Omar H. Ali facts for kids

Omar Hamid Ali, born on February 10, 1971, is an American historian. He studies the history of people of African descent around the world. He focuses on how black communities in the United States created their own political groups, the story of Islam in countries near the Indian Ocean, and how black people fought against slavery in places like Latin America.

About Omar Hamid Ali

Omar Hamid Ali has a background that includes both East Indian and Peruvian heritage. He is a professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. There, he teaches about the history of the African diaspora, which means the history of people of African origin who live in different parts of the world. He also helps lead the Lloyd International Honors College at the university.

His Education and Teaching

Professor Ali has studied at several well-known universities. He went to the London School of Economics and Political Science and the School of Oriental and African Studies. He also earned his Ph.D. in history from Columbia University in 2003.

He has taught at many places, including:

• Universidad Nacional de Colombia as a Fulbright professor
• Vanderbilt University
• Harvard University as a Library Scholar

His Work as a Historian

Omar Hamid Ali has written four books. Two of his important books are:

• Malik Ambar: Power and Slavery Across the Indian Ocean World (published in 2016)
• In the Lion's Mouth: Black Populism in the New South (published in 2010)

He also helped create an exhibit called The African Diaspora in the Indian Ocean World for the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. This exhibit teaches people about the history of African people in the Indian Ocean region.

Awards and Public Appearances

In 2016, Professor Ali was chosen as the Carnegie Foundation North Carolina Professor of the Year. This award recognizes excellent teachers. He also shares his knowledge as a Road Scholar for the North Carolina Humanities Council.

You might have seen him on TV networks like CNN, NPR, Al Jazeera, Telemundo, C-SPAN, and PBS. He often appears on these shows to talk about history and current events.