ARCHIVAL RESEARCH
I believe archives are living records of community, memory, and culture. My research explores the stories preserved in photographs, newspapers, oral histories, recordings, and institutional collections to help bring overlooked histories into public conversation.
The Real Steele: Messages from the Mic (below) is an archival documentary that traces the life and legacy of my grandfather, legendary Chicago broadcaster Richard Steele, through oral histories, archival photographs, audio recordings, newspapers, and community collections.
My Role
As Producer and Archival Researcher, I identify, organize, and analyze historical materials that inform the documentary’s narrative. My research involves working with community members, historians, and archival collections to preserve and contextualize stories that contribute to Chicago’s Black Media history. (Images Below Digitized from Personal Archive)
Past Research: Toni Cade Bambara: Fight for History
Toni Cade Bambara: Fight for history, was an undergraduate archival research project examining how Toni Cade Bambara integrated Black Studies into a predominantly white institution through her teaching, scholarship, and activism.
My Role
I conducted archival and primary source research examining Bambara’s contributions to Black studies and higher education. The project culminated in scholarly presentation and written thesis analyzing her impact on curriculum development and Black intellectual history.
Source: Toni Cade Bambara Correspondence; Duke University (Available to the Public)
