colin powell school
Dr. Matt Reilly, an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the Colin Powell School, is dedicated to uncovering hidden histories and reshaping narratives of race, colonialism, and freedom throughout the African Diaspora. His research spans Barbados and Liberia, exploring the complexities of racial identity, nation-building, and the overlooked stories that shape our world. With a deep commitment to student engagement, Reilly brings history to life—connecting global legacies to personal stories, from tracing family recipes to their colonial roots to conducting archaeological excavations that reveal untold histories.
A Journey Through Time and Across Continents
Born and raised on Long Island, Dr. Reilly's academic path has taken him through four universities and multiple countries before he arrived at City College. His passion for anthropology was sparked unexpectedly during an undergraduate elective course at the University of Maryland. A professor researching the Irish diaspora to the United States inspired him to explore how archaeology can uncover the lives of those who left no written records—stories often excluded from mainstream history. This revelation drove him to pursue graduate studies in archaeology, with the goal of bringing marginalized histories to light.
Researching Race, Freedom, and Identity
Dr. Reilly’s work focuses on how race has been constructed and experienced across different parts of the African Diaspora. His first book delved into the "poor whites" of Barbados and their place in the English colony’s entrenched system of sugar and slavery. More recently, he has been researching Liberia, the first republic in Africa, examining the interactions between Black settlers from the United States and the Caribbean and the Indigenous communities they encountered.
His findings challenge conventional understandings of race, demonstrating that racial identity has been fluid, materially expressed, and central to social organization. Understanding these historical nuances, he argues, is essential for dismantling modern racial injustices and envisioning anti-racist futures.
Teaching and Student Engagement at CCNY
Dr. Reilly was drawn to City College for its unparalleled diversity and the unique perspectives students bring to the classroom. Unlike other institutions he has been affiliated with—where faculty and students often shared similar backgrounds—CCNY offers a dynamic and richly diverse academic environment.
One of his most impactful classroom exercises involves students exploring the history of their favorite family recipes. By tracing an ingredient’s journey from its origins to its presence in their kitchens today, students gain a personal connection to global history, colonialism, and migration. Through such activities, Reilly fosters an understanding of how personal histories intersect with broader historical forces.
Expanding Research and Uncovering Hidden Histories
Looking ahead, Dr. Reilly is working on his second book, Archaeologies of Black Sovereignty, which explores Black visions of freedom, autonomy, and nation-building across the United States, the Caribbean, and West Africa. He plans to continue his archaeological research in Barbados and Liberia, offering students hands-on field experience in these historically rich locations.
Closer to home, he is collaborating with the Morris-Jumel Mansion in Washington Heights to uncover previously silenced histories. As a Black, Race, and Ethnic Studies Faculty Fellow at the CUNY Graduate Center, he is leading research that may pave the way for archaeological studies in CCNY’s own backyard.
The Colin Powell School: A Hub for Transformative Learning
What makes the Colin Powell School special, according to Dr. Reilly, is its ability to provide students with both the historical framework and practical skills necessary to challenge and reshape their realities. Students here often have firsthand experience with the social structures and forces discussed in the classroom, and the faculty’s role is to help them contextualize and act upon that knowledge.
"At the Colin Powell School, knowledge isn’t just theoretical—it’s meant to be put into action to create a more just and equitable world," he says.
Through his teaching and research, Dr. Reilly continues to unearth hidden histories, inspiring students to use the past as a tool for shaping the future.