Alexandra Gessesse is a PhD student in the Department of African Diaspora Studies at UC Berkeley, where she thinks and writes about the global politics of Blackness, diasporic identity construction, community and neighborhood organizations, and transnationalism. Her research investigates the relationship between geography and the sense of belonging that Black migrants forge within U.S. Black communities — examining how they define their identity through the lenses of place, politics, and popular culture. Employing visual storytelling, Alexandra uses photos and videos as a medium to delve into the themes of nostalgia, timelessness, and belonging. These stories serve as a window into how perceptions of Blackness, Black culture, and Diasporic belonging are constructed, challenged, and experienced as racialized features of everyday life. Through her work, Alexandra illuminates the ways in which Black immigrants internalize their sense of place, navigate the U.S. urban landscape, and elasticate notions of Blackness.
Department and Institution:
Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies, UC Berkeley
Bio/CV:
