This article is featured on The College Today website. Written by Vincent Fraley.
Aaisha Haykal received the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s 2024 President’s Service Award.
Aaisha Haykal’s work is transforming how we connect with history – and now, she’s being honored for it.
Haykal, the meticulous and soft-spoken manager of archival services at the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, was presented with the President’s Service Award by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). The recognition, which was presented at the organization’s 2024 national conference on Sept. 25, 2024, celebrates not just Haykal’s work, but the delicate balance she maintains between preservation and advocacy – a dual responsibility often assumed but rarely mastered.
The President’s Service Award is not given lightly; it seeks out those who embody ASALH’s mission of community service and the advancement of Black history. In Haykal, they found a scholar whose commitment is written into the DNA of her work. As the vice president for programs and chair of both the Woodson House and the Program Planning/Annual Theme committees, she has become a linchpin within the organization, steering its vision toward a deeper, more nuanced engagement with history.
Haykal’s influence at the College extends across campus. In her role as manager of archival services, she oversees the preservation and stewardship of Black history collections found nowhere else in the world – from the personal papers of civil rights activists and local church records to photographs, artwork, artifacts and oral histories. By making these materials and stories accessible in person and digitally, Haykal’s work connects students, faculty and researchers to the rich tapestry of Black history in Charleston and the Lowcountry.
Her role, however, is not confined to archival boxes and preservation protocols. Haykal also serves as associate director of the College’s Women’s and Gender Studies Program and as a principal investigator for “Liberatory Literacies,” a $2 million Mellon Foundation grant that promises to reshape how the Avery Research Center engages with the public.
“Avery, ASALH and the Charleston community continue to be transformed by the way that Aaisha serves and leads as a scholar,” says Tamara Butler, executive director of the Avery Research Center. “We are truly grateful to have her here as a colleague and exemplar of servant-leadership.”
Haykal’s leadership extends beyond the College and the region. Her roles within the Society of American Archivists and her previous service on the boards of the Black Metropolis Research Consortium and the Illinois State Historical Records speak to a career built not merely on expertise, but on a commitment to the stewardship of Black history. Her tenure as university archivist at Chicago State University laid the groundwork for her intellectual interests in censorship, community archiving and the ever-evolving field of digital preservation.
“It is no surprise that her efforts have been recognized by ASALH with the President’s Service Award,” says John White ’99, dean of the College Libraries. “Her work not only preserves our past but also inspires our students, faculty and community members to engage with history in new and meaningful ways.”
I was also moved and fascinated while observing the work presented by Sofia Wilkinson, titled “Unveiling the Purity Myth.” Though many believe the contrary, purity culture is something that goes hand in hand with the sexual abuse and exploitation of women and girls. Telling young girls that they must pledge, commonly to their fathers in a ceremonial fashion, to wait to have sexual relations until they are married is not only sexualizing women and girls but also telling us that our bodies are not our own. Sofia approached this problematic concept with a great deal of passion and care.
