Hazim Karim Abdullah-Smith

Hazim Abdullah-Smith is a PhD candidate in American Studies. His research focuses on tourism as an entry point for discussions of the complexity of Black queer social life, safe spaces and belonging in Jamaica. His dissertation, “Paradise Remixed: The Queer Politics of Tourism in Jamaica” examines the dominant historical and ideological narratives of tourism in Jamaica, while also studying the work of LGBTQ Jamaican tourism businesses. By creating safer spaces for visitors and locals, these organizations transform perceptions and build new possibilities for queer social life. He was awarded a Fulbright grant and conducted ethnographic and archival research in Kingston, Jamaica. Hazim earned a graduate certificate in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. He also earned a graduate certificate in Digital Studies in the Arts and Humanities, coinciding with his time as an African American Digital Humanities (AADHUM) fellow. He received his BA in African American Studies from Northwestern University.