OUR TEAM
Meet the team behind
The Emancipator.
Our staff is a group of mission-driven journalists who work tirelessly to confront racism in all aspects of life.
Halimah Abdullah
Managing Editor
She is an award-winning veteran national political journalist with more than 30 years of experience covering politics and government at the local, state, and federal level. She has edited and helped manage Washington coverage for such organizations as PolitiFact, Newsela, NPR, ABC News and NBC News — networks where she also wrote. Her work has also appeared in Newsweek, Capital B, CNN.com, Newsday, McClatchy newspapers, MSNBC.com, thegrio.com, TODAY.com, and The New York Times, among other publications, and has been republished in anthologies. Abdullah has taught writing courses at Brooklyn College and John Jay College in New York, the University of the District of Columbia in Washington D.C., the University of Maryland in College Park, MD., and American University in Washington D.C.
Kate Amistoso
Breaking News Correspondent
She has previously worked for ABC 7News and Hawaii News Now, where she fell in love with getting out in the community and reporting. Kate is from the San Francisco Bay Area and grew up watching the local news at home. Seeing Asian reporters and anchors on her local broadcast news channels inspired her to pursue journalism. Her deep connection to her Filipino heritage and culture drives her to continue advocating for greater representation of underrepresented communities in the media. She is a proud alum from The George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, where she studied Political Communication.
Camille Birdsong
Social Media Coordinator
She is a journalist, communicator, and content creator who believes in the power of storytelling to inform, inspire, and bring people together. A two-time Emmy-nominated media professional, she has worked with organizations including CNN, NBC, and Her Campus Media. Camille is a proud alumna of Hampton University, where she studied journalism and leadership. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and is dedicated to creating content rooted in community engagement, meaningful connection, and amplifying diverse voices.
Chandelis Duster
Senior Correspondent
She has reported national and international stories for CNN, NBC News, MSNBC and NPR on race, politics, entertainment, science and space. Duster is also author of “The C-Note,” a newsletter, and is an advocate for endometriosis awareness.
Ibram X. Kendi
Editor-in-Chief
He is the Carter G. Woodson Endowed Chair in History, and the director of the Howard University Institute for Advanced Study. Dr. Kendi is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of How to Be an Antiracist and Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, which won the National Book Award. His newest book is Chain of Ideas: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age. Dr. Kendi earned his journalism degree at Florida A&M University and his doctorate at Temple University.
Eric McFarlane
Video Editor
He brings more than 25 years of broadcast and digital production experience to his role as Video Editor at The Emancipator, where he produces and edits the short-form video, motion graphics, and audio content that carries the publication’s voice across its social platforms. His path here runs through two decades at the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, where he served as Senior Editor on the network’s flagship political program, Inside Washington, as well as Senior Editor for The Washington Bureau, where he produced and edited breaking news from the White House, Congress, and the Pentagon. Eric is a proud graduate of Morgan State University and is deeply passionate about using storytelling to elevate Black history and culture.
Daniel Mollenkamp
Investigative Correspondent
He is an award-winning journalist. He is a 2026 Chauncey Bailey Investigative Reporting Fellow for Investigative Reporters and Editors. Drawing on deep experience covering the human impact of the education system and the root causes of economic inequality, his enterprise coverage has been noted for its multifaceted approach and punchy style. His work has appeared in The Guardian, USA Today, The Christian Science Monitor, Investopedia, Tennessee Lookout, The Daily Yonder and The 19th.