On February 19th, 2026 and in commemoration of Black History Month, Professor Prithi Kanakamedala hosted a talk titled “The Displacement of Free Black Communities in New York City.” The event served as a time to recognize the central role that African Americans have played in the history of the United States, especially reflecting on how housing and community building are paramount to uncovering this important narrative.
Professor Kanakamedala is the Deputy Chair of History at Bronx Community College, and a faculty member at CUNY Graduate Center. Her first full-length book Brooklynites: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities that Shaped a Borough (NYU Press) was a finalist for the 2025 Gotham Book Prize, long-listed for the 2025 Brooklyn Public Library Book Prize (nonfiction), and won the 2024 Victorian Society of New York Book Award.
Kanakamedala has been an active public historian for almost two decades, and continues to collaborate with artists, curators, and cultural organizations across New York City. She is a proud board member of Weeksville Heritage Center, and the Center for Brooklyn History part of Brooklyn Public Library. She is originally from Liverpool, England.
The talk was moderated by Professor Mathew Reilly, an anthropological archaeologist at the Department of Anthropology and Interdisciplinary Programs (AIP). Professor Reilly’s research predominantly focuses on the study of African heritage, African Diaspora, and the nuances of settler-native relations.
This event is an example of the insightful, relevant discussions that our faculty and Powell School community are pushing to the forefront of the public sphere, and how our faculty’s research both shapes and reflects public perception and attitudes.
