Fields-Black: A Legacy of History, Heritage, and Academic Excellence
The academic journey and research focus of Fields-Black are deeply rooted in a rich family tapestry of migration, resilience, and intellectual pursuit. Born in Miami, Florida, her life has been shaped by a lineage of immigrants and migrants who prioritized education and community service, providing a foundation for her later contributions to the study of African and African-American history.
Key Facts
- Academic Credentials: Holds a PhD in History from the University of Pennsylvania (2001).
- Research Focus: Specializes in the social history of agricultural technology and identity in coastal Guinea.
- Ancestral Roots: Descendant of Gullah speakers from South Carolina and immigrants from the Bahamas.
- Family Legacy: Daughter of an attorney and a founder of the Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida.
- Historical Connection: Direct descendant of Hector Fields, a formerly enslaved man who fought in the Combahee River Raid of 1863.
Family Heritage and Early Influences
Fields-Black was raised by parents who were pillars of their community: Eddie Fields, an attorney and entrepreneur, and Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields. Dr. Fields was a librarian and curriculum specialist who established the Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida and the Black Archives Lyric Theater in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood.
Maternal Lineage: From the Bahamas to Miami
Her maternal great-grandparents, Sam D. Johnson and Ida Ellen Johnson, immigrated from Harbour Island, Bahamas, settling in Miami's Overtown neighborhood around the turn of the 20th century. Despite working in humble roles—including as a sponger, gardener, and laundress—they ensured all seven of their children received higher education. These children subsequently returned to Miami to serve as doctors, teachers, and judges. Fields-Black grew up in the Brownsville neighborhood, heavily influenced by her grandmother, Dorothy Kathyrn Johnson Jenkins McKellar.
Paternal Lineage: The Gullah Connection
The paternal side of her family brought a connection to the Gullah people—descendants of enslaved Africans in the Lowcountry who preserved more of their African linguistic and cultural heritage than any other African American community. Her grandparents, Jim and Mamie Frazier Fields, migrated from Green Pond, South Carolina, to Miami. Summer visits to her great-grandmother, Anna Richards Frazier, in Green Pond sparked a lifelong curiosity about the unique speech patterns of her kin.
This heritage is further marked by the legacy of her great-great-great-grandfather, Hector Fields. After liberating himself from bondage in Beaufort County, he enlisted in the 2nd South Carolina Volunteers in March 1863 and participated in the Combahee River Raid in June 1863.
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Academic Path and Specialization
Fields-Black's formal education began at the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, where she graduated in 1989. She then pursued a BA in English and History at Emory University, followed by an MA in History from the University of Florida. At the University of Florida, she studied under R. Hunt Davis, a pivotal figure in the development of the university's African History program.
Doctoral Research at the University of Pennsylvania
Fields-Black reached the pinnacle of her academic training at the University of Pennsylvania, earning both an MA and a PhD in History. Under the supervision of Steven Feierman, she completed her PhD in 2001. Her dissertation, titled "Rice farmers in the Rio Nunez region: A social history of agricultural technology and identity in coastal Guinea, ca. 2000 BCE to 1880 CE," was a multidisciplinary effort.
To reconstruct the social and agricultural history of the Rio Nunez region, she integrated several methodologies:
- Historical Linguistics: Analyzing language evolution to track movement and identity.
- Oral Narratives: Utilizing spoken histories to fill gaps in written records.
- European Accounts: Reviewing travelers' journals and reports.
- Biological and Botanical Studies: Studying mangroves to understand the environmental context of early settlements.
This comprehensive approach allowed her to establish a settlement chronology and language classification for the Coastal and Mel subgroups of the region.
Summary of Educational and Family Background
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Degree | BA in English and History, Emory University |
| Master's Degrees | MA in History (University of Florida); MA in History (University of Pennsylvania) |
| Doctorate | PhD in History, University of Pennsylvania (2001) |
| Key Ancestral Roots | Bahamas (Maternal); Green Pond, SC (Paternal) |
| Primary Research Area | Coastal Guinea (Rio Nunez region) and Gullah Geechee culture |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Gullah people mentioned in Fields-Black's history?
The Gullah are descendants of enslaved Africans who lived in the coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia. They are known for preserving a distinct culture and language that maintains strong connections to West African roots.
What was the focus of Fields-Black's PhD dissertation?
Her dissertation focused on the social history of rice farmers in the Rio Nunez region of coastal Guinea from approximately 2000 BCE to 1880 CE, specifically examining agricultural technology and identity.
How did Fields-Black reconstruct the history of the Rio Nunez region?
She used a multidisciplinary approach combining historical linguistics, oral narratives, European travelers' accounts, and botanical studies of mangroves.
Who was Hector Fields?
Hector Fields was the great-great-great-grandfather of Fields-Black. He was a formerly enslaved man who liberated himself and fought in the Combahee River Raid of 1863 as part of the 2nd South Carolina Volunteers.
What role did Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields play in the community?
Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields was a librarian and curriculum specialist who founded the Black Archives History and Research Foundation of South Florida and the Black Archives Lyric Theater in Miami.