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T H E K E E T O N U P D A T E
FALL 2026 E D I T I O N
Dr. Keeton' Professional updates, current projects, publications, and intellectual reflections.
sEPTEMBER 7, 2026:
sEPTEMBER 7, 2026:
#50: THE YEARS THAT ANSWER
“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” — Zora Neale Hurston
As I approach my 50th year on September 7, 2026, I find myself reflecting on the many questions my life has asked me—and the answers that could only come with time. There were years when I questioned who I was, where I was going, what I was capable of becoming, and whether the dreams I carried were truly meant for me. There were years of becoming, years of rebuilding, years of loss, years of courage, years of uncertainty, and years when I had to learn how to trust myself again. But some years answered. They answered through every degree earned, every classroom entered, every archive built, every student taught, every idea brought to life, every door that opened, and every door I learned to close. They answered through the woman I became when life required me to become even more of myself.
Fifty does not feel like an ending to me—it feels like evidence. Evidence that I survived the questions, lived long enough to receive some of the answers, and gathered enough wisdom to understand that some questions were never meant to be answered quickly. At 50, I am not looking backward with regret; I am looking back with reverence. I honor the girl I was, the woman I have become, and the woman I am still becoming. I enter this next decade knowing that my life is not behind me—it is still unfolding. And perhaps the greatest answer of all is this: I am still here. I am still creating. I am still becoming. And I am just getting started.
the 411
FALL 2026
FALL 2026
"This semester, I am excited to return to teaching my independent cohort, African American Community Archives Theory (AACAT-1870): The Finale! This will be the final cohort in the AACAT-1870 series, making this semester a particularly meaningful one as I bring this chapter of the program to a close.
In addition, I am honored to have been accepted to present a workshop at the 2026 DLF Virtual Forum. My workshop, “Mapping Black Life Beyond the Archive: StoryMaps + AACAT-1870,” will explore the intersections of Black community archives, digital storytelling, and participatory approaches to documenting Black life beyond traditional archival structures.
I am truly honored to have the opportunity to share this work and to collaborate with the scholars, practitioners, and participants who will join me at the Forum. I look forward to engaging in meaningful conversations, exchanging ideas, and continuing to build community around innovative approaches to African American archival practice."
participate in my research Study
participate in my research Study
What does it mean to be digitally fluent as we move toward 2030?
Tell Me about it Here: Autoethnographic Unfiltered Reflections
I Am Featured In BOLD JOURNEY Spring 2026 MAGAZINE on Instagram
I Am Featured In BOLD JOURNEY Spring 2026 MAGAZINE on Instagram
know when to vote |
know when to vote |
Know why you are voting!
Know why you are voting!
CHECK YOUR VOTING STATUS
CHECK YOUR VOTING STATUS
NATIONWIDE HERE
NATIONWIDE HERE
"I was deeply moved and transformed after reading Chapter 17 of W.E.B. Du Bois's relevant classic, "Reconstruction," which now provides a scholarly foundation for the African American Community Archives Theory."
~ Dr. Keeton
The Keeton Update is a newsletter integrated within this portfolio experience — a dedicated space for timely updates on my work, including current initiatives, publications, speaking engagements, and what I am reading and building next. It stands as a living record of my professional and artistic leadership and intellectual trajectory.
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