» Unveiling the Legacy of Avery: Keyasia Pride

This is a part of an ongoing series featuring the reflections of past Avery Research Center employees, interns, and undergraduate and graduate students.

The Avery Research Center means the world to me, and I still cherish my time there. While at The Avery, I worked as a research assistant for the “The Hidden Hands Beneath These Walls Project,” a project that focused on uncovering the stories of the enslaved workers who built our campus.

During my time, Daron Calhoun III was my supervisor, and I consider him a mentor as he guided me through the research. At the time, I had no experience with archives. Still, he was always willing to teach me, and providing me with the opportunity at Avery opened doors for me to assist with other paid research projects on campus. The Avery taught me the importance of collaboration within the Black community and helped me to feel connected to my roots, as my family is from the Lowcountry area.

My research became very personal to me. Working at The Avery wasn’t just a job, it was an experience. During the summer of my junior year, I stayed on campus to work, and we visited the McLeod plantation, where we received the unwatered-down story of enslaved life on plantations. The Avery helped me build connections with people I still have today, and if I could relive this time over again, I would. 

Currently, I have my Master’s in Digital Media Management and work for a black owned marketing agency called WHTWRKS, where I am the Social Media Manager for multiple brands. I also work for a tech company doing Quality Assurance (QA), where I test apps and websites the company builds for various clients. My goals are to continue within the Digital Media/Marketing field and work for organizations where I can tell OUR story, support our community, and assist others whose mission is to do the same.