Author and New Orleans native Fatima Shaik is the granddaughter of an immigrant Bengali ... Fatima never knew her grandfather — he died in 1919 before he could see his three children grow up ...

Author Fatima Shaik provided a history of Economy Hall in New Orleans, which played a vital role in the social and political lives of the city's Black residents in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Fatima Shaik’s grandfather’s ancestry was a positive for her family who lived under the sting of racism and segregation in New Orleans. Her family was told they were unworthy and ignorant.

Editor’s note: CNN’s Moni Basu, a Bengali immigrant, was born in Kolkata, India. By Moni Basu, CNN (CNN) – In the next few weeks, Fatima Shaik, an African-American, Christian woman, will ...