The Black Massacre Project
An independent public research and social justice initiative that explores historical race massacres perpetrated against black communities in the United States.
About us
The Black Massacre Project is an interdisciplinary nerve center that brings scholars, activists, and community members together to engage in collaborative research and cultural exchange related to historical race riots and massacres.
Our Team
The Black Massacre Project is made possible by the dedication and support of our staff and volunteers.
Ashlie Claxton
Associate Director of Operations
Ashlie Claxton, MPA, is the Associate Director of Operations for the Black Massacre Project. She is a passionate servant leader and nonprofit professional dedicated to public service and social justice. Ashlie is a successful orator who uses her public speaking skills to teach young minds in her preschool classroom. She also has experience working in administration and the nonprofit sector.
Kenya Tyson
Founder/ Executive Director
Kenya Tyson, JD is an internationally recognized criminal justice expert and higher education executive, with expertise in the field of race, crime, and inequality.
Mashayla Billups
Project Coordinator
Mashayla Billups is a senior at Howard University majoring in Community Development and minoring in History. As a College of Arts and Sciences (COAS) honors student, she is completing a thesis on Black press and community development in Wilmington, NC, before the 1898 massacre. Mashayla is an inaugural fellow of the Gilder Lehrman College Fellowship in American History and a 2023 Diversity Scholar of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Ashlie Claxton
Associate Director of Operations
Ashlie Claxton, MPA, is the Associate Director of Operations for the Black Massacre Project. She is a passionate servant leader and nonprofit professional dedicated to public service and social justice. Ashlie is a successful orator who uses her public speaking skills to teach young minds in her preschool classroom. She also has experience working in administration and the nonprofit sector.
Kenya Tyson
Founder/ Executive Director
Kenya Tyson, JD is an internationally recognized criminal justice expert and higher education executive, with expertise in the field of race, crime, and inequality.
Mashayla Billups
Project Coordinator
Mashayla Billups is a senior at Howard University majoring in Community Development and minoring in History. As a College of Arts and Sciences (COAS) honors student, she is completing a thesis on Black press and community development in Wilmington, NC, before the 1898 massacre. Mashayla is an inaugural fellow of the Gilder Lehrman College Fellowship in American History and a 2023 Diversity Scholar of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Events
We’re always planning exciting events!
Join us on January 8th!
Are you a survivor or descendant of someone who survived an historical black massacre? Was your town or city the scene of historical racial violence? We want to hear your story.
