Often overlooked, healthcare is an essential part to history and preservation of a people. From advancements in medicine and innovation for a healthier community, the health of a community is indicative of their continued success and resilience through times of struggles. The African American community in particular is a shining example of these attributes. The … Continue reading Spotlight on Black Healthcare in Iowa
Lessons from Earthseed: How to Survive in a Seemingly Doomed World
“I was attracted to science fiction because it was so wide open. I was able to do anything and there were no walls to hem you in and there was no human condition that you were stopped from examining.” -Octavia Butler This summer I read the second installment of sci-fi phenom Octavia Butler’s Earthseed series, Parable … Continue reading Lessons from Earthseed: How to Survive in a Seemingly Doomed World
Finding the First Lady
On June 3, 1973 Des Moines lost a true first lady: Audra Alexander. While some knew her solely as the wife of Archie Alexander many more recognized her as an actress, socialite, philanthropist and connoisseur of the arts. Initially, my research, found it challenging to uncover her contributions, as she seemed was overshadowed by the … Continue reading Finding the First Lady
2024 Summer Internship
Time is funny. June 10 was the first day of the Iowa Black History Research Collective's second internship. The summer seemed vast and never ending. Now it is late July, we have about three weeks left, and students will be back to school in roughly a month. This summer it has been a tremendous pleasure … Continue reading 2024 Summer Internship
What We’re Reading: August-September ’23 Edition
Much of August was dedicated to wrapping up the research and writing for our recent exhibit on Impactful Black Women in Des Moines, which debuted on August 27 at SistaSoulFest in Des Moines, Iowa. I didn't get to read as many books as I would have liked. Here's what I read, as well as a … Continue reading What We’re Reading: August-September ’23 Edition
Summer Reading – July ’23
One of my favorite things to do as a kid was read. During the summer, I would ride my orange banana seat bike to Franklin Library where I'd load up on books, filling my backpack AND the little white, plastic bike basket that was popular among little girls in the 1980s. I made this trip … Continue reading Summer Reading – July ’23
Spark
Shortly before my grandfather died in 2017, the family church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa was designated as a historic site. It felt like such a tremendous honor given that my grandfather had been Bishop over Iowa's Church of God In Christ pretty much my entire life. The idea of our family's church being recognized felt … Continue reading Spark