African-American Studies was the clear next step as it could provide me with a research home to cultivate and craft my eagerness to learn and help my community.

Why did you decide to pursue a BA in African American Studies?

I went to a predominantly white high school during most of Trump’s presidency back in 2016. Because of this, I became emboldened to reorient myself towards the history of my people and what the past could tell us about the future. I was always a kid who loved the library, going on wikipedia deep dives, and just soaking up all the information I could. African-American Studies was the clear next step as it could provide me with a research home to cultivate and craft my eagerness to learn and help my community.

What year did you graduate from VCU?

I graduated in December 2022

What have you done since graduating?  What are some of the accomplishments that you are most proud of?

I'm currently in a Master of Interdisciplinary Studies program at VCU working on a thesis project. This project will seek to interpret Black musical performance in identity-making, with a focus on how music and Black trans identity intersect and how that relates to the concept of Black trans girlhood. This last summer I was also a participant in the New York Metro American Studies Association Abolition Institute and the Library of Virginia's Transforming the Future of Libraries and Archives Internship program. I'm currently preparing for graduation in the Spring of 2025 and working in a public library while getting my second Masters in Library Science. 

What is the most valuable thing you learned while studying African American Studies, and how have you used it in your career or post-bachelor education?

Black women radicals can do anything and that our imaginations can be empowering. We don’t build things in isolation and there are countless folks past and present to help build towards the future.

Why should students consider African American studies as a major?

It’s enriching, it’s a breath of fresh air, it’s a home. You’ll come to make great friends and relationships with your classmates and professors and every class is an important piece to building up skills (critical analysis, deep reflection, social justice advocacy, etc.) that will be imperative for the coming future.