introduces the lottery ticket theory as an alternative framework for understanding cultural activism’s relationship to political transformation. Rather than asking whether hip …

Good News For The Poor And More: Reclaiming Martin Luther King, Jr.'S Radical Gospel Of Economic Justice In Pursuit Of The Beloved Community, Lester A. Mccorn

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

This dissertation, Good News for the Poor and More: Reclaiming Martin Luther King Jr.’s Radical Gospel of Economic Justice in Pursuit of the Beloved Community, argues that Martin Luther King Jr.—one of the most transformational American leaders of the 20th century—should be best understood as a central figure within the Black Social Gospel tradition whose rhetoric constitutes a sustained socio-political and theological critique of economic injustice. Moving beyond interpretations that limit King to racial integration and civil rights, this study demonstrates that his preaching confronts the structural realities of poverty, racial capitalism, and militarism as interrelated forms of systemic …

White Fear/Black Apprehension, Volume 2: An Analysis Of The Racialized Targeting Of African Americans In The Educational System, In The Southern U.S. States, Circa 1865–1965, Christopher Donell Gipson

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

For African Americans, the legacy of racial oppression extends across centuries, from the transatlantic slave trade and enslavement to the persistence of institutionalized racism, White supremacy, racial violence, and structural inequality within the United States. These racialized systems are reproduced intergenerationally through social institutions, education, media, political discourse, historical narratives, and cultural representations that repeatedly normalize negative constructions of Africans and African Americans. Such representations operate on conscious and subconscious levels, shaping social attitudes, institutional practices, and perceptions of racial difference. As argued in White Fear / Black Apprehension: An Analysis of White European American Racism and Mob Violence Through …

Exploring The Principles And Values Of Co-Operative Economics And Sustainability To Inform Positive Solutions With Communities Impacted By Incarceration, Mary A. Sutton

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The United States incarcerates more people than any other country. Each month, tens of thousands of people across the country are released from prison or jail. Most return to communities that are economically, socially, and environmentally disenfranchised. The cycling of targeted populations in and out of the carceral system has imposed devastating consequences and inequities on poor Black and Brown communities, consequences that will reverberate for generations. The literature indicates a need for a critical sustainability assessment tool to examine incarceration policies and measure their real impacts on individuals, families, and communities. There is a need for sustainable solutions to …

Cultivating Diversity In Sustainable Food Systems: Black Farming And Lived Experience In Rural Southern Ontario, Kadeem Jerofy Morgan-Adamson Mr.

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This research examines the lived experiences of Black food growers in rural Southern Ontario to understand how their perspectives challenge dominant narratives of rurality and inform broader discussions on food sovereignty in Canada. Grounded in postcolonial theory, the study highlights how historical dispossession and persistent inequities shape the access of Black communities to land and resources. Using a mixed-methods approach that includes surveys, semi-structured interviews, and reflexive journaling within a community-based research framework, the study documents the barriers Black food growers face. These include limited land access, insufficient funding, inadequate training pathways, and experiences of racial isolation in rural contexts. …

The Un-Bridged Pipeline: Leading And Preparing Women Of Color To Senior-Level Higher Education Administration, Jacqueline D. Slater

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite increased educational attainment among Black women, representation in senior‑level leadership positions within higher education remains limited. This qualitative study examines the experiences of Black women who serve or have served in senior‑level academic administrative roles and explores how those experiences inform guidance, preparation, and decision‑making for future Black women leaders. The study focuses on practical barriers, workplace realities, and strategies that shape leadership entry, advancement, and retention.

Using a descriptive case study design, five Black women with professional experience as presidents, provosts, vice provosts, and academic deans participated in semi‑structured interviews lasting 45 to 75 minutes. Purposeful sampling ensured …

Pauline Monsanto, Mark Naison

Oral Histories

Now a Golden Soror with fifty years of service, Monsanto reflects on her legacy with pride. Her daughter, initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha through the Delta Lambda Chapter at Delaware State University in 1994 and now a Silver Star member—continues the family’s commitment to the sorority, and Monsanto hopes her granddaughter will one day follow the same path. Monsanto ends her interview with optimism, expressing complete confidence in the next generation of talented and determined young women who will carry the sorority forward. Her life stands as a testament to how service, education, and sisterhood can shape not only a …

Paul "Pete" Rosenblum, Mark Naison, Steven Payne

Oral Histories

Paul "Pete" Rosenblum grew up in the United Workers Cooperative Colony, or the Allerton Coops, in the 1930s and 1940s. In his oral history, Pete recalls what he can about the handful of African American families that lived in the complex during the 1930s as well as the shifting social ecology of the building as more African Americans moved in during the 1940s and beyond.

LINK TO VIDEO INTERVIEW: https://cdm17265.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/baahp/id/97/rec/63

Donna Joseph, Mark Naison

Oral Histories

Her implementation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities scholarships, Community Center Drives, and Dorm Drives was an achievement she’s appreciated. She provided extensive support to people in the Bronx, and it was well-received by her peers across the nation. A humorous story she recalls is when she left a teapot set unattended while she went back to her car to retrieve the remaining piece. She returns to where it was and learns it was stolen by a woman living in a shelter. Instead of being upset that something was stolen from her, she says, “You have to tell me who …

Marci Whitehead, Mark Naison

Oral Histories

After graduating from LIU and securing both a teaching position, which proved not to be her passion, and a social work job at Abbott House, Whitehead continued her involvement in Greek life. In the early 1980s, Whitehead joined the Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), where she served as President, Graduate Advisor, Membership Chair, and Bachelors Standard Chair during her tenure. She was a very active member and leader, striving to keep the organization’s spirit alive through the various events such as “rites of passage, all of our acts of greed, programs, Aka Rosa, our highway beautification, The …

Laverne D. Best King, Mark Naison

Oral Histories

Soror D. B. King served as the 14th Basileus from 2003-2006. She continued the legacy of outstanding service leading the chapter’s signature program AKATeens Rites of Passage.

During her administration, the chapter achieved the following:

• The Chaplains committee was instituted.

• The chapter won Chapter of the 2nd place,

• Soror Pauline L Monsanto was awarded the Angel Award.

• The chapter received an Educational Award for Reading One to One. 2004.

Soror Laverne remains dedication to the Chapter’s Signature Program, AKATeens Rites of Passage (ROP) program for high school girls, the program completed its 30th year helping girls develop leadership and life …

Linda Simms Chin And Regina Williams, Mark Naison

Oral Histories

With their sorority-led initiatives that help unite the Bronx and its inhabitants, Chin and Williams feel a sense of optimism and pride for their borough. Both of them discuss that a prime example of this sisterhood was evident during Barack Obama’s presidency. This could be seen through both Chin and Williams, whether it was Chin reminiscing of the progress and resilience of African-Americans in the United States, or Williams discussing the fulfillment of seeing lines for blocks and blocks of people ready to vote and make this momentous day to occur. Chin and Williams recognize and acknowledge the importance of …

Candice Scott, Mark Naison

Oral Histories

Soror Scott authored the book "Color Me Nia" in 2017 and worked with Emmett Wigglesworth, the renowned artist and illustrator.

From 1978 - 1991 Soror Scott taught general science at CIS 166X, started their Arista Program, conducted Career Day with some of the Sorors in the Chapter. She held the position of Interim Acting Assistant Principal for two years without pay.

Dr. Scott's years of dedication and service had improved the lives of countless individuals, and she has received numerous awards, accolades, and proclamations of appreciation, including:

• Honored as the Woman of the Year for The Black Caucus of the …

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Edward Lowe - Part 2, Mark Naison, Steven Payne

Oral Histories

Members of Lowe’s family continue to stand up for their values and help others. This willingness to fight for what is right dates back to a very important member of Lowe’s family, Edmund Kelly. Lowe shared a photo of Kelly’s letter to Abraham Lincoln on August 21st, 1863. The letter is titled “The Colored Man’s Interest in the Present War.” He wrote the letter supporting the recruitment of troops for the U.S. Colored Troop at the time. Kelly was also known for being a minister. He bought himself and Betty out of slavery. To Lowe, the Civil War is alive …

Mark "Po" Dean, Mark Naison, Steven Payne

Oral Histories

Dean, first exposed to music through his mother’s occasional record playing, would attend parties and occasionally dance against other b-boys. Upon watching DJ Kool Herc continually unload equipment, Dean found himself immersed in hip hop by first helping DJ Kool Herc move his equipment. He reminisces on the free park parties that these sound systems were taken to, and the ability of the people across the river to hear the sound. Continuing, he discusses the difference between b-boys and breakers, the profound influence of MC’s on hip hop, and the necessary contributions of graffiti to the overall culture. Each part …

Alice Mckenzie - Part 2, Mark Naison, Steven Payne

Oral Histories

Part 2 of an oral history recorded for the Bronx African American History Project with Alice McKenzie, who grew up in the United Workers Cooperative Colony, or the Allerton Coops, located at 2700 Bronx Park East. In this second part of her oral history, Alice speaks more about her experiences as a professional dancer, her time in the New York public school system, her experiences of race and sexuality, what the Coops represents to her, and much more.

LINK TO VIDEO INTERVIEW: https://cdm17265.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/baahp/id/99/rec/54

Alice Mckenzie - Part 1, Mark Naison, Steven Payne

Oral Histories

Part 1 of an oral history recorded for the Bronx African American History Project with Alice McKenzie, who grew up in the United Workers Cooperative Colony, or the Allerton Coops, located at 2700 Bronx Park East. Alice's father was a Guyanese national of African descent and her mother an Ashkenazi Jew from Poland. In this part of her oral history, Alice speaks about her family history and background, her experience growing up in the Coops, and much more.

LINK TO VIDEO INTERVIEW: https://cdm17265.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/baahp/id/102/rec/53

Marion "Tiny" Frampton, Wildman, And Mike Sherman - Part 2, Mark Naison, Steven Payne

Oral Histories

This interview with early Black Spades members recounts old memories and new directions for the gang, serving as both an oral history and a set of future ambitions for New York communities and the Black Spades. Giving out food, telling New York and Black Spades histories, and fighting for community centers are just a few of the many thing’s TBS: New Direction does for New York. Just as Tiny recounts how his mom brought others together by, “feeding TBS members from across the city,” TBS New Direction is creating communities of New Yorker's by giving back to the city. (Summary …

Mina Jones, Mark Naison, Steven Payne

Oral Histories

Oral history recorded for the Bronx African American History Project on January 30, 2023 with Mina Jones, who grew up in the United Workers Cooperative Colony, or the Allerton Coops. Mina's grandmother, Celia (Tsivia) Langert, raised her mother, Evelyn Lambert, in the Coops, and Evelyn gave birth to Mina in California. When Evelyn and Mina returned to the Coops after a few years, Leon "Lamby" Lambert became Mina's stepfather. In her oral history, Mina speaks about her family's history and background, her experience growing up in the Coops, the complexity of navigating her biracial identity (her father was Afro-Chicano and …

Stonewall:The Spark Of Queer Culture, Mariah M. Geisler

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The rebellion classified as Stonewall didn’t birth the gay liberation movement but spread it farther than it had gone before. Stonewall challenged people’s understanding of the laws pertaining to gender expression. The history was portrayed as being a reflection of white centralism, while the reality is that the event was built off the backs of racial minorities. Through a further understanding of 1960s gay counterculture, people can better realize the reasons for Stonewall. Stonewall was the historical event that popularized the spread of gay liberation movements, it gave people hope for a more accepting future. The present still feels the …

Kalunga Crossings: Waterscapes Of Terror And "Teachment" In The African Atlantic World, Dianne M. Stewart, Tracey E. Hucks, Solimar Otero

Yale Journal of Music & Religion

In this article, we think alongside historian of religions Charles H. Long to analyze the relationship between water and empire, explore theoretical approaches to water and modernity, and probe the significance of water in Africana ecologies and spiritual cultures, highlighting its suggestive contributions to restorative epistemologies of ecological co-habitation. Our investigation advances an Africana religious framework of “waterscapes of terror and ‘teachment’” that centers diaspora bodies of water as loci for analyzing history, materiality, and ecological regard. Teachment is an anti-colonial linguistic irruption, an all-encompassing term for Africana pedagogies and epistemologies that defy antiblack and anti-African colonial instruction. Examining how …

The Tenth Annual Report Of The American Society For Colonizing The Free People Of Colour Of The United States: With An Appendix, Tembani D. Barro Jr.

Publications and Research

The Tenth Annual Report of the American Society for Colonizing the Free People of Colour of the United States (1827) outlines the objectives, activities, and ideological foundations of the American Colonization Society during the early nineteenth century. The report details efforts to promote the relocation of free African Americans to the colony of Liberia, emphasizing arguments related to moral reform, racial coexistence, and national stability. Included financial statements, correspondence, and administrative updates document the Society’s organizational growth and political support. The appendix supplements the report with speeches and supporting documents that reflect contemporary attitudes toward race, freedom, and colonization. As …

Star Wars: Andor – An Abolitionist Study Guide, Marcelo Garzo Montalvo, Isaac Ginsberg Miller

Feminist Pedagogy

This study guide provides a set of activities for teaching abolition through Season 1 of the speculative fiction TV series Star Wars: Andor (2022). Through the practice of critical literacy (viewing, reading, and analysis), we offer various ideas on how to engage Andor as a relevant pedagogical tool for studying and teaching abolitionist movement histories and methodologies. By guiding students through a critical analysis of this widely-circulated, mainstream cultural text, we seek to activate an abolitionist pedagogical lens that can be applied across various genres and media – making tangible connections between popular culture and political struggles writ large. These …

Las Voices: The Impact On Black Young Males In A Critical Mentorship Program In The Las Vegas Valley, Sean C. Tory

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In America, Black young males face an enormous amount of pressure regarding their social and racial identity. They battle with racial macro/microaggressions, stereotypes, racism, and socialization from various industries and systems. The community organization, King of Jewels, has been able to adopt effective strategies to help Black young males navigate these issues through critical mentorship. This paper will first demonstrate the importance of critical mentorship, Black Racial Identity Development, and will then outline the steps necessary to fill the gaps found in mentorship and Black Racial Identity Development literature. This qualitative study investigates the use of critical mentorship (CM) and …

The Maroons: The First Black Nationalists Of The Americas, Marquise K. Camp

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Maroon communities are seldom discussed in academic discussions about Black nationalism. This suggests that the goals and achievements of the Maroons differed from those of Black nationalists, and that there are no significant historical links between the two. This project argues that Black nationalists and the Maroons are closely related, not only because of their shared roots in the African diaspora but also because they both sought independence and self-governance for Black people. The aims of Black nationalists like Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X closely resemble those of the Maroons. By examining the Maroons alongside Black nationalism, one can gain …

Diplomacy Derailed: Discrimination’S Detour On Route 40, Gage A. Kivlen

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The 1961 Route 40 campaign in Maryland became a critical battleground where three competing approaches to addressing racial segregation revealed deep contradictions in Cold War America. Route 40, a major highway between Washington D.C. and New York, became an international embarrassment when African diplomats from newly independent nations were repeatedly refused service at restaurants and hotels. This crisis prompted responses from three distinct actors: the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), which employed grassroots organizing and direct action; the State Department's Special Protocol Service Section (SPSS), which pursued top-down diplomatic solutions; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which conducted extensive …

Citizens Bank Of Jacksonville Statement Slips

Eartha M. M. White Textual Material

Document: Statement slips from Citizens Bank of Jacksonville with handwritten notes. Undated.

R. F. Bowden, Tax Collector Payment Form

Eartha M. M. White Textual Material

Document: Payment form to the order of R. F. Bowden, Tax Collector, Jacksonville, Florida. Handwritten on reverse: R. E. Kimmell. Undated.

You Are Invited To Open A Charge Account That Builds Dollars Banking Brochure

Eartha M. M. White Textual Material

Brochure: The Citizens Bank of Jacksonville brochure regarding opening a charge account. Undated.