Fadilat T. Olasupo

Hello!

I am a fourth-year PhD Candidate in Sociology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. My research examines the intersections of race, immigration, transnationalism, identity, and belonging. Broadly, I study how Black immigrants and their U.S.-born children experience and respond to racialized state violence through both criminalization and immigration enforcement. My work advances theories of race, law and society, and belonging by centering the lived experiences of Black immigrants.

In earlier research, I theorized triple consciousness to describe how Nigerian immigrants navigate the layered realities of Blackness, immigrant identity, and aspirational Americanness. This framework continues to shape my broader interests in how Black immigrants make sense of race and racism, transmit racial and cultural messages, and contest or (re)produce racial hierarchies across U.S. and transnational contexts.

As a Research Assistant with the Carceral State Project, I work on the Reckoning Project and the juvenile lifer interview-based project to document misconduct in the criminal justice system and to uplift the important activism and advocacy work of former juvenile lifers in the state of Michigan. This work aligns with my broader commitment to racial justice by centering the lived experiences of those most impacted by systemic harm.

As a first-generation Black woman doctoral scholar, I am deeply invested in producing scholarship that challenges systemic oppression and promotes equity. My work has been supported by research fellowships from institutions including the University of Michigan Law School, the National Center for Institutional Diversity (NCID), the Social Science Research Council, and the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship.

In addition to my academic work, I am an educator and advocate, emphasizing the connections between systemic inequalities and the experiences of marginalized populations, particularly Black Immigrants and Americans. My teaching and advocacy efforts aim to amplify the voices of these communities and foster meaningful social change.

My ultimate goal is to contribute to a body of knowledge that not only critiques existing structures of power but also offers pathways toward liberation and justice for racialized communities globally. In recognition of my commitment to integrity, human dignity, and excellence at the University of Michigan, I was awarded the Gupta Values Scholarship in 2023.