African Roots in the South
Madelynn Weas is a senior majoring in biological sciences with a concentration in biochemical and biomolecular biology and minoring in Africana studies. She is working with Professor Melissa Hargrove on an honors thesis project, Unearthing African Roots in the US South: Surveying Gullah/Geechee culture and history, which is focused on a historical overview of Gullah/Geechee archaeology. She first became interested in Gullah/ Geechee culture as a student in Professor Hargrove’s course in African history.
‘These coastal communities of the Lowcountry South represent the root of Africa in the United States,” Weas said. “It has been an eye-opening experience examining a portion of American history that is not often seen in textbooks. It is a privilege to work with Dr. Hargrove, and I am blessed for her to have taken me on as a thesis student. My senior year has been enriched by this experience, and I will be forever grateful. It has also encouraged me to pursue my dreams.”
After graduation, Weas plans to attend graduate school in biocultural archaeology before potentially going to medical school. Her broader goal is the application of knowledge toward a greater understanding of the complex relationship between human health and culture, aimed at more equitable health outcomes for communities of color.