Public History – Prithi Kanakamedala

Brooklyn Abolitionists

Brooklyn Abolitionists at the Brooklyn Historical Society re-examines the lives of Brooklyn’s anti-slavery activists – everyday residents, black and white – who transformed their community, city, and nation with a revolutionary vision of freedom and equality. The exhibit is on display at Brooklyn Historical Society is part of a larger public history project called In Pursuit ofContinue reading “Brooklyn Abolitionists”

We Must Stand United

“We Must Stand United: Activism, Achievement, and Community at Bronx Community College” celebrates and explores Bronx Community College of the City University of New York as a center of black activism. Themes include presidential legacies of James Colston and Roscoe Brown, Jr., and waves of grassroots student activism. Project leveraged Bronx Community College’s rich archives. Role:Continue reading “We Must Stand United”

Sweet Industries

“Sugar Industries: Refining What We Know” at the Brooklyn Historical Society examines the commodity of sugar fueling Brooklyn’s growth for over 150 years. The exhibit focuses on the history of two companies: Domino Sugar and Drake’s Bakeries. The project was produced by Exhibition Laboratory (or “ExLab”), a highly successful annual museum studies after-school program featuring high schoolContinue reading “Sweet Industries”

Public History | Place Matters

Place Matters documents various sites around New York City of historic and cultural significance. It is a joint project of City Lore & the Municipal Art Society. Role: Freelance Researcher & Writer Site: placematters.net Date: 2012 – Present

Media + Lectures

Interview by Matt Wells for “1 in 4 Brooklynites was a slave,” BBC World Service, May 2015 “New York City would really rather not talk about its slavery-loving past,” by Alexander Nazaryan, Newsweek, April 2015 http://www.newsweek.com/2015/04/24/new-york-city-would-really-rather-not-talk-about-its-slavery-loving-past-321714.html “Challenging American Inequality: Historical Literacy Matters,” Roundtable discussion with Mae Ngai (Columbia), Khalil Gibran Muhammad (Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture),Continue reading “Media + Lectures”