Acknowledgments banner for Holly E. Burgess featuring a red envelope with a 'Thank You!' card over a repeating typographic background.

Acknowledgments

A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE

Holly E. Burgess

Would like to thank:

NYC RESEARCH TRIP SPONSORS & BENEFACTORS

Holly E. Burgess glasses smiling in black and white photo, with a background decorated with the repeated name 'Holly E. Burgess' and the text 'New York City Research Trip' with a red graduation cap icon.

Special thanks to the GoFundMe sponsors, whose donations make her dissertation and NYC archival research trip possible:

Ariel Powers

Melissa archer

marcos bryant

phyllis evans

Catherine McLearen

judy herr

shelbiee arreguin

All GoFundMe Sponsors will be thanked in her dissertation and on this website.

Learn More About Holly's NYC TRIP
GoFundMe

Intellectual Ancestry

Special Thanks to my selected Black scholar-activists—Malcolm, Huey, Tupac, and Angie.
You are the inspiration for my work.
​Thanks for being my intellectual ancestors. 

The Architects

A headshot of Malcolm X in a dark suit and browline glasses, looking directly at the camera with a focused expression.

Malcolm X

Color photograph of Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, speaking at a press conference behind a cluster of microphones.

Dr. Huey P. Newton

ThE VOICE

A vibrant close-up portrait of Tupac Shakur looking intently at the camera, capturing his influential role in hip-hop and cultural history.

tupac shakur

The Narrator

Close-up photo of Angie Thomas with a joyful expression, wearing a black top with white sleeves against a soft, blurred background.

Angie thomas

Her Parents

Photo of the author's mother, Laurie, smiling brightly and cupping her face with one hand.

Laurie Burgess

Photo of the author's father, Greg, smiling in a light blue button down and Chicago bears hat.

Greg Burgess

Her Family & Friends

Photo of the author's cockapoo, Presley, resting her head on a stack of Black Power books
Photo of the author and her family
Photo of the author and her mother and godmother, Phyllis
Photo of Helen B. Smith smiling and wearing sunglasses at the beach.

Special Thanks to Ms. Helen B. Smith

​Her family, friends, and everyone

who has assisted her on her academic journey thus far.

Thank You!

Thank you all for your time, patience,

and investment in Holly's future.

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Last updated: August 3, 2026