Ayaan Natala

Ayaan Natala is an aspiring research-scholar-activist, who grew up in Minnesota (Mni Sota), also known as Ojibwe/Dakota land. She was raised by a South-side Chicagoan mother and Zambian father in the Twin Cities; as a result, she is passionate about the African diaspora. She is a member of the Critical Black Studies cohort in the American Studies department where she studies Black feminism, Black radicalism, and social movements. Her dissertation explores how Black Lives Matter organizing influenced Black Minnesotans' reflections on freedom within the context of their life histories. She seeks to understand how the 2020 historic moment of social movement mobilization influences Black residents, activists, and community leaders' conceptions of freedom–and how they struggle to make those visions a reality. As a Black Minnesotan, she is excited to stay connected with community members to reflect, heal, and dream of alternative futures. 

Ayaan is a Saint Paul Central High School Alum. She double majored in Political Science and American Studies with a concentration in Human Rights and Humanitarianism at Macalester College. Currently, she is a Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellow. Aside from academics, Ayaan is passionate about health and wellness, nature, and creating a soundtrack for her next travel adventure.