Personal Statement

As Executive Director of the Middle Passage Ceremonies & Port Markers Project, I bring to this work a lifelong devotion to history, memory, and the enduring connections between people, place, and ancestral legacy. Trained as a historian of the African Diaspora & Atlantic History and shaped by decades of leadership in museums, archives, and public history, I understand this Project as both a sacred responsibility and a living call to remembrance. What may appear at first to be the work of commemoration is, in truth, a deeper commitment to helping ensure that the circle remains unbroken — connecting the dead, the living, and those yet to come.

For me, this work is more than professional service; it is a deeply personal undertaking grounded in the belief that historical truth must be honored publicly, thoughtfully, and with care. Although born and raised in Flint, Michigan, I was brought up in a culture shaped by our heritage from Mississippi and Tennessee – a family and tradition that values history, storytelling, and the wisdom carried through generations. I see the Project as an opportunity to expand public understanding of the Middle Passage and the profound imprint our African ancestors have left on this nation and the broader Atlantic world. The more deeply I research and engage this history, the clearer it becomes how much remains unknown, underrecognized, and insufficiently acknowledged about Black presence, identity, sacrifice, and contribution.

My vision for the Middle Passage Ceremonies & Port Markers Project is rooted in remembrance, education, and collective responsibility. Through ceremonies, markers, community partnerships, and descendant-centered engagement, I hope to help communities confront difficult histories while creating spaces for dignity, reflection, and healing. This work continues to shape my understanding of race, culture, national identity, and moral responsibility, while affirming the power of public memory to bring all people into a deeper relationship with the past—and more importantly with one another