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Dr. Lindsay Gary is using her wits and talents to reconnect African descendants to their African roots. Her goal is to educate her community by sharing her knowledge and experiences.
Dr. Gary received her Bachelor of Arts in History and minored in Dance and Business Administration at the University of Houston. She then received a Master of Arts in History and a Master of Public Administration degree in Public Policy from HBCU, Texas Southern University.
In addition, she obtained a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of the Arts and her Ph.D. in Africology and African American studies from Temple University.
The Black Wall Street Times spoke with Dr. Gary about current projects and the importance of Sankofa for African descendant people.
In honor of Women’s History Month, Dr. Gary shared some inspirations.
Choreographer and anthropologist Katherine Dunham, the queen of ethnography, Zora Neale Hurston, and the great freedom fighter, Harriet Tubman encouraged her to dream.
Her premier documentary, “Who Yo’ People?” is a recipient of the Fifth Ward Spark Art Grant. The documentary received funding from the Scribe Video Center’s Philadelphia Student Mediamaker Fund and a feature on Acadiana Live.
Dr. Gary is proud of her African heritage and encourages others to live in their truth accordingly. She shared, “Simply put, it is fundamental to know who we are.”
Do You Know Who Yo’ People Are?
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Dr. Gary is a direct descendant of a long line of Louisiana Creoles.
The ideology and connotation behind what it means to be a Louisiana Creole have been problematic for centuries by Creoles and non-Creoles.
Scholars like Dr. Gary, Herbert Wiltz, and Ja’el “YaYa” Gordon, fight against the idea that all Creoles disown their African heritage. Their respective works cover culture, history, linguistics, and other facets.
Dr. Gary expressed, “We had a heritage before we were forcibly removed from our homeland, and we must never forget that. Additionally, our ancestors fought hard to maintain and continue our culture. It wasn’t lost!”
“Who Yo’ People?” is a documentary that dives into the culture and identities of Louisiana Creoles. And their connections to Africa as African descendants, post-Transatlantic Slave Trade. The idea came to Dr. Gary in 2012. She said, “I embarked on a filmmaking journey to tell the story of the Black people of Louisiana, of my culture and my people. I had no training or funding, just a vision to do our community and culture justice.”
So, in 2019, Dr. Gary returned to the film and continued her journey with a new approach and new skills. She said, “I decided to highlight the African culture of Louisiana and its foundation for what are considered to be Creole and Cajun cultures.”
In fact, the documentary has gained national recognition. This led to screenings and author talks at Northwestern State University, Maison Creole de Freetown, DePaul University, the National Council for Black Studies, and other institutions.
Lit in Lafayette + Freetown Rhymes in March
Lit In Lafayette + Freetown Rhymes is a one-day festival at Dr. Gary’s bookstore, the Afrikanah Bookstore Bookclub, in the historic Freetown District.
Her Great-grandfather Dautrive Gary, was born and raised in the Freetown district and became known as a hometown hero. By investing in the area that her ancestors come from, Dr. Gary’s work is showcasing intentional ancestral veneration.
The festival included various workshops on Creole cooking, painting, and gardening. In addition, there were author talks, and an evening experience of Freetown Rhymes. A live poetry session featuring spoken word artists.
Dr. Gary voiced, “My goal is to highlight the African American literary tradition while also making literature more accessible to the local community.”
What’s Next to Come
Dr. Gary is intentionally booked and busy. On April 7, she will be curating the Black Art Marketplace in Houston with vendors, workshops, and performances. Also, students in Houston can view Dr. Gary’s interactive monologue performance, Historic Black Women of Texas on June 1st.
Lastly, the documentary, “Who Yo’ People?” will feature at the 2024 Cane River Film Festival.
To stay connected with Dr. Gary’s upcoming ventures, visit her Linktree and follow her on Instagram.
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