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Welcome!

Welcome to my website! However our paths crossed, I hope you find my content useful and inspiring. This site is in progress. I’ll be working on filling these pages with substance, which will be up to interpretation. Until then, check out the About Me page.

PAA 2024 Poster

I was thrilled to share my research project at the Population Association of America 2024 annual meeting in Columbus, OH. This was first opportunity to present at a poster session. If you stopped by and asked questions… thank you! Feel free to comment or get in touch! Here is my poster…

PAA 2023 paper abstract

As I wait to hear if my paper is accepted for PAA 2024, I reflect on my paper session from last year. I presented in a session called Spatial Demography of Structural racism. It was a great experience. Here is a short abstract of the paper I presented. This paper will be part of my dissertation.

This paper aims to show contemporary outcomes of land investment in the historical context of post-Civil War Black communities, known as Texas freedom colonies. Data from U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Freedom Colonies Project are used to illustrate that Black homeownership rates in Texas cities are mediated by the proximity to freedom colonies and the racial composition of these cities influences property ownership. Findings show that early efforts to invest in land served as a protective mechanism for these communities, which in turn, have contributed to the development of the state. This study theorizes that the current venture of homeownership is an act of agency for Blacks as it was for previous generations. The study makes a unique contribution to the literature on racial and ethnic inequality in homeownership and wealth. It concludes with policy implications of understanding the impact of historical context from a counter-narrative perspective.

Short Abstract – Qualitative study

My dissertation will consist of three papers from a mixed methods research study that I started in 2022. Next Spring at the Population Association of America annual conference, *hope* to present Paper I from my dissertation. Here is the short abstract I submitted –

Structural racism is the contributing factor to inequality. Historical accounts of segregated African American settlements in Texas, known as freedom colonies, have been neglected in population studies. The aim of this study is to conceptualize freedom colonies as a pursuit for independence from domination and explore outcomes within the framework of Recognition theory. This approach considers processes and varied effects of structural racism as well as self-determination, presenting a counternarrative. Using semi-structured interviews, 14 African American men and women from Texas freedom colonies recounted various experiences of structural racism and the collective agency utilized to persist. Themes such as family, labor, civic leadership, education, and land ownership, are critically analyzed and explained using the three forms of Recognition theory – love, rights, and social esteem. This qualitative research highlights the overlooked impact of freedom colonies within population studies and the importance of recognizing the diversity within marginalized groups.