On Point | Podcast How 'Blessings and Disasters' shape Alabama
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Aug 18, 2025 Alexis Okeowo, a staff writer at The New Yorker and author of 'Blessings and Disasters', reflects on the duality of Alabama's identity. She unpacks her personal ties to the region, blending her Nigerian roots with Southern culture. The conversation navigates historical contradictions, from Confederate symbols to civil rights, and explores how Southern women like Mary McDonald and Tina Johnson confront power dynamics. Okeowo also emphasizes the warmth of neighborly bonds in Alabama, despite its complex social fabric and political divides.
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Who Gets To Tell Alabama's Story
- Alexis Okeowo argues Alabama's story is often oversimplified and told by outsiders.
- She wrote to include experiences that were left out of dominant narratives about the state.
Parents Met At Alabama State
- Both of Alexis's parents came from Nigeria and met at Alabama State University.
- They stayed in Alabama after finding community, work, and family ties there.
ASU's Crucial Civil Rights Role
- Alabama State University was a central hub of Black resistance and civil rights organizing.
- Okeowo highlights ASU's continuing role in educating Black students post-civil rights era.
