Particularly between the 1930s and 1970s, local politicians, boosters, and activists used housing and land confiscation laws to rewrite the rules of Jim Crow segregation.

Over time, their converging and conflicting interests helped transform Miami, once a sleepy Southern town, into what many now consider "The Capital of the Caribbean.

At Hopkins, Connolly became variously active in the Center for Africana Studies; the Program on Racism, Immigration, and Citizenship (which he co-directed in 2014–2015); and the 21st Century Cities Initiative.

During the 2015–2016 academic year, Connolly served as visiting professor of History and Social and Cultural Analysis at New York University.

[10] Beyond his book, A World More Concrete (ISBN 9780226378428), Connolly's written work reflects his broad interests in history, politics, pop culture and the digital humanities.