Overview
As a dirt road academic, storyteller, and movement historian, Kamau is a Ph.D. student in the History Department at Duke. Their research uses historical narratives and oral histories in the U.S. South to explore Black, queer, and trans resistance and resiliency. Kamau is also interested in the history of the environment and unpacking its relationship to capitalism, white supremacy, and patriarchy. Originally from Aiken, South Carolina, Kamau was awarded Charleston’s 50th Most Progressive list in 2015 and the Community Activism Award in 2016 while at the College of Charleston. Kamau holds many political homes and non-profits close to their heart, along with their scholarly pursuits. These organizations are Southerners on New Ground (SONG), Tiger’s Eye Collective, Carolina Youth Action Project, and the Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN).