Elon Cook is a museum activist, public historian and race womanist. She is program director for the Center for Reconciliation and curator for its new museum project on the history and legacy of slavery and enslaved resistance. Cook also serves as humanities consultant for the Robbins House, an African American historic site in Concord, MA. Other consulting projects include training historic site staff on interpretation theory and the development of slavery programs that center black humanity. She is currently teaching an undergraduate course at RISD on the Rhode Island slave trade and public memory. A genealogist, Brown University–educated public historian and National Association for Interpretation–trained workshop developer and instructor, Cook uses workshops, walking tours and exhibitions developed using feminist, anti-oppression frameworks to improve the discourse around forgotten or erased elements of American history. She loves engaging the public with challenging historical narratives, opening hearts and changing minds one conversation at a time.

Academic research/areas of interest

• America’s history of slavery and resistance
• The formation of racial ideologies in America
• Blackness
• Womynism/Womanism
• Dissent as a patriotic act
• The experiences of enslaved women
• Public memory
• Black protest movements
• Interpretation of enslaved and free black life by historic sites and museums