Sowande M Mustakeem

About the Author

Sowande M. Mustakeem is a distinguished historian and scholar whose groundbreaking research illuminates the harrowing realities of the transatlantic slave trade. Drawing from interdisciplinary approaches in African American studies, gender studies, and medical history, she uncovers the brutal intersections of terror, sexual violence, and disease that defined the Middle Passage. Her work challenges conventional narratives by centering the voices and experiences of enslaved Africans, revealing the profound human costs of maritime bondage. As an associate professor at Washington University in St. Louis, Mustakeem's scholarship bridges academia and public discourse, fostering deeper understandings of slavery's enduring legacies. Through meticulous archival analysis and empathetic storytelling, she continues to reshape how we confront the darkest chapters of global history.