Dr. Lakisha Simmons

Biography

LaKisha Michelle Simmons is an Associate Professor of History and Women's Gender Studies at the University of Michigan. Her research specializes in African American gender history with a keen focus on Black girlhood, family history, and the history of sexuality in the 19th and 20th centuries. Simmons is the author of 'Crescent City Girls: Lives of Young Black Women in Segregated New Orleans,' which was awarded the SAWH Julia Cherry Spruill Prize for her contributions to southern women's history. Additionally, she co-edited 'Global History of Black Girlhood,' published by the University of Illinois Press. Her publications include significant articles on Black girlhood methods in historical studies and the cultural experiences of Black college students in the 1930s. Currently, she is working on a new book that explores the history of Black motherhood, focusing on reproductive health and loss within Black families in the 19th century. Simmons has organized and co-created conferences on Global History of Black Girlhood, advocating for the scholarship of Black girls' experiences in academia.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards