Princeton’s Department of African American Studies

Throughout, I have been boosted up by the unending awesomeness of Princeton’s Department of African American Studies. Among other things, the department sponsored a book workshop that included the combined brilliance of Patricia J. Williams, Jessie Daniels, and Naomi Murakawa who pushed my thinking at a crucial stage.

It is a rare thing, I suspect, to love, respect, and enjoy the company of one’s colleagues: Anna Arabindan-Kesson, Wendy Belcher, Wallace Best, Eddie Glaude, Reena Goldthree, Joshua Guild, Tera Hunter, Naomi Murakawa, Kinohi Nishikawa, Chika Okeke-Agulu, Imani Perry, Stacey Sinclair, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Judith Weisenfeld, and Autumn Womack teach me that it is possible, even within old systems, to forge new ways of relating and being together.

And it is an open secret that our work would not be possible without the incomparable staff, past and present, which consists of Allison Bland, Elio Lleo, Jana Johnson, April Peters, and Dionne Worthy. For me, this cadre exemplifies the idea that technologies are not just “out there” in the world, but that we all employ social tools in our everyday interactions to tear down or build up one another. Needless to say, the freedom and encouragement I have experienced in this department show me that it is possible to build worlds within worlds. I am also deeply appreciative of the research assistance of Cierra Robson, who juggled GRE prep, senior thesis planning, and an internship at Facebook, all while working on this project and living her best (bicoastal) life!