Jacqueline Pitts is a retired New York City Department of Correction, Assistant Deputy Warden.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology, York College, Queens, New York and a Master of Arts Degree in Historical Archaeology, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.  Since retiring Ms. Pitts has taught anthropology, intercultural communications; race, class and gender and global studies at Berkeley College in New Jersey and participated in several archaeological excavations.  She grew up and has lived in several neighborhoods on the Rockaway Peninsula and currently resides in the neighborhood of Far Rockaway, New York.

 

Jacqueline Pitts wrote, "The Children of Wasafa: A Message to Gang-Bangers," out of concern over street gang violence in communities of African descent. Based on the belief that the past can inform the present, Ms. Pitts weaved a story that illustrates the connectedness of African Diaspora peoples.

In search of her "roots," Ms. Pitts' DNA was tested by African Ancestry, Inc. in 2003. She learned her Mitochondrial DNA sequence matched the Bamileke people of the Cameroon.

Jacqueline Pitts is a member of the Register of Professional Archaeologists; Archaeological Institute of America; New York City Correction Guardians Association, and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society.

Her archaeological excavation and related activities include: The Mann-Simon African American Archaeology Project in Columbia, South Carolina. Under the leadership of the University of South Carolina, it was the first urban African American archaeology performed in the city of Columbia. The Dill Sanctuary, a prehistoric and colonial site on James Island in Charleston, South Carolina. A heritage site entrusted to the United States' oldest museum, The Charleston Museum. Under the auspices of Brooklyn College, excavated at Fort Green Park in Brooklyn, New York, one of the country's Revolutionary War sites; and sifted for the World Trade Center Physical Humans Remains Recovery Project.