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Brenda Stevenson photo from interview

Author Dr. Brenda Stevenson discusses her new book “What Sorrows Labour in My Parent’s Breast: A History of the Enslaved Black Family.” Dr. Stevenson talks about her research on the lives of enslaved black families over time (17th century to end of the Civil War) and space (British, French, Dutch, Spanish colonies), following how families were torn apart, and eventually rebuilt. Using a multitude of available documents and artifacts (letters, diaries, pottery, family bibles, photographs, cloth), Dr. Stevenson brings the voices of these families to the reader and shines new light on the history of slavery and it’s direct and lingering impacts on family.

0:04 – Intro
0:43 – Genesis of the book?
2:08 – Main argument and contribution of the book?
3:10 – Importance of Loss, Recovery, and Resilience
4:10 – How do your sources bring insight into Black History, Family, and Identity?
6:03 – How does this book relate to current times?

UCLA History: https://history.ucla.edu

Interviewer: Dr. Celia Lacayo, Associate Director of Community Engagement, UCLA Social Sciences & Professor Chicana/o & Central American Studies and African American Studies Department

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Dr. Scot Brown, a UCLA professor and musician, talks with LA Social Science about his published books, current music project, and future research projects.

Interview Chapters:

1.07: Is there a book or music that has helped you get through this pandemic?

2:58: How do you bring your music and your scholarship together?

5:48: Tell us more about your book “Fighting for Us”

9:49: Tell us about your upcoming research

14:32: How do you balance your research and your music career

20:02: Talk with us about some of your current musical projects

22:01: Do you connect your creativity to the current moment

26:38: Talk to us about the intention of your work

To learn more, check out Dr. Brown’s book, Fighting For Us.

Also read Dr. Brown’s quote in The New York Times about Ankara Print and it’s significance for the African American community if it goes mainstream.