Courtney P. Joseph

Haiti…
I am the daughter of Haitian immigrants. My parents left their home country in the late 1960s and made a life for themselves and their family in Chicago. Even though we lived in Chicago, I always knew I was Haitian. Whether it was the food, the music, or the language, the Haitian culture defined my upbringing. My research and life journey brought me to the island in 2015, and that trip has left a permanent mark on my heart and consciousness. Haiti is so much more than the negative stereotypes you see in popular media and the news. Therefore, I have been writing and sharing my work about the Haiti and the Haitian community in Chicago. My first book centers their story. I am proud to be Haitian--tied to a long history Black resistance and freedom—and, I hope I make the ancestors proud.

History…
Marcus Garvey once said: “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” As a historian, I truly believe that the study of the past provides people with a sense of rootedness, a sense of belonging. I was in the fourth grade when I fell in love with studying history, and I followed my passion to eventually become a history professor. Whether it’s reading a primary document, analyzing an old photograph, or recording an oral history, I believe that learning about and interpreting the events of the past helps us to better understand society and culture. More than that, I found that the study of history has helped me to understand myself more, and this is what drives my pedagogy. How can I help my students learn about themselves via studying people of the past?

Hip Hop…
I fell in love with Hip Hop at the age of 10, when I listened to The Score by The Fugees. Even though my dad was not a fan of rap music, Wyclef’s Haitianness became my license to ill (pun intended). From there, I learned all the lyrics to Wyclef’s The Carnival before making my way through all the songs on LL Cool J’s Greatest Hits. After that, it was Eminem’s classic verse on “Forgot About Dre” which showed me the true enjoyment of being lyrically bombarded by an MC on a track. Hip Hop has served as the soundtrack to my life, and I can mark the changes of my life by the Hip Hop albums. Also, there is nothing better than seeing a good rap show, whether it’s The Clipse, Jay Z, or Drake and Migos. As a professor, Hip Hop informs my pedagogy, as I consider myself the MC of my classroom. Each class is an exchange—a call and response—and I learn from my students as much as I hope they learn from me.