Sara Black

This interview was conducted with Sara Black on May 18th, 2018 in her kitchen in Hudson, NY. In this interview, Sara describes her Childhood in Mountain Brook, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. She outlines the geological, socio-economic, and racial contexts of her upbringing in this town known as the “tiny kingdom.” She explains how she divides her time as a graduate student in Athens, GA where she is working towards a PhD in Human Geography at the University of Georgia, and in Hudson, NY. Sara notes that identifying as a Southerner is integral to her identity, as is having a New York State driver’s license. The importance of community is a theme as Sara reflects on her unique communities and experiences in the two places she calls home; she notes her contentedness to deepen her connection to both Hudson and Athens, and is committed to expanding her worlds in these two geographical locations. Towards the end of the interview, Sara explains that she was raised in an anxious environment that made her lose her retainer constantly, feel scattered, and which has greatly impacted her sense of self. She explains the ways in which has tried to feel like herself, through work, activism, or relationships, and how she is learning to be alone and be good to herself.

This interview may be of interest to someone curious about growing up, living, and or studying in the South, specifically Alabama and Georgia. This might be also interesting to someone seeking more knowledge about geography, the Hudson River Valley, and the intersections between farming, food justice, and the carceral state.