Alysia Steele

I am a writer and oral historian focused on preserving Black women’s history through storytelling, images, and research. My work centers on documenting lives and labor that have often been left out of traditional historical records. I believe history lives in everyday people, and it is my responsibility to help preserve those stories with care and accuracy.

I began my career in daily newsrooms as a photojournalist and later as a picture editor and newsroom leader. I was part of the team that earned the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for coverage of Hurricane Katrina. Those years taught me how to work under pressure, make thoughtful decisions, and value collaboration.

In 2015, I published Delta Jewels: In Search of My Grandmother’s Wisdom, a book of portraits and oral histories of elder Black church women. The project grew from my deep respect for elders and community knowledge. I later earned a Ph.D. in U.S. History, focusing on the Civil Rights Movement and Black women’s labor.

I am currently under contract for my second book, Traces of Elaine, scheduled for publication in 2028. Alongside writing, I teach community-based history classes and continue collecting oral histories to ensure these stories are not lost.