Trelani Michelle is a writer, anthropologist, and teaching artist dedicated to exploring the rich connections within the African diaspora. Through her work, she passionately demonstrates that #WeAllCousins and shows us how to embrace and benefit from our shared heritage.
“I started Krak Teet to make history interesting by telling it the way I talk instead of how textbooks share it so that people could see themselves in it and see how connected we are to each other. I’m Geechee, Creole, and plain ole’ country. Grew up on two kinds ofgumbo: from Louisiana and the Low Country. And you can taste all of that in my content.”
In 2021, Trelani was celebrated as Savannah’s Best Local Author for her groundbreaking book, Krak Teet: A Catalog of Black Savannah’s Biographies. She co-authored the New York Times bestseller and James Beard nominee, Gullah Geechee Home Cooking: Recipes from the Matriarch of Edisto Island, in 2022. Her collaboration on Gullah Geechee Home Cooking opened the door to food writing. In 2024, she contributed to Hormel Foods’ documentary, “Lowcountry Legacy,” and has penned articles for The Local Palate and Charleston Magazine.Trelani holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Savannah State University and an MFA in Writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She also completed an internship at the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center, honing her skills in documenting the often-overlooked histories and languages of Black communities globally. As a teaching artist, Trelani facilitated creative writing workshops at Savannah State University, and for three years, she taught high school students a dynamic blend of social justice and creative writing. She has visited numerous schools and afterschool programs to teach local history, and in 2022, she launched Krak Teet 4 Kids, an oral history summer camp.With over six years of experience as an independent anthropologist, Trelani’s fieldwork primarily focuses on the Gullah Geechee communities of Georgia and South Carolina. She conducts interviews with Black and Indigenous elders, healers, and artists, many of which are featured in her Impact Magazine column, Krak Teet Corner. Her observations contributed to a Gullah Geechee curriculum she developed for the National Park Service in 2024, and her insights were shared in her 2023 TEDx Talk, “We All Cousins.” For Trelani, this work is not just a profession; it is a calling. Growing up in both Savannah and Louisiana, she has always been attuned to the cultural ties that bind Black communities across regions. In her article “No One Special” for For Harriet, Trelani candidly reflected on her 90 days in a juvenile detention center, illuminating the systemic injustices faced by Black individuals of all socioeconomic backgrounds. She emphasized the importance of authenticity, shared experiences, and storytelling as powerful tools for healing and solidarity.Trelani actively participates in community efforts as a committee member of Bluffton’s Roots and River Festival, the Zora Neale Hurston Trust, and South Art’s Walking Together initiative. She also contributes to Savannah Magazine and serves as a writer and editor for Black Art in America. A sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator, Trelani engages audiences at research and educational institutions, cultural conferences, art festivals, and community events.Hire Trelani for speaking, workshops, panels, and more.
