“Imagining a More Just World”: Interview with Julie Maldonado

7 Annals of Anthropological Practice Vo l u m e 4 4 N u m b e r 1 M a y 2 0 2 0 W h a t D o Yo u T h i n k I s Yo u r W h a t P a r t o f Yo u r W o r k A r e G r e a t e s t P r o f e s s i o n a l Yo u M o s t P r o u d A b o u t A c h i e v e m e n t ? B e i n g I n v o l v e d i n ? I am raising two independent-minded, strong-willed The aspect I love most about my work is the priv- young wome. [...] 8 I n t e r v i e w w i t h J u l i e M a l d o n a d o Annals of Anthropological Practice I n C h a p t e r Tw o o f Yo u r H o w D i d Yo u O r i g i n a l l y B o o k , Yo u M e n t i o n T h a t B e c o m e I n t e r e s t e d i n t h e O n e o f t h e B i g g e s t Tr i b e s o f S o u t h e r n C h a l l e n g e s o f L o u i s i a n a ? W a s T h e r e a A n t h r o p o l o g i c a l F i e. [...] H o w L o n g I n v o l v e d ? D o e s i t N o r m a l l y Ta k e Yo u When I decided to continue from my Masters work t o F e e l S i t u a t e d a n d W h e n to pursue a doctorate, my original intent was to re- D o e s Yo u r W o r k B e g i n t o turn to Ouidah, Benin and work with the Ogoni F e e l C o m p l e t e ? community there with whom I had maintained a relationship. [...] F o r S o m e o n e W h o ’ s S t u d y i n g A n t h r o p o l o g y a n d W h a t I s O n e T h i n g A b o u t W a n t s t o G o I n t o C l i m a t e C h a n g e T h a t Yo u A n t h r o p o l o g y i n t h e F u t u r e , L e a r n e d T h a t Yo u W o u l d H o w W o u l d Yo u C o n v i n c e W a n t t o C o n v e y t o t h e T h e m T h a t I t ’ s t h e R i g h t W o r l d ? C h o i c e ?. [...] In order to fulfill Activist and community partners need to this promise and potential, we need to dismantle be co-creators of knowledge, having a say the ivory tower, reimagining and rearticulating an in crafting the research agenda, process alternative university in defense of the public, of and outcomes, and empowered to call humanity.