African Americans -- Race identity

Overview "This thesis is my personal story of just how elusive the American Dream can be. I share my struggle as I work long shifts as a caregiver and Uber driver to make ends meet while I apply for legal status, hoping to bring my wife and children. But this is more than just my story. It serves as a clarifying backdrop for the global migrant crisis and a rallying cry for change. Here, I share not only my personal experiences as someone who has to take 3D (dirty, dangerous, and demeaning) jobs to...

Overview

"Nalb Noum is an animated short horror film that follows a young Black teen who is in love with African American folklore. After his father's passing, he sets out to prove that the folklore is real. While the film gives the normal elements of a creature horror film, at its core, the film touches on the underlying themes of systematic racism and cultural appropriation that plague our societies including our imaginations." -- Abstract

Overview "The goal of this thesis is to unravel the intricacies of lineage, intergenerational trauma, Blackness and mental health. This collection of poems yearns to use the lyric form to expand the understanding of healing, grief and ancestry. These poems push the boundaries of form, encouraging the reader to engage with the fragmented nature of piecing together the self in the midst of personal and collective trauma. Within the form of erasure, the burning of language and prose poetry, these pieces...