What Happened in Alabama? Ending Cycles of Trauma in Black America

Overview

On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, North Star Journey Live will explore the topic of intergenerational trauma in the Black community with journalist and author Lee Hawkins Jr. at the 3M Auditorium at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. Hawkins, who grew up in Maplewood, will sit down with MPR News host Angela Davis to talk about his new podcast What Happened in Alabama? and his forthcoming book, Nobody’s Slave: How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Free.

What Happened in Alabama? is a new limited series podcast born out of personal experiences of intergenerational trauma, and the impacts of Jim Crow that exist beyond what we understand about segregation. Through intimate stories of his family, coupled with conversations with experts on the Black American experience, award-winning journalist Lee Hawkins unpacks his family history and upbringing, his father’s painful nightmares and past, and goes deep into discussions to understand those who may have had similar generational - and present day - experiences. What Happened In Alabama? is a series to end the cycles of trauma for Hawkins, for his family, and for Black America. Hawkins is partnering with APM Studios as an EP and Host of the show. Hawkins is also the author of the forthcoming book, NOBODY'S SLAVE: How Uncovering My Family's History Set Me Free (HarperCollins, 2025). Before venturing into podcasting, Hawkins worked as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal for 19 years.