Journalist and author Natasha Alford makes her return to Syracuse to speak in the Friends of the Central Library Author Series Tuesday, March 10. Alford will discuss her book American Negra and the journey of telling one’s own story.
Alford grew up in Syracuse’s southside, went to Meachem Elementary and Nottingham High schools. She has referred to Syracuse as 2 cities.
“It was segregated at one point, with redlining that sort of prevented a certain population from being able to live where they wanted to in Syracuse,” Alford recalled. “So that is just sort of a microcosm of the difference that exists in Syracuse. And I think for all cities that have similar structures in America, we want to get to a place where opportunity is available to all.”
Alford received praise for her memoir, American Negra, winning an International Latino Book Award for Best First Book. In it she covers identity, the complexities of being a Black woman, and her resiliency to overcome barriers, “something about growing up in Syracuse, feeling like I was able to achieve a dream, just that simple story.”
She wanted to see someone in a positive role who was like her, “so that both people like me culturally, racially, but also those who aren't like me could see that and it would be normalized.” The process of writing the book allowed her to not only investigate her past and her journey, but also to ask hard questions of her family. “And I would say that for my father in particular, we healed our relationship. There were certainly times when we went through hard times. It's because we were so similar. And sometimes you kind of butt heads with folks who you are like.”
When she talks about the book, her message to the audience is one of encouragement.
“It's never too late to rewrite your story, said Alford. “There's lots of pivots and twists and turns, and we should never be afraid to change paths. I mean that on every level, individually, politically, in terms of the story that we tell about this nation; If we are on the wrong path, we can turn it around.”
Alford also shared with WAER her view on the state of journalism. She noted that there’s a reason journalists are mentioned in the constitution. “And I really have been grieving for the state of journalism and what journalists have to go through right now. There is a censorship that we're seeing in certain newsrooms.”
She added that infotainment and the plethora of people posting content have blurred lines of true, factual information. “So, I worry about the state of journalism, particularly in the age of AI. That's a whole different conversation. But what I will say is that we're here for a reason. We're essential to democracy and we just can't stop.”
Natasha Alford speaks at Friends of Central Library Author Series event Tuesday, March 10 @ 7:30 pm.
FOCL Syracuse is a supporter of WAER Syracuse Public Media.
