Shontoria Pratt, Author at

Student Historian

Shontoria Pratt was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She is currently a graduate student at Syracuse University in the Pan African Studies Masters’ degree program in the Department of African American Studies. Shontoria received her BA in African American Studies from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. Shontoria personal inspirations stem from her upbringing in central city Chicago. Currently, Shontoria’s main focuses are the concept of Afrocentricity and how it has impacted African American males and their quality of life. Shontoria’s long term goal is to become a professor of African American Studies.

Natasha McKenna (1978-2015)

The tragic death of Natasha McKenna helped propel the Black Lives Matter Movement, which was founded in 2013, to address issues of individual treatment while in police custody and the tactics used to address citizens who suffered from mental health issues. Natasha McKenna was born on January 9, … Read MoreNatasha McKenna (1978-2015)

Chicago Riots (1964)

The Chicago Race Riot of 1964 was actually centered in Dixmoor, Illinois, a suburb southwest of the city. By 1960 Dixmoor had less than 4,000 residents. Of that population over 50 percent of its residents were black. A large portion of Dixmoor’s black population were recently arrived migrants … Read MoreChicago Riots (1964)