The African American Folklorist

Owned, Trademarked, Operated and Founded by Lamont & Denise Pearley, The African American Folklorist (AAF) is a quarterly Cultural News Magazine that contains articles about traditions, traditional beliefs, the cultural context, geographical locations, music, and vernaculars of African Americans and the role each element plays in the lives of the people past and present.

Distributed through Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Preservation Foundation (a 503c Private Foundation), AFF furthers its mission by publishing content that discusses the evolution of our traditions and presents research about blues people. AAF includes a growing collection of interviews and articles with a vast perspectives, from musicians, historians, Community Scholars, and academics, that are both specialized in and are enthusiastically passionate about the Black Experience in America. As we trace the ancestral threads that form the ever flowing cultural fabric of the blues people, we weave words of wisdom to educate and share perspectives with people of all colors.

Our work

We know the power of archival work as a tool for empowerment. Our focus is to encourage our community members to take an active role in independent research, documentation, archiving, and publishing of their ethnic and cultural history creating a more diverse platform in the field of traditional study and preservation.

By equipping individuals with the skills to engage in preservation at home and within their neighborhoods, we foster a sense of pride and connection to one’s heritage. We provide the resources, mentorship, and guidance needed to help youth and community members actively engage in archival practices that preserve oral histories, artwork, music, and more.

Founder and Editor in Chief Lamont Jack Pearley says, “We aim to put the story of the blues people in the proper context told by blues people. We appreciate the works done in the past, we are only making sure our story isn’t determined by others!”

  • Through hands-on sessions, conversations, and collaborative learning, participants explore the art of preserving photographs, letters, oral histories, and other family treasures. These workshops empower individuals to become custodians of their own history—bridging generations and strengthening cultural identity.

    This unique program honors the everyday archivist and emphasizes that the roots of our stories often begin at home. By centering the voices of the community, we not only safeguard memory—we celebrate it.

  • Through in-depth articles, interviews, and community stories, we highlight the rich traditions, creative works, and cultural contributions that define the African American experience.

    Jack Dappa Blues Heritage Preservation Radio and The African American Folklorist magazine brings stories to life, featuring conversations with artists, archivists, and community leaders. Tune in as we explore the stories behind the stories—capturing the voices of the past and present, and discussing the ongoing efforts to preserve and share African American culture with the world.

  • The Public Speaking Program brings together artists, musicians, storytellers, and folklorists to explore and preserve the rich cultural traditions that have shaped the African American experience.

    Through live discussions, performances, and interactive sessions, participants will discover the power of storytelling, the rhythm of music, and the creativity of art in preserving and sharing cultural heritage. This unique program fosters a deeper understanding of folklore and its role in shaping identity, while providing a platform for community voices to be heard.

  • The Emerging Folklorist Program is a dynamic, hands-on training initiative designed to empower young people to engage with and preserve the cultural heritage of their communities. This program provides the tools, mentorship, and resources needed to understand and practice cultural preservation through the lens of folklore, oral traditions, music, art, and more.

    Through a combination of 1:1 mentorship, practical archival training, and community engagement, participants will learn how to document, preserve, and share the creative works and stories that define their culture. The program is designed for youth (ages 14-24) interested in exploring the rich world of folklore and cultural preservation.

meet the team

the African American folklorist

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the African American folklorist • the blues people •

editor in chief

Lamont Jack Pearley

As an NYC-based descendant of the Great Migration, Pearley’s life as a Bluesman changed dramatically in the mid-2000s when he returned to Louisiana and Mississippi to bury close relatives. Returning to these regions and their deep associations with Blues history, Pearley felt the urgency to raise cultural and ethnic awareness of African American Traditional Music as it pertains to the Black Experience in America. He began using methods of ethnography, genealogy, and archival research – in essence, the tools of the folklorist – to more thoroughly trace his family’s lineage.

Inspired by his discoveries, he began interviewing people outside of his family who had similar stories, including African American Blues musicians who played various forms of traditional blues. Over the last 12 years, his work documenting African American vernacular narratives, music, and cultures resulted in an extensive collection of field interviews with historians, documentarians, blues and folk musicians, and the children of Black music legends. This body of work earned Pearley an induction into the New York Blues Hall of Fame as Great Blues Historian and TV/Radio Producer (2017) and Great Blues Artist (2018).

CURATORS

  • Hess Love

    Curator of Black Americana Religion, Spirituality and Belonging

    Hess is passionate about storywork, climate action, heritage preservation, and ecological literacy. Her family history, especially her ancestor Hester, who was the last woman in her family subjected to chattel slavery in the U.S., fuels my dedication to protecting places, plants, and people. As an award-winning folklorist and published writer, Hess brings a unique perspective as a Hoodoo practitioner and historian to her role as curator of the folk belief section for the African American Folklorists magazine.

    In her work as a hoodoo-mother-poet, writer, and Delmarva woodlands steward, She champions Afro-Chesapeake traditions, helping others feel a sense of belonging and creativity. She aims to empower people to reclaim their stories and connect with their ancestors and the natural world.

  • Curator or the Poetry Corner

    Douglas Curry

    Curator or the Poetry Corner

    Douglas Curry has been the voice behind BLACKS & BLUES since 1982, blending history, culture, and soul with the rich sounds of blues music. As the show's longtime host, he brings deep knowledge and passion to the airwaves, spotlighting the contributions of Black artists and the rich legacy of the blues.

  • annette hollowell

    Curator of Black Ecologies (e.g., Black advocacy + conservation, Black environmental activism, Black relations to the environment + land, Black advocacy organizations)

    Annette is a mother, entrepreneur, facilitator and lawyer with a particular calling towards community building, peace work and Black liberation. She is a manager, land steward and advisor to Foxfire Ranch an 80-acre recreational farm and entertainment venue that has been in the Hollowell family for more than a century. She is an excellent hostess committed to holding interracial and inter-generational spaces for rest, retreat, deep learning, connection, healing and celebration. Her storytelling is rooted in ancestry, culture and Mississippi’s long standing legacies of Black landownership.

Writers

  • VIRGINIA JIMENEZ

    Asst. to Editor and Chief/Contributing Writer

  • MICHAEL JONES

    Feature Writer

  • DOUG CURRY

    Blues Correspondant/Columnist

  • COREY HARRIS

    Feature Writer

  • EBONY BAILEY

    Voices From The Past Columnist

  • Emily Hudson

    Writer, Author, Story-Catcher

  • Dr. April A. Caddell

    Contributing Writer

  • D. Parker

    Social Impact Designer

  • Ron Wynn

    Blues Plus Columnist

  • Johnaé De Felicis

    Travel, Food & Culture Writer

  • Casey Hammons

    Historic Preservation Advocate

Advisory Board

  • Denise N. Pearley

    Health + Wellness Coach, Foodway Enthusiast

  • Langston Collin Wilkins

    Assistant Professor (Folklore, The University of Wisconsin–Madison)

  • Karen “Queen Nur” Abdul-Malik

    Nationally renowned storyteller, teaching artist, and folklorist

  • Autumn Brown

    Assistant Professor (Oklahoma Oral History Research Program, Oklahoma State University), Owner of Winona Jewel Research Consulting

  • Ryan M. Dearbone

    Assistant Professor (Broadcasting Department, Western Kentucky University), President of Bowling Green-Warren County NAACP Chapter

  • Jessica Payne, PhD.

    Founder + Lead Executive of Broadsight Impact

Let’s work together

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly! We look forward to connecting with you!