Laurie Lambert is the proud daughter of Grenadians and a scholar who teaches African and African American studies — and her workspace at the Lincoln Center campus encapsulates her identity.
In this month’s installment of What’s on My Desk, Lambert shares the stories behind some of her favorite mementos.
Pieces of the Caribbean
Sitting on Lambert’s desk are reminders of her roots in the Caribbean. “I got this boat in a market in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The folks in the boat made me think about the Middle Passage and slavery, which is one of the areas that I study. I also added some shells to the boat. These are from Grenada, where my family is from,” said Lambert, who wrote her first book about her ancestral country. “Inside the boat is also a nutmeg, a major spice in Grenada. When I return to the island, I always try to carry back something with me.”
Beside the boat are dried sea fans found on the beach in her husband’s native Jamaica, as well as a coral rock found on the beach in Grenada. “[The beach items still] leave behind little bits of sand in my office, which I love,” said Lambert.
A Teapot with a Dual Significance
Lambert treasures a teapot that once belonged to her parents. “My dad was born in Grenada, an island colonized by the British. The Commonwealth was a big cultural thing, so he was really into the monarchy. Anytime there was a royal wedding or something like that, he woke up early to watch it on television. Growing up, we had the Charles and Diana teapot, tea towels, and other things like that. After my dad passed away in 2019, I saw the teapot at his house and brought it back to New York with me. What’s ironic is that it’s a symbol of colonialism, and I became a scholar who studies anti-colonial movements, including the movement away from British colonialism in the Caribbean. But this teapot also reminds me of my dad.”
A Teapot That Encourages Healthy Habits
A former student gifted Lambert another teapot. “I like teas like Earl Grey, green tea, and ginger tea,” she said. “Coffee isn’t great for me. Someone here at work got me into Café Bustelo, which is a strong coffee, so I’ve been weaning myself off of it by getting back to drinking tea.”
The Wall of ‘Saints’
In front of Lambert’s desk is a wall covered with photos and artwork. Some are paintings created by relatives who live in Jamaica: the bottom right painting of the drummer, which reminds Lambert of her percussionist husband, and the painting of plants.
On the right side of the wall are prints of prominent Black writers, including James Baldwin (in the bottom right frame), Octavia Butler (in the bottom left frame), Audre Lorde (in the upper middle frame), and Toni Morrison (in the black-and-white photo with a necktie). “As someone who is also a writer and a scholar of literature, I sort of think of these folks as my saints,” Lambert said. “They encourage me.”
Framed in the top right-hand corner is a painting of a child in a flower, created by Mark Feijão Milligan II. “This reminds me of a lost child. There’s a lot in African diasporic literature about children who exist between the living and the dead. They were born, but didn’t live a long life, or they’re trying to come back. This painting makes me think about those children who are stuck in an in-between space,” Lambert said.
People, Places, and Paintings
Tucked into a corner of her office are memorabilia, including photos of Lambert’s three godchildren. “My friend Danielle, who’s their mom, took my role as godmother very seriously. She passed away from cancer last September, but she ensured that her children are surrounded by people who really care about them.”
‘A Good Reminder’ of Excellence
On Lambert’s desk is a framed portrait of her and her husband, as well as a Beyoncé nameplate — a “comical” birthday gift from her Fordham colleague Yuko Miki. “I’m not in the BeyHive or anything like that, but I’m a fan of Beyoncé,” Lambert said. (Fun fact: Fordham President Tania Tetlow has the same nameplate in her office.)
“For me, what would Beyoncé do?” Lambert questioned. “She would be excellent. She is excellent in what she does, and she’s focused and driven. That’s sort of a good reminder for all of us. But also, I shall never be Beyoncé,” she said, laughing.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
