The Penumbra Theatre is performing "Black Nativity &mdash Hear Again the Christmas Story!" from November 28 to December 28, 2008. In this year's version, recently widowed Grandma Walker (who is swept up in the grief of loss) is surprised by family members who bring food, music, and laughter into the house. The production celebrates the bonds of family, the power of faith, and the strength of tradition.
Monday, December 8, 2008
November issue of "The Village"
The November issue of The Village is now available. The Village is a newsletter for friends and alumni of the Department of African American & African Studies.
Inside the November 2008 issue:
Inside the November 2008 issue:
- welcome from the community outreach coordinator
- hot off the press
- alumni profile
- excerpt from "Obama can be our Nehemiah, not our Moses" op-ed
- course spotlight
- faculty spotlight
- upcoming events
- quote of the month
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Youth Conference information and commentary
On Friday, November 7, 2008, the department kicked off 40th Anniversary events with a youth conference, "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants." Information and commentary:
- conference agenda
- November 6, 2008 Minnesota Daily article
- November 8, 2008 St. Paul Pioneer Press article (also available as a pdf file that does not display the online slide-show)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
"Beyond the Pure" author readings
Beyond the Pure: Readings by Writers of Color
Thursday, November 13, 2008
7 PM at Intermedia Arts
2822 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN
Admission by donation.
This month: potluck reception. Bring a treat (or not!). Everyone welcome. Curated by Julie Bates & Carolyn Holbrook; hosted by Carolyn Holbrook. This month's Beyond the Pure features THE TWIN CITIES NERDS OF COLOR (NOCs), who believe that nerds exist across race and culture, and that some of the most revolutionary works by and for nerds are currently being created by people of color. A Reception follows the readings (rumors of alien cupcakes abound...).
Thursday, November 13, 2008
7 PM at Intermedia Arts
2822 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN
Admission by donation.
This month: potluck reception. Bring a treat (or not!). Everyone welcome. Curated by Julie Bates & Carolyn Holbrook; hosted by Carolyn Holbrook. This month's Beyond the Pure features THE TWIN CITIES NERDS OF COLOR (NOCs), who believe that nerds exist across race and culture, and that some of the most revolutionary works by and for nerds are currently being created by people of color. A Reception follows the readings (rumors of alien cupcakes abound...).
Monday, November 10, 2008
40th Anniversary panel discussion
On November 12, 2008, several faculty and a graduate student will hold a rountable discussion of the peaceful protest efforts that forced the University to establish a Black Studies unit on campus. The panelists will examine several competing narratives about the events surrounding the January 15, 1969 occupation of Morrill Hall. The panel will include professors Rose Brewer, Keith Mayes, Yuichiro Onishi, and John Wright of African American & African Studies, as well as Ph.D. candidate Alisha Volante of the History department.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
"Standing on the Shoulders of Giants" agenda
Click HERE for a copy of the agenda for the November 7, 2008 "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants" conference agenda.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
President Obama
On November 4, 2008 Senator Barack Obama became President-Elect Obama, noting that "on this date in this election at this defining moment, change has come to America." Indeed, hopes are high, but we should consider that Obama can be our Nehemiah, not our Moses.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election Day 2008
November 4, 2008 is an historic Election Day: we will elect either the nation's first African American President, or our first female Vice President. Find your polling location and vote before 8:00PM! Minnesota has a same-day registration system, so a voter can register in one line and then get in another line to cast a ballot.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
October issue of "The Village"
The October issue of The Village is now available. The Village is a newsletter for friends and alumni of the Department of African American & African Studies.
Inside the October 2008 issue:
Inside the October 2008 issue:
- welcome from the community outreach coordinator
- partnering in North Minneapolis
- alumni profile
- Obama Effect
- course spotlight
- faculty spotlight
- upcoming events
- quote of the month
Monday, October 27, 2008
October 29 "coffee hour" presentation
On Wednesday, October 29, Njeri Githire will present "Contextualizing Regional Identity and Literary Imaginary: East Africa and the Indian Ocean" from 2:30-4:00 in the Geneva H. Southall Library (Social Sciences Tower 815). [Presentation Abstract]
The Indian Ocean provides important trade routes that have always connected the Middle East, Asia, and Africa into a network of communities with shared interests. Nevertheless, European presence from the sixteenth century onwards changed Indian Ocean life irrevocably. Thriving kingdoms were subdued and former relationships between religions and races thrown into disarray. With the advent of western capitalism, ancient patterns of trade soon became as extinct, almost entirely forgotten.
Githire's presentation will look at the ways in which regional writers represent the ties that bind the region into a viable community, and speak to realities that surpass colonial and nationalist categories. Indeed, if categorizing western Indian Ocean as a region of literary inquiry seems to defy neat, absolute labels, one thing remains constant: the region is invariably explored as a francophone entity. This being said, the East Africa/Indian Ocean coastal trade complex &mdash which predates colonial interference in the region &mdash coalesced frequent exchanges between the islands and the African mainland into regional networks of organizations, and communities of people with interrelated interests. It is, therefore, imperative and quite necessary to identify those regional traits that transcend territorial and linguistic claims. Failure to do so only perpetuates a different kind of colonial project: maintaining linguistic boundaries, reinforcing crucial distinctions of imperial nature.
The Indian Ocean provides important trade routes that have always connected the Middle East, Asia, and Africa into a network of communities with shared interests. Nevertheless, European presence from the sixteenth century onwards changed Indian Ocean life irrevocably. Thriving kingdoms were subdued and former relationships between religions and races thrown into disarray. With the advent of western capitalism, ancient patterns of trade soon became as extinct, almost entirely forgotten.
Githire's presentation will look at the ways in which regional writers represent the ties that bind the region into a viable community, and speak to realities that surpass colonial and nationalist categories. Indeed, if categorizing western Indian Ocean as a region of literary inquiry seems to defy neat, absolute labels, one thing remains constant: the region is invariably explored as a francophone entity. This being said, the East Africa/Indian Ocean coastal trade complex &mdash which predates colonial interference in the region &mdash coalesced frequent exchanges between the islands and the African mainland into regional networks of organizations, and communities of people with interrelated interests. It is, therefore, imperative and quite necessary to identify those regional traits that transcend territorial and linguistic claims. Failure to do so only perpetuates a different kind of colonial project: maintaining linguistic boundaries, reinforcing crucial distinctions of imperial nature.
Monday, October 20, 2008
The Obama Effect conference
From his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention to his nomination for the presidency, Senator Barack Obama has challenged conventional wisdom about race, politics, media, and generation. Participants at the October 23-25, 2008 The Obama Effect conference will discuss the compelling issues and events that have surrounded Obama's campaign. Keynote speeches will be given by Professor Joe Feagin (Texas A&M University), and immigration lawyer and media commentator Sheela Murthy.
October 22 "coffee hour" presentation
On Wednesday, October 22, Alexs Pate will present "The Adventures of the Black Arrow: Search for Libertalia Cosmology of a Novel-in-Progress" from 2:30-4:00 in the Geneva H. Southall Library (Social Sciences Tower 815). [Presentation Abstract]
Some years ago, Alexs Pate fell in love with the idea of writing a novel that told the story of the ascendance of a runaway slave from the United States to captain of a pirate ship. Ostensibly set in the 1700s, the fictional story of the Black Arrow takes us to the Spanish Main where a group of pirates stumble upon two significant treasures...neither of which are gold. One of these is a map to true freedom. In this Coffee Hour, Pate will read from the novel-in-progress and talk about the relationship between history, imagination, and ideas.
Some years ago, Alexs Pate fell in love with the idea of writing a novel that told the story of the ascendance of a runaway slave from the United States to captain of a pirate ship. Ostensibly set in the 1700s, the fictional story of the Black Arrow takes us to the Spanish Main where a group of pirates stumble upon two significant treasures...neither of which are gold. One of these is a map to true freedom. In this Coffee Hour, Pate will read from the novel-in-progress and talk about the relationship between history, imagination, and ideas.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Memories of 1963 in the 2008 Presidential Election
"Memories of 1963 in the 2008 Presidential Election: Barack Obama and the Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement"
Thursday, October 16, 12:00PM - 2:00PM
Weisman Art Museum.
Presented by Professor Kirt H. Wilson
The 2008 election season has witnessed the return of the oratorical presidential candidate in the form of Barack Obama. The content, style, and impact of his speeches have inspired some to compare his rhetoric with that of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In his presentation, Wilson examines how Obama builds upon the civil rights traditions of speech performance, how Obama's speeches sustain a particular memory of the civil rights movement, and how his rhetoric creates political "change" in the present.
Thursday, October 16, 12:00PM - 2:00PM
Weisman Art Museum.
Presented by Professor Kirt H. Wilson
The 2008 election season has witnessed the return of the oratorical presidential candidate in the form of Barack Obama. The content, style, and impact of his speeches have inspired some to compare his rhetoric with that of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In his presentation, Wilson examines how Obama builds upon the civil rights traditions of speech performance, how Obama's speeches sustain a particular memory of the civil rights movement, and how his rhetoric creates political "change" in the present.
World Food Day
World Food Day is on Thursday, October 16. A World Food Day Teleconference can be viewed in the Rarig Center's Studio C. The theme of the 2008 teleconference is "Choices for a Warm and Hungry Planet."
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Beyond the Pure: Readings by Writers of Color
Beyond the Pure: Readings by Writers of Color
- Thursday, October 9, 2008
- 7:00 PM at Intermedia Arts
- 2822 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN
- Admission by donation; wine & beer reception to follow
- Featuring: Ibe, Bao Phi, and Sun Yung Shin
Monday, September 29, 2008
History of Medicine lecture
On Friday, October 3, 2008, the U of M's Program in the History of Medicine and the Wangensteen Historical Library of Medicine and Biology will host a lecture and reception by Vanessa Northington Gamble on Striking a Blow at Medical School Segregation: Edith Irby Goes to Medical School. The program begins at 3:30 PM in 555 Diehl Hall.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Trouble the Water
The documentary Trouble the Water "opens the day before Katrina makes landfall, just blocks away from the French Quarter but far from the New Orleans that tourists know. Kimberly Rivers Roberts is turning her video camera on herself and her 9th Ward neighbors trapped in the city. 'It's going to be a day to remember,' Kim says excitedly into her new camera as the storm is brewing. It's her first time shooting video and it's rough, jumpy, but dense with reality. Kim's playful home-grown newscast tone grinds against the audience's knowledge that hell is just hours away. There is no way for the audience to warn her. And for New Orleans' poor, there is nowhere to run."
"As the hurricane begins to rage and the floodwaters fill their world and the screen, Kim and her husband Scott continue to film, documenting their harrowing voyage to higher ground and dramatic rescues of friends and neighbors."
Trouble the Water is now playing at Minneapolis' Lagoon Cinema.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
September issue of The Village
The second issue of The Village is now available. The Village is a newsletter for friends and alumni of the Department of African American & African Studies.
Inside the September 2008 issue:
Inside the September 2008 issue:
- welcome from the community outreach coordinator
- standing on the shoulders of giants
- building tomorrow's leaders
- we want to know
- alumni profile
- Black Paris
- upcoming events
- quote of the month
Thursday, September 18, 2008
new mentorship program
The Department of African American & African Studies at the University of Minnesota is partnering with Minneapolis South High School and Blame It On Hip Hop to mentor African American males at South High. We are currently looking for University students who are interested in helping African American males develop community pride and career aspirations.
What does it involve?
As a mentor you will work one-on-one with an African American male student between the ages of 14 to 16. You will work with the student to develop their key skills around leadership, community, and college preparation. Mentors will meet with students once per week for an hour at South High. All mentors will receive training.
How can you help?
As a college student you have a wealth of experience which will help aspiring college students make important decisions about future career plans and the future of our community.
What's in it for you?
Is your resume lacking in transferable skills? Are you concerned about what is going to give you the edge over other applicants? Mentoring is a great way to develop the key skills employers look for in graduates. In any job you accept it will be useful for you to have experience in group facilitation. Mentoring gives you the opportunity to practice this skill. You will prove that you are reliable, responsible, and committed to your community.
Contact us for more information:
afroam@umn.edu
(612) 624-9847
What does it involve?
As a mentor you will work one-on-one with an African American male student between the ages of 14 to 16. You will work with the student to develop their key skills around leadership, community, and college preparation. Mentors will meet with students once per week for an hour at South High. All mentors will receive training.
How can you help?
As a college student you have a wealth of experience which will help aspiring college students make important decisions about future career plans and the future of our community.
What's in it for you?
Is your resume lacking in transferable skills? Are you concerned about what is going to give you the edge over other applicants? Mentoring is a great way to develop the key skills employers look for in graduates. In any job you accept it will be useful for you to have experience in group facilitation. Mentoring gives you the opportunity to practice this skill. You will prove that you are reliable, responsible, and committed to your community.
Contact us for more information:
afroam@umn.edu
(612) 624-9847
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Twin Cities Black Film Festival
The sixth annual Twin Cities Black Film Festival will be held September 18-20, 2008. A schedule of events is online.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
BGAPSA event
The Black Graduate and Professional Student Association (BGAPSA) will hold a Welcome Back Kick-Off BBQ on September 26, 2008, from 4pm-7pm at Riverbend Plaza (behind Coffman Memorial Union).
The BBQ will feature a live DJ spinning old school hip-hop, R&B and funk and lots and lots of FREE yummy food! Graduate and professional students of color from all over campus will be present as well as faculty members and representatives from local organizations such as the NAACP and Urban League. This will be a great opportunity to meet new people, network, eat great food and listen to great music. Friends and families are welcome. BGAPSA looks forward to seeing you there!
To keep informed of BGAPSA events, professional and academic opportunities, and other news, subscribe to the BGAPSA listserv. Also check out the new BGAPSA website.
The BBQ will feature a live DJ spinning old school hip-hop, R&B and funk and lots and lots of FREE yummy food! Graduate and professional students of color from all over campus will be present as well as faculty members and representatives from local organizations such as the NAACP and Urban League. This will be a great opportunity to meet new people, network, eat great food and listen to great music. Friends and families are welcome. BGAPSA looks forward to seeing you there!
To keep informed of BGAPSA events, professional and academic opportunities, and other news, subscribe to the BGAPSA listserv. Also check out the new BGAPSA website.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
first issue of The Village
The first issue of The Village is now available. The Village is a newsletter for friends and alumni of the Department of African American & African Studies.
Inside the August 2008 issue:
Inside the August 2008 issue:
- staying connected
- a message from the chair
- keep us posted
- get involved
- faculty in the news
- community commitment
- "We Still Have a Charge to Keep"
- quote of the month
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Black political leadership
The New York Times has posted a long article on Black political leadership: "Is Obama the End of Black Politics?" The article can also be downloaded.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
CNN Special: Black in America
On July 23 and 24, CNN television will air a "Black in America" report. Many blogs exist on this special broadcast, such as at Black Voices.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Updated CFP: "The Obama Effect"
Call for Papers:
"The Obama Effect"
October 23-25, 2008
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Now that he has become the presumptive presidential nominee for the Democratic Party ticket, Barack Obama has challenged conventional wisdom about race, politics, media, and generation. In this historic election year, it is imperative for scholars and professionals in a wide variety of disciplines to reflect upon the potential effects of Obama on: American and global public opinion; party politics; voter participation; media representations; international relations; religious discourses; and constructions of racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender identities.
This conference invites papers from scholars and professionals working from different perspectives on the phenomenon of presumptive Democratic Party nominee Barack Obama's political career. Our goal is to create a conference that will showcase various and interdisciplinary approaches to the "Obama Effect" to provide participants with a multi-faceted view of the past year's campaign and its potential effects on a wide range of social arenas.
Essays and research papers from scholars, journalists, political consultants, community activists, and others are desired. Accepted papers will be considered for inclusion in an edited collection. We are particularly interested in receiving papers that address recent developments in the campaign, and seeing papers on the following topics:
Abstracts must be emailed no later than July 18th.
Contact for abstracts or questions:
Dr. Catherine Squires
Cowles Chair for Journalism, Diversity & Equality
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Murphy Hall 111
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0418
squir050@umn.edu
"The Obama Effect"
October 23-25, 2008
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Now that he has become the presumptive presidential nominee for the Democratic Party ticket, Barack Obama has challenged conventional wisdom about race, politics, media, and generation. In this historic election year, it is imperative for scholars and professionals in a wide variety of disciplines to reflect upon the potential effects of Obama on: American and global public opinion; party politics; voter participation; media representations; international relations; religious discourses; and constructions of racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender identities.
This conference invites papers from scholars and professionals working from different perspectives on the phenomenon of presumptive Democratic Party nominee Barack Obama's political career. Our goal is to create a conference that will showcase various and interdisciplinary approaches to the "Obama Effect" to provide participants with a multi-faceted view of the past year's campaign and its potential effects on a wide range of social arenas.
Essays and research papers from scholars, journalists, political consultants, community activists, and others are desired. Accepted papers will be considered for inclusion in an edited collection. We are particularly interested in receiving papers that address recent developments in the campaign, and seeing papers on the following topics:
- Michelle Obama and/or her marriage to Obama
- Obama's family relationships
- Young people and the election
- Hate-group websites and reactions to Obama
- Mixed race identity
- International responses to Obama's candidacy
- Perspectives from Latina/os, Asian Americans, and Native Americans
- Religion
- Recent speeches/responses from other candidates
Abstracts must be emailed no later than July 18th.
Contact for abstracts or questions:
Dr. Catherine Squires
Cowles Chair for Journalism, Diversity & Equality
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Murphy Hall 111
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0418
squir050@umn.edu
Monday, June 23, 2008
Experimental College courses
The Experimental College (EXCO) &mdash a student organization at the University of Minnesota (partnered with Macalester College) that organizes and sponsors community education for social change &mdash is now offering two Africana Studies courses:
1. African American Art (meets Tuesdays from 6-8 pm in Blegen 110 for four weeks, starting June 24). This survey of African American Art will look at art and artists from the early 20th century to the late 20th century. Art from the Harlem Renaissance, Black Arts Movement, and artists such as Adrienne Piper, Kara Walker, Horace Pippin, Aaron Douglas, Archibald Motley, Jr. will be included. The instructor (Ava Herring herr0141@gmail.com) is a doctoral student at the U in art education.
2. Black Folk: Culture Defeats Holocaust, facilitated by Ray Tricomo (rtricomo@yahoo.com). Course Description: We will be covering the proverbial water front from African ecology to Pan-Africanism to improvised music and to a future without racism. Location: Oakdale Village, Oakdale, 6276 12th St. North Day/Time: Tuesday 6-8pm Dates: 4 weeks to start June 17. Ray is a longtime community activist, and has been offering this course for the past couple of years.
EXCO provides opportunities to students, faculty, and community members to facilitate or participate in classes together on topics of importance to them, especially those that they would not otherwise have in traditional university education.
1. African American Art (meets Tuesdays from 6-8 pm in Blegen 110 for four weeks, starting June 24). This survey of African American Art will look at art and artists from the early 20th century to the late 20th century. Art from the Harlem Renaissance, Black Arts Movement, and artists such as Adrienne Piper, Kara Walker, Horace Pippin, Aaron Douglas, Archibald Motley, Jr. will be included. The instructor (Ava Herring herr0141@gmail.com) is a doctoral student at the U in art education.
2. Black Folk: Culture Defeats Holocaust, facilitated by Ray Tricomo (rtricomo@yahoo.com). Course Description: We will be covering the proverbial water front from African ecology to Pan-Africanism to improvised music and to a future without racism. Location: Oakdale Village, Oakdale, 6276 12th St. North Day/Time: Tuesday 6-8pm Dates: 4 weeks to start June 17. Ray is a longtime community activist, and has been offering this course for the past couple of years.
EXCO provides opportunities to students, faculty, and community members to facilitate or participate in classes together on topics of importance to them, especially those that they would not otherwise have in traditional university education.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Juneteenth 2008
June 19 is Juneteenth (also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day), a holiday that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas. The 2008 Twin Cities Juneteenth Celebration and Festival will take place on Saturday, June 21, at several sites in Minneapolis.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Obama's historic moment
Many African Americans are pleasantly surprised by Senator Obama's breakthrough as the Democratic nominee for United States President.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
conference: The Poetics and Politics of Blackness
France Noire &mdash Black France: The Poetics and Politics of Blackness
June 6-7, 2008 &mdash Paris, France
http://history.berkeley.edu/faculty/Stovall/conference/
Colloquium Mission
The last few years have seen an extraordinary flowering of Black consciousness in France. Individuals and collectives have organized around questions pertaining to the memory of slavery, "race" and anti-Black racism, the Black condition, and what it generally means to be Black in contemporary French society. At the same time, there has been a new wave of scholarship on Blacks in Europe and a (re)theorizing of "blackness" in the African diaspora relative to European society and history. Paris, in particular, has always been a center of Black life worldwide, from the Negritude movement of the past to the myriad formations of Black empowerment specific to this moment. On June 6 and 7, 2008, a gathering of leading international scholars will meet in Paris to examine "Black France," that is, the Black presence and condition in French society. Madame Christiane Taubira, the esteemed member of the French Parliament whose very name is now synonymous with legislation that recognizes slavery and the slave trade as crimes against humanity &mdash The Taubira Law &mdash will deliver the keynote address as the prelude to an exciting and stimulating series of discussions. All who are interested in the African diaspora and French society are encouraged to attend what will be an historic event.
June 6-7, 2008 &mdash Paris, France
http://history.berkeley.edu/faculty/Stovall/conference/
Colloquium Mission
The last few years have seen an extraordinary flowering of Black consciousness in France. Individuals and collectives have organized around questions pertaining to the memory of slavery, "race" and anti-Black racism, the Black condition, and what it generally means to be Black in contemporary French society. At the same time, there has been a new wave of scholarship on Blacks in Europe and a (re)theorizing of "blackness" in the African diaspora relative to European society and history. Paris, in particular, has always been a center of Black life worldwide, from the Negritude movement of the past to the myriad formations of Black empowerment specific to this moment. On June 6 and 7, 2008, a gathering of leading international scholars will meet in Paris to examine "Black France," that is, the Black presence and condition in French society. Madame Christiane Taubira, the esteemed member of the French Parliament whose very name is now synonymous with legislation that recognizes slavery and the slave trade as crimes against humanity &mdash The Taubira Law &mdash will deliver the keynote address as the prelude to an exciting and stimulating series of discussions. All who are interested in the African diaspora and French society are encouraged to attend what will be an historic event.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
documentary screening/discussion: health care in Somalia
On May 23, 2008 the documentary The Forgotten Struggle will be screened and discussed from 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at the Old Main Building Auditorium #600, College of Saint Catherine-Minneapolis, 601 25th Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55454. This event is free & open to the public. The film chronicles the struggle to bring health care to the people of Somalia. A trailer for the documentary can be found on YouTube.
Monday, May 12, 2008
May 15 film screening: "Bunny Chow"
Film screening: Bunny Chow
Thursday, May 15, 7:30 PM
Repeat screening Saturday, May 17, 7:00 PM
In director John Barke's debut feature, up-and-coming comedians Kags, Joey, and Dave make it clear that life in the "new" Johannesburg is not just about hardship and townships. It's also about hanging out with friends and celebrating life on a raucous road trip to Oppi Kopp -- South Africa's largest music festival. Shot in a cinema verite style and using the street food "bunny chow" as a metaphor for contemporary Johannesburg's mix of races, cultures, and attitudes, Barker's edgy urban comedy asks us to envision a nation through the eyes of its future rather than the tragedy of its past. (Film info: 2006, South Africa, in Afrikaans, Tsotsi Taal, and English with English subtitles, 95 minutes.)
Tickets to the Walker Art Center's free screening on Thursday, May 15 are available at the Walker Art Center's Bazinet Garden Lobby desk. Tickets for the Saturday, May 17 screening are $8 ($6 for Walker members).
Thursday, May 15, 7:30 PM
Repeat screening Saturday, May 17, 7:00 PM
In director John Barke's debut feature, up-and-coming comedians Kags, Joey, and Dave make it clear that life in the "new" Johannesburg is not just about hardship and townships. It's also about hanging out with friends and celebrating life on a raucous road trip to Oppi Kopp -- South Africa's largest music festival. Shot in a cinema verite style and using the street food "bunny chow" as a metaphor for contemporary Johannesburg's mix of races, cultures, and attitudes, Barker's edgy urban comedy asks us to envision a nation through the eyes of its future rather than the tragedy of its past. (Film info: 2006, South Africa, in Afrikaans, Tsotsi Taal, and English with English subtitles, 95 minutes.)
Tickets to the Walker Art Center's free screening on Thursday, May 15 are available at the Walker Art Center's Bazinet Garden Lobby desk. Tickets for the Saturday, May 17 screening are $8 ($6 for Walker members).
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Call for Papers: "The Obama Effect"
Call for Papers:
"The Obama Effect"
October 23-25, 2008
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Since he stepped into the national political spotlight at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) has challenged conventional wisdom about race, politics, media, and generation. In this historic election year, it is imperative for scholars and professionals in a wide variety of disciplines to reflect upon the potential effects of Mr. Obama on: American and global public opinion; party politics; voter participation; media representations; international relations; religious discourses; and constructions of racial, sexual, and gender identities.
This conference invites papers from scholars and professionals working from different perspectives on the phenomenon of Senator Obama's political career. Our goal is to create a conference that will showcase various and interdisciplinary approaches to the "Obama Effect" to provide participants with a multi-faceted view of the past year's campaign and its potential effects on a wide range of social arenas.
Submissions from fields such as: history, media studies, journalism, communication studies, political science, philosophy, social justice, African American Studies, ethnic studies, American Studies, sociology, law are welcome. Essays from professional journalists, political consultants, community organizers, and others are also desired.
In a time of rhetorical flourishes and cantankerous punditry, we must also be cautious and circumspect in our analyses of the effects and repercussions of the 2008 campaign. We are also obliged to look back, and scrutinize recent as well as distant histories of politics, race, ethnicity, and culture, to contextualize this moment. At the same time, we should ponder what changes we might expect, and what changes may be too farfetched, in the midst of heady talk auguring Mr. Obama as an agent of radical social transformation.
Submissions should be completed papers (20-25 pages) or extended abstracts (3-5 pages) for works in progress. Works in progress submissions should provide evidence that the paper will be completed by the date of the conference. Papers that are selected for the conference will also be included in a proposal for an edited volume.
Papers should be postmarked no later than June 6th. Applicants should send three (3) paper copies of their paper or extended abstract to:
Dr. Catherine Squires
Cowles Chair for Journalism, Diversity & Equality
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Murphy Hall 111
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0418
squir050@umn.edu
Participants will be notified of paper's status no later than July 30th.
"The Obama Effect"
October 23-25, 2008
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Since he stepped into the national political spotlight at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) has challenged conventional wisdom about race, politics, media, and generation. In this historic election year, it is imperative for scholars and professionals in a wide variety of disciplines to reflect upon the potential effects of Mr. Obama on: American and global public opinion; party politics; voter participation; media representations; international relations; religious discourses; and constructions of racial, sexual, and gender identities.
This conference invites papers from scholars and professionals working from different perspectives on the phenomenon of Senator Obama's political career. Our goal is to create a conference that will showcase various and interdisciplinary approaches to the "Obama Effect" to provide participants with a multi-faceted view of the past year's campaign and its potential effects on a wide range of social arenas.
Submissions from fields such as: history, media studies, journalism, communication studies, political science, philosophy, social justice, African American Studies, ethnic studies, American Studies, sociology, law are welcome. Essays from professional journalists, political consultants, community organizers, and others are also desired.
In a time of rhetorical flourishes and cantankerous punditry, we must also be cautious and circumspect in our analyses of the effects and repercussions of the 2008 campaign. We are also obliged to look back, and scrutinize recent as well as distant histories of politics, race, ethnicity, and culture, to contextualize this moment. At the same time, we should ponder what changes we might expect, and what changes may be too farfetched, in the midst of heady talk auguring Mr. Obama as an agent of radical social transformation.
Submissions should be completed papers (20-25 pages) or extended abstracts (3-5 pages) for works in progress. Works in progress submissions should provide evidence that the paper will be completed by the date of the conference. Papers that are selected for the conference will also be included in a proposal for an edited volume.
Papers should be postmarked no later than June 6th. Applicants should send three (3) paper copies of their paper or extended abstract to:
Dr. Catherine Squires
Cowles Chair for Journalism, Diversity & Equality
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Murphy Hall 111
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0418
squir050@umn.edu
Participants will be notified of paper's status no later than July 30th.
Monday, May 5, 2008
May 7 "coffee hour" presentation
On Wednesday, May 7, Trica Keaton will present "The Social Significance of Race in France: The Case of the 2005 Uprisings in Life and Art" from 2:00-3:30 in the Geneva H. Southall Library (Social Sciences Tower 815). [Presentation Abstract]
While much has been written about the 2005 "riots" in France, precious few accounts have incorporated the perspective of those most directly affected by these events, that is, the surviving members of Bouna Traore and Zyed Benna families, the boys from Clichy-sous-Bois whose deaths ignited uprisings across the country and beyond. In this presentation, Professor Keaton seeks to document this critical perspective not only to draw attention to the lived implications of these events, but also to demonstrate how the tradition of revolt in French society transforms into racialized “rioting� when emanating from those equally racialized as "les jeunes de banlieue," young people –- often of color –- who inhabit poverty-stricken suburbs or "outer-city" space. Additionally, Keaton aims is to humanize these happenings from the perspective of the subaltern who can indeed speak and name their oppression. The deaths of Bouna and Zyed were a watershed in the politics of "colorblindness" in French society, politics coupled with a complicated "race" consciousness that conjugates with class in the "other France."
While much has been written about the 2005 "riots" in France, precious few accounts have incorporated the perspective of those most directly affected by these events, that is, the surviving members of Bouna Traore and Zyed Benna families, the boys from Clichy-sous-Bois whose deaths ignited uprisings across the country and beyond. In this presentation, Professor Keaton seeks to document this critical perspective not only to draw attention to the lived implications of these events, but also to demonstrate how the tradition of revolt in French society transforms into racialized “rioting� when emanating from those equally racialized as "les jeunes de banlieue," young people –- often of color –- who inhabit poverty-stricken suburbs or "outer-city" space. Additionally, Keaton aims is to humanize these happenings from the perspective of the subaltern who can indeed speak and name their oppression. The deaths of Bouna and Zyed were a watershed in the politics of "colorblindness" in French society, politics coupled with a complicated "race" consciousness that conjugates with class in the "other France."
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Swahili Open Day
The 2nd Annual Swahili Open Day will be this Saturday, May 3rd, from 12:00 until 4:00 in the Humphrey Atrium. Stop by to experience the festivities, visit the informational booths, and enjoy delicious East African Food.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Turning Away From Hate: Confessions of an Ex-Neo Nazi
The African American and African Studies Department is co-sponsoring the event "Turning Away from Hate," a program presented by Hillel featuring reformed neo-Nazi TJ Leyden. After 15 years as a neo-Nazi white supremacist activist and recruiter, TJ Leyden experienced a profound change of heart, turned away from hate, and began teaching tolerance. Today, a man who covered his body in Nazi symbols and advocated for the death of minorities is one of the most compelling advocates for the importance of diversity and cultural appreciation.
TJ will be telling his story on campus on Wednesday, April 30th at 7 PM at Willey Hall 175. Admission is FREE, but seating will be limited. Please arrive early! More information is at http://www.ujews.com/hate.
TJ will be telling his story on campus on Wednesday, April 30th at 7 PM at Willey Hall 175. Admission is FREE, but seating will be limited. Please arrive early! More information is at http://www.ujews.com/hate.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
"Darfur Now" film screening
The University's Human Rights Center will screen the film Darfur Now on Monday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 25 of the Law School. The screening of Darfur Now is part of a partnership with the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and the Minnesota Chapter of the Genocide Intervention Network.
Darfur Now is also screening at William Mitchell College of Law on April 27, and will feature a post-film discussion with Adam Sterling from the Sudan Divestment Project.
For other Human Rights-related April events, see http://www.hrusa.org/calendar.
Darfur Now is also screening at William Mitchell College of Law on April 27, and will feature a post-film discussion with Adam Sterling from the Sudan Divestment Project.
For other Human Rights-related April events, see http://www.hrusa.org/calendar.
Monday, April 21, 2008
April 23 "coffee hour" presentation
On Wednesday, April 23, Saje Mathieu will present "Bound for Canaan: Lynching, Escape, and Canadian Sanctuary" from 2:00-3:30 in the Geneva H. Southall Library (Social Sciences Tower 815). [Presentation Abstract]
After having taken part in a race riot in 1921 that left two men dead and several more in a hospital, Matthew Bullock, a Great War veteran, reached the border and cited his reason for requesting entry into Canada: he urgently needed political asylum from North Carolinian lynchers. His brother and cousin had both been lynched by white supremacists determined to punish young insurgent African Americans for challenging local Jim Crow rule. Fearing for his life, Bullock raced to Canada, where he hoped to be beyond the reach of American lynch law. But North Carolinian officials -- namely Governor Cameron Morrison -- capitalized on Bullock's escape to Canada as an opportunity to curry favor with foreign governments over the question of lynching, explaining to the Canadian press that lynching was the South's distinct way of "dealing with criminals." Professor Mathieu will analyze the international tug-of-war over Matthew Bullock, which pitted Canadians vs. Americans intent on exercising their own brand of justice against African Americans who dared speak against Southern rule of law. With the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill before Congress that same year, Canadians, African Americans, and the NAACP forged a powerful alliance, hoping that Bullock's case would call international attention to rise of racialized violence in the South.
After having taken part in a race riot in 1921 that left two men dead and several more in a hospital, Matthew Bullock, a Great War veteran, reached the border and cited his reason for requesting entry into Canada: he urgently needed political asylum from North Carolinian lynchers. His brother and cousin had both been lynched by white supremacists determined to punish young insurgent African Americans for challenging local Jim Crow rule. Fearing for his life, Bullock raced to Canada, where he hoped to be beyond the reach of American lynch law. But North Carolinian officials -- namely Governor Cameron Morrison -- capitalized on Bullock's escape to Canada as an opportunity to curry favor with foreign governments over the question of lynching, explaining to the Canadian press that lynching was the South's distinct way of "dealing with criminals." Professor Mathieu will analyze the international tug-of-war over Matthew Bullock, which pitted Canadians vs. Americans intent on exercising their own brand of justice against African Americans who dared speak against Southern rule of law. With the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill before Congress that same year, Canadians, African Americans, and the NAACP forged a powerful alliance, hoping that Bullock's case would call international attention to rise of racialized violence in the South.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
fall 2008 "Digital Storytelling" class
In fall 2008 a new course will be taught: "Digital Storytelling In and With Communities of Color." For more information visit the "Digital Storytelling In and With Communities of Color" class website, or download the "Digital Storytelling In and With Communities of Color" class flyer.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Ethnic Studies lecture
On Tuesday, April 15, Professor Laureen Chew (San Francisco State University) will present "Is Moving From the 'I' to the 'We' Possible Under Ethnic Studies?" This lecture will be held from 10:00-12:00 in Nolte 125. It is the fourth (and final) event in the "Ethnic Studies in the Neo-Liberal University" lecture series.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Rethinking the University conference
All campus community members are invited to partake in "Rethinking the University: Labor, Knowledge, Value," a conference that will be held on Friday, April 11-Sunday, April 13. This conference is to explore the effects of corporatization on the university as well as explore possibilities of organizing to respond to this condition. There will be roundtables and panel presentations as well as art and film exhibitions as part of this 3 day conference. Faculty, staff, and student presenters from the University of Minnesota will be joined from student and faculty presenters from across the nation in discussing and interrogating issues such as the status of the liberal arts, the role of precarious labor, the role of research, and graduate student organizing in the contemporary university. The reception and dinner are open to all presenters and attendees, but the dinner portion will be limited to the first 100 guests. Sign-up registration for events will occur the day of the conference. The conference program including event locations can be found on the website at www.makeumnpublic.org/conference/program.htm
Monday, April 7, 2008
April 9 "coffee hour" presentation
On Wednesday, April 9, Dr. Irma McClaurin will discuss new initiatives of the Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center (UROC) and the University Northside Partnership from 2:00-3:30 in the Geneva H. Southall Library (Social Sciences Tower 815). Dr. McClaurin is Associate Vice President for System Academic Administration and Executive Director of the Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center in North Minneapolis.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
40th Anniversary page
In 2009 the department will celebrate its 40th Anniversary, so we have added a new page to our department website: AA&AS Celebrates 40 Years. Also, the Make a Gift page has been updated to reflect upcoming 40th Anniversary priorities.
Monday, March 31, 2008
April 2 "coffee hour" presentation
On Wednesday, April 2, Vera Fennell will present "'The Righteous Struggle': Reading Race in the Creation of Afro-Asian Solidarity" from 2:00-3:30 in the Geneva H. Southall Library (Social Sciences Tower 815). [Presentation Abstract]
In the 1950s, the Communist Party of China, newly triumphant in the Chinese civil war over the US-backed Nationalist Party, launched "Afro-Chinese Solidarity" as its major foreign policy orientation. Fennell will examine the Communist Party of China's understandings of race and the emerging Cold War bipolar global politics through the presentation of Black struggles against European colonialism in Africa and the African-American civil rights struggle in the pages of the flagship communist party newspaper, The People's Daily.
In the 1950s, the Communist Party of China, newly triumphant in the Chinese civil war over the US-backed Nationalist Party, launched "Afro-Chinese Solidarity" as its major foreign policy orientation. Fennell will examine the Communist Party of China's understandings of race and the emerging Cold War bipolar global politics through the presentation of Black struggles against European colonialism in Africa and the African-American civil rights struggle in the pages of the flagship communist party newspaper, The People's Daily.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
March 26 "coffee hour" presentation
On Wednesday, March 26, Catherine Squires will present "Can Obama 'Transcend' or Not? Race and Identifications in News Coverage of the 2008 Presidential Race" from 2:00-3:30 in the Geneva H. Southall Library (Social Sciences Tower 815). [Presentation Abstract]
The dominant press's reactions to Barack Obama's electoral and political successes do not augur well for a reinvigorated discussion of race in the U.S. Rather, textual analysis of news coverage of Obama's speeches and actions in the 2008 presidential race reveal a troubling split between articles that: (1) frame Black racial identity as a liability to be overcome; and (2) substitute discussions of Obama's racial background for discussions of racial disparities. Squires will critically examine the dynamics of this split, and critique its surrounding discourses.
The dominant press's reactions to Barack Obama's electoral and political successes do not augur well for a reinvigorated discussion of race in the U.S. Rather, textual analysis of news coverage of Obama's speeches and actions in the 2008 presidential race reveal a troubling split between articles that: (1) frame Black racial identity as a liability to be overcome; and (2) substitute discussions of Obama's racial background for discussions of racial disparities. Squires will critically examine the dynamics of this split, and critique its surrounding discourses.
Monday, March 24, 2008
"It Just Ain't the Sixties No More" lecture
On Friday, March 28, Professor Michael Omi (University of California-Berkeley) will present "It Just Ain't the Sixties No More: The Problems and Promise of Comparative Ethnic Studies." This lecture will be held from 3:00-5:00 in CSOM 2-260Z. It is the third event in the "Ethnic Studies in the Neo-Liberal University" lecture series.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Changing Demographics lecture and discussion
On April 17th the Office for Equity and Diversity will host a Sesquicentennial Lecture: "Changing Demographics: Snapshots of a New Minnesota and a New America." AA&AS professor Rose Brewer will be one of the speakers, highlighting findings from her book, The Color of Wealth: The Story Behind the U.S. Racial Wealth Divide, that clearly indicate the persistence of an economic color line in 21st century America.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Obama's March 18, 2008 speech
On March 18, 2008, Barack Obama delivered a speech about race in the United States. The blog "Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast" offers an abridged and highlighted version of key points in the speech.
Friday, March 14, 2008
religion in Nigeria
The March 2008 issue of The Atlantic magazine has an interesting article about religion in Nigeria, and the online version has web-only multimedia features, such as a slideshow. "God's Country" intructs us on how "[u]sing militias and marketing strategies, Christianity and Islam are competing for believers by promising Nigerians prosperity in this world as well as salvation in the next. [It is a] report from the front lines."
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Chat with Suzan-Lori Parks
SIT DOWN & CHAT WITH SUZAN-LORI PARKS!
Calling all undergraduate students interested in meeting a Pulitzer Prize- and Obie- winning playwright: Topdog/Underdog and Venus author Suzan-Lori Parks will join undergraduates at 9:00 am on March 27 for an informal question and answer session at the Rarig Center. Parks will talk and read from her work at 7:30 pm, March 26, in Ted Mann Concert Hall, and students are very much encouraged to attend that free event as well. NOTE: If you are an undergraduate student and would like to meet one of American theater's brightest lights, please RSVP to Terri Sutton at sutt0063@umn.edu or call 612.626.1528.
Calling all undergraduate students interested in meeting a Pulitzer Prize- and Obie- winning playwright: Topdog/Underdog and Venus author Suzan-Lori Parks will join undergraduates at 9:00 am on March 27 for an informal question and answer session at the Rarig Center. Parks will talk and read from her work at 7:30 pm, March 26, in Ted Mann Concert Hall, and students are very much encouraged to attend that free event as well. NOTE: If you are an undergraduate student and would like to meet one of American theater's brightest lights, please RSVP to Terri Sutton at sutt0063@umn.edu or call 612.626.1528.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Black Paris seminar (extended deadline)
In May, Professor Trica Keaton will lead a Global Seminar in Paris, France. The application deadline has been extended to March 17, 2008, and a $500 scholarship will be offered to each admitted student.
Paris is considered one of the most beautiful and exciting places in the world, and for over three centuries, diverse African American artists, intellectuals, musicians, writers, and everyday people have pursued various dreams in the "City of Light," particularly when denied opportunities in the U.S. African Americans are often held up as evidence of racial tolerance in France, even as the lived-experiences of other African diasporic peoples have challenged that very representation and the principles of inclusion upon which it is built. Through stimulating reading, workshops, tours, guest lectures, films, and residence in Paris, this seminar will acquaint you with the life, adventures, and times of those who comprise "Black Paris," as we seek to explore the many questions and paradoxes specific to the African diaspora in this fascinating and complex global city.
The application deadline for this seminar has been extended to March 17, 2008, and a $500 scholarship will be offered to each admitted student.
Paris is considered one of the most beautiful and exciting places in the world, and for over three centuries, diverse African American artists, intellectuals, musicians, writers, and everyday people have pursued various dreams in the "City of Light," particularly when denied opportunities in the U.S. African Americans are often held up as evidence of racial tolerance in France, even as the lived-experiences of other African diasporic peoples have challenged that very representation and the principles of inclusion upon which it is built. Through stimulating reading, workshops, tours, guest lectures, films, and residence in Paris, this seminar will acquaint you with the life, adventures, and times of those who comprise "Black Paris," as we seek to explore the many questions and paradoxes specific to the African diaspora in this fascinating and complex global city.
The application deadline for this seminar has been extended to March 17, 2008, and a $500 scholarship will be offered to each admitted student.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
national student conference
The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign National Student Conference will he held on campus March 14-16, 2008.
The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign is committed to uniting the poor across color lines as the leadership base for a broad movement to abolish poverty. It works to accomplish this through advancing economic human rights as named in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, such as the rights to food, housing, health, education, communication, and a living wage job.
Major details of the conference:
For more information, call 612.82.2364, or email deeqppehrc@yahoo.com or heavenppehrc@yahoo.com.
The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign is committed to uniting the poor across color lines as the leadership base for a broad movement to abolish poverty. It works to accomplish this through advancing economic human rights as named in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, such as the rights to food, housing, health, education, communication, and a living wage job.
Major details of the conference:
- Where: University of Minnesota Human Rights Center
- When: March 14th, 15th, and 16th
- Cost: $250.00 (limited scholarships available)
- Why: Because if we're going to end poverty in this country we need the leadership of our youth!
For more information, call 612.82.2364, or email deeqppehrc@yahoo.com or heavenppehrc@yahoo.com.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Barack Obama's turn?
The Minneapolis StarTribune recently posted a commentary about whether a White woman (Hillary Clinton) or a Black man (Barack Obama) should be elected President ("Whose Turn Is It?"). See also an article from The Atlantic about how Obama may transcend divisive political battles.
Friday, February 29, 2008
"Same Difference" play
Minneapolis' Pillsbury House Theatre is now presenting Same Difference, about two African American college roomates from very different backgrounds. Reviews can be found on the main page of Illusion Theater, where the play was previously staged.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Global Media <-> Diasporic Cultures series
Along with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, AA&AS is the primary sponsor of a 2008 speaker series, Global Media <-> Diasporic Cultures. Two speakers have already visited campus; join us on March 12 for the next speaker: Sean Jacobs will present "Globalization, Liberal Democracy, Mass Media, and the Rainbow Nation" on March 12.
Monday, February 25, 2008
"Living the Hiplife" screening
On Thursday, February 28, AA&AS graduate student Nneka Onyilofor will screen the new documentary Living the Hiplife, about rap music in West Africa. The screening and discussion will be held from 6:00 to 8:30 in room 10 of Blegen Hall. Snacks will be provided.
Friday, February 22, 2008
BSU dinner with Bobby Seale
The Black Student Union is hosting a dinner with Bobby Seale at 6:00 on February 27. Tickets are $15 for students and $20 for faculty/staff and the general public. Contact bsu@umn.edu for more information.
Monday, February 18, 2008
SHEROES panel
On February 21 the Minnesota Metro Area Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) will be hosting a panel discussion: "SHEROES - Standing Tall and Walking Proud Through It All." These inspiring leaders and public servants will share wisdom and lessons learned from their personal and professional journey. The panelists will educate, enlighten and encourage others to embrace the fact that they too can stand tall and walk proud through all of life's challenges. The panel will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 on Thursday, February 21, 2008, at The Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota.
SHEROES:
S - Shape public policies
H - Help build bridges and alliances
E - Engage their constituencies
R - Reach out to educate & reach back to uplift
O - Overcome obstacles and challenges
E - Empower others to achieve their goals
S - Stand for social and economic justice for all
SHEROES:
S - Shape public policies
H - Help build bridges and alliances
E - Engage their constituencies
R - Reach out to educate & reach back to uplift
O - Overcome obstacles and challenges
E - Empower others to achieve their goals
S - Stand for social and economic justice for all
Friday, February 15, 2008
Black Conservatives: Myths and Realities
William Mitchell College of Law is hosting a Black History Month event on Thursday, February 21, from noon to 1:30: Black Conservatives -- Myths and Realities.
Panelists:
Date: Thursday, February 21
Time: Noon - 1:30 (appetizers and beverages served)
Place: Auditorium; William Mitchell College of Law (875 Summit Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102)
Contact: Please contact Kate Johansen (katherine.johansen@wmitchell.edu) with questions or requests for additional information.
Panelists:
- Roscoe Howard, former U.S. Attorney
- Peter Bell, chairman of the Metropolitan Council
- Michael Jordan, law professor
- Michell Jones, attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office
- Moderator: Professor John Radsan, former Deptartment of Justice attorney and CIA assistant general counsel
Date: Thursday, February 21
Time: Noon - 1:30 (appetizers and beverages served)
Place: Auditorium; William Mitchell College of Law (875 Summit Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102)
Contact: Please contact Kate Johansen (katherine.johansen@wmitchell.edu) with questions or requests for additional information.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Save Yar fundraiser
In parts of South Sudan, bandits steal children from other communities like cattle. Hundreds of abductions in recent years have gone unpunished as these human-rights violations are overshadowed by other problems. The Save Yar Campaign has been working hard from Minneapolis since October to stop this wave of abductions. We took our campaign to Washington, D.C. and, with the support of Congress and federal departments, met with South Sudan's president.
Now it's time to carry this campaign to the place where the change has to occur: South Sudan. The campaign is preparing to send three University of Minnesota students to South Sudan to meet with government officials and tribal leaders to build a coalition aimed at ending child abduction and returning abducted children to their families. We'll meet with local researchers who can carry forward the campaign on the ground long-term.
We will undertake this trip with volunteer labor and donated lodging and ground transportation. But to make it happen, we need to raise the funds to cover airfare, visas, meals, and phone calls.
Join us for lunch this Saturday for a fun and delicious way to contribute to this grassroots campaign!
Come to Tam-Tam's African Restaurant in Minneapolis' Cedar-Riverside neighborhood this Saturday, February 16, anytime from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to sample sensational East African cuisine at this cutting-edge eatery; mix and mingle with fellow Minnesotans concerned with Africa; buy a Save Yar T-shirt; and pledge a specific part of the students' trip.
Now it's time to carry this campaign to the place where the change has to occur: South Sudan. The campaign is preparing to send three University of Minnesota students to South Sudan to meet with government officials and tribal leaders to build a coalition aimed at ending child abduction and returning abducted children to their families. We'll meet with local researchers who can carry forward the campaign on the ground long-term.
We will undertake this trip with volunteer labor and donated lodging and ground transportation. But to make it happen, we need to raise the funds to cover airfare, visas, meals, and phone calls.
Join us for lunch this Saturday for a fun and delicious way to contribute to this grassroots campaign!
Come to Tam-Tam's African Restaurant in Minneapolis' Cedar-Riverside neighborhood this Saturday, February 16, anytime from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to sample sensational East African cuisine at this cutting-edge eatery; mix and mingle with fellow Minnesotans concerned with Africa; buy a Save Yar T-shirt; and pledge a specific part of the students' trip.
Monday, February 11, 2008
February 13 "Coffee Hour" presentation
On Wednesday, February 13, Zenzele Isoke will present "Gender, Social Capital and the Problematics of Racial Liberalism in Hip Hop" from 2:00-3:30 in the Geneva H. Southall Library (Social Sciences Tower 815). [Presentation Abstract]
Isoke explores how the 2004 National Hip Hop Political Convention (NHHPC) served as a transformative space for U.S. Black feminists to do anti-racist, anti-sexist political work in Newark, NJ. Black feminists' active participation in the NHHPC was a strategic effort to situate women of color feminisms in the larger historical movement for racial justice in urban communities. Isoke argues that NHHPC served as a stage for deeply gendered contestations over visibility, access, and public influence – mirroring unresolved Black sexual politics of an earlier era. Using semi-structured interviews of Black women political activists in Newark, she analyzes their efforts to politicize a gender specific national political agenda. This manifestation of Black women's agency and subjectivity within the conceptual space of hip hop was motivated by a sustained effort to mobilize people in urban communities around a variety of issues, including police brutality, the criminalization of Black and brown youth, sexual and gender-based violence, failing schools and media literacy.
Isoke's presentation is part of a larger book project called "The Political Spaces of Black Women in the City: Identity, Agency and the Flow of Social Capital in Urban Communities." Isoke's research poses the following questions: how do black women create and utilize political spaces toward transformative ends in communities of color? How can feminist social researchers, using an epistemic paradigm rooted in the larger social justice project of radical black feminism, provide valid accounts of black female subjectivity rooted in everyday black political struggle in American cities? Isoke's research explores the contemporary structural realities that face Newark’s families and analyzes the narratives of courage, sacrifice and hope captured in the political biographies of the women interviewed.
Isoke explores how the 2004 National Hip Hop Political Convention (NHHPC) served as a transformative space for U.S. Black feminists to do anti-racist, anti-sexist political work in Newark, NJ. Black feminists' active participation in the NHHPC was a strategic effort to situate women of color feminisms in the larger historical movement for racial justice in urban communities. Isoke argues that NHHPC served as a stage for deeply gendered contestations over visibility, access, and public influence – mirroring unresolved Black sexual politics of an earlier era. Using semi-structured interviews of Black women political activists in Newark, she analyzes their efforts to politicize a gender specific national political agenda. This manifestation of Black women's agency and subjectivity within the conceptual space of hip hop was motivated by a sustained effort to mobilize people in urban communities around a variety of issues, including police brutality, the criminalization of Black and brown youth, sexual and gender-based violence, failing schools and media literacy.
Isoke's presentation is part of a larger book project called "The Political Spaces of Black Women in the City: Identity, Agency and the Flow of Social Capital in Urban Communities." Isoke's research poses the following questions: how do black women create and utilize political spaces toward transformative ends in communities of color? How can feminist social researchers, using an epistemic paradigm rooted in the larger social justice project of radical black feminism, provide valid accounts of black female subjectivity rooted in everyday black political struggle in American cities? Isoke's research explores the contemporary structural realities that face Newark’s families and analyzes the narratives of courage, sacrifice and hope captured in the political biographies of the women interviewed.
Friday, February 8, 2008
forum on the mortgage crisis in north Minneapolis
The University of Minnesota's Institute for Advanced Studies, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, and Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center joins its community partners, the Northside Residents Redevelopment Council and the University Northside Partnership, in hosting a conversation about how the current mortgage crisis impacts north Minneapolis, an area which has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the state. This meeting is an opportunity for interested and concerned faculty, staff, community leaders, organizations and residents, as well as city and county officials, and relevant non-profits to share information about their experiences, knowledge, research, and programs related to the mortgage crisis in north Minneapolis. Anticipated outcomes:
For more information, contact Irma McClaurin, Executive Director, Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center, University of Minnesota, imcclaur@umn.edu, 612.624.2798.
- increased understanding of local programs and projects
- greater recognition of how the crisis impacts lives
- awareness of opportunities for community/university collaborations and leveraging of resources to achieve change
- increased knowledge of the history of housing ownership in north Minneapolis
- greater understanding that north Minneapolis is a microcosm of national trends that adversely impact communities of color
- identification of research gaps
- discussion of possible strategies to strengthen and enhance existing policy and social interventions
- increased awareness of legal challenges
- formulation of an action agenda
For more information, contact Irma McClaurin, Executive Director, Urban Research and Outreach/Engagement Center, University of Minnesota, imcclaur@umn.edu, 612.624.2798.
Monday, February 4, 2008
NOMMO African American Authors series
On Thursday, February 7, the NOMMO African American Authors series kicks off. Professor Alexs Pate hosts fiction writer and cultural commentator Randall Kenan at 7:30 PM in Cowles Auditorium (located in the Hubert H. Humphrey Center.)
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Global Media <-> Diasporic Cultures
In 2008 AA&AS and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication are the primary sponsors of a speaker series: "Global Media <-> Diasporic Cultures." Corporations within the transnational media industry compete to capitalize upon traditions and popular cultural forms from around the globe. Simultaneously, artists and audiences from these cultural spaces continue to innovate and migrate in the shifting economic and social landscapes of the 21st century. Courting these multicultural, often nomadic, audiences, media makers seek to acquire, shape, and re-shape cultural materials in order to transmit products that draw upon and market to different racial, cultural, and national identities. The speakers in this series have produced cutting-edge research on this quickly changing landscape of media texts and cultures. Their work sheds light on genres, styles, and stars of this multinational media era, as well as the cultural, social, political, and economic phenomena that drive trends in this media landscape. Members of the university community, as well as communities within the Twin Cities, who attend these talks will be able to engage with the speakers about specific cases of media products and persona that reflect upon global media cultures, and discuss the often problematic deployment of race, ethnicity, gender, and national identities represented in many media trends.
The following speakers have been scheduled: Bambi Haggins (University of Michigan), author of Laughing Mad: The Black Comic Persona in Post-Soul America; University of Minnesota faculty member Jigna Desai, author of Beyond Bollywood: The Cultural Politics of South Asian Diasporic Film; Deborah Paredez (University of Texas, Austin), author of the forthcoming book Selenidad: Selena, Latinos, and the Performance of Memory; Sean Jacobs (University of Michigan), South African journalist and scholar; and University of Minnesota faculty member Richard Martinez, who is working on analysis of news coverage of the 2006 immigration protests. Martinez will kick off the series on Friday, February 1, 2008 (12-1:10 in Murphy Hall 228).
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Black Paris global seminar
In May, Professor Trica Keaton will lead a Global Seminar in Paris, France:
Paris is considered one of the most beautiful and exciting places in the world, and for over three centuries, diverse African American artists, intellectuals, musicians, writers, and everyday people have pursued various dreams in the "City of Light," particularly when denied opportunities in the U.S. African Americans are often held up as evidence of racial tolerance in France, even as the lived-experiences of other African diasporic peoples have challenged that very representation and the principles of inclusion upon which it is built. Through stimulating reading, workshops, tours, guest lectures, films, and residence in Paris, this seminar will acquaint you with the life, adventures, and times of those who comprise "Black Paris," as we seek to explore the many questions and paradoxes specific to the African diaspora in this fascinating and complex global city.
Paris is considered one of the most beautiful and exciting places in the world, and for over three centuries, diverse African American artists, intellectuals, musicians, writers, and everyday people have pursued various dreams in the "City of Light," particularly when denied opportunities in the U.S. African Americans are often held up as evidence of racial tolerance in France, even as the lived-experiences of other African diasporic peoples have challenged that very representation and the principles of inclusion upon which it is built. Through stimulating reading, workshops, tours, guest lectures, films, and residence in Paris, this seminar will acquaint you with the life, adventures, and times of those who comprise "Black Paris," as we seek to explore the many questions and paradoxes specific to the African diaspora in this fascinating and complex global city.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
"Blue Door" play
The Guthrie and Emigrant Theater are offering 50% off tickets for any remaining performance of Blue Door by Tanya Barfield, now playing at the Dowling Studio at the Guthrie.
Don't miss what the Pioneer Press called "a powerful way to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day... vivid... effective... thought-provoking... None of us will ever gain freedom until we recognize what binds us, because only then can we begin to loosen the chains."
The Star-Tribune calls playwright Tanya Barfield "an exciting new voice in American theater, and Blue Door amply displays her stunning grasp of language and solidly crafted characterization, as well as her unwillingness to settle for easy answers. Emigrant Theater and the Guthrie are to be commended for offering such a fine opportunity to experience her work."
Emigrant Theater was named Best Independent Theater of 2007 by City Pages.
Blue Door
by Tanya Barfield
directed by Jessica Finney
featuring Eric Avery & David Wiles
Left alone by his wife after refusing to join the Million Man March, an African-American math professor watches as the ghosts of his ancestors arrive and shatter the silence of his insomnia, drawing him into a spiral of history, a crisis of identity and culture, and a powerful exploration of what it means to be black, then and now.
Only 4 More Performances:
Friday, Jan. 25, 7:30pm
Saturday, Jan. 26, 1pm (with a post-play discussion)
Saturday, Jan. 26, 7:30pm
Sunday, Jan. 27, 1pm
Call the Guthrie box office at (612) 377-2224 and quote price code "HA."
Monday, January 21, 2008
MLK public art
The New York Times has posted a slide show about Martin Luther King Jr. public art. The photographer Camilo Jose Vergara provides the following summary: "In America's poorest ghettos, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s portrait is one of the most popular subjects of public art. These images, which I have been documenting since 1977, regularly appear on the walls of the liquor stores, auto-repair shops, fast-food restaurants, mom-and-pop stores and public housing projects of Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York and many other cities across the country. The majority are the work of amateur artists. Though Dr. King is usually front and center, he is often accompanied by other inspirational figures: Nelson Mandela, John Paul II, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Mother Teresa, Pancho Villa. He is often accompanied by his famous phrase, 'I have a dream' -- a reminder that in many of the communities where these murals exist, the gulf between hope and reality remains far too wide."
Friday, January 18, 2008
student athletes and campus diversity
Even though we are in the year 2008, the African American male population on many college campuses is still significantly composed of athletes. We have much work to do in order to really diversify higher education.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
MLK Day Breakfast
Charlayne Hunter-Gault, a journalist with more than 40 years of experience in television, radio and print, will highlight the legacy of Dr. King's dream at the 18th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 21.
Hunter-Gault, the first black woman admitted to the University of Georgia and the first African-American reporter at the New Yorker, recently rejoined National Public Radio as a correspondent following six years as CNN's bureau chief in Johannesburg, South Africa. For two decades, she worked for PBS, where she served as national correspondent for "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer," and anchored the award-winning newsmagazine on human rights, "Rights and Wrongs."
The Emmy award-winning journalist will share her journey in America and beyond with breakfast guests at the annual holiday celebration. The event -- including musical performances from Melinda Doolittle of "American Idol" fame -- will be broadcast live on Twin Cities Public Television beginning at 8 a.m.
With a theme of "Answering the Call," the 2008 MLK Holiday Breakfast will feature a new community service component that will encourage the 2,000 breakfast guests as well as television viewers to fill out commitment cards pledging to volunteer in the community in the coming year. The effort, with support from Hands On Twin Cities, is expected to generate thousands of hours of volunteer service in the Twin Cities in 2008. Potential volunteers can learn more about service opportunities -- ranging from mentoring a child to serving meals -- at www.mlkbreakfast.org.
Each year, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and the General Mills Foundation host the annual MLK Jr. Holiday Breakfast, a Twin Cities tradition at the Minneapolis Convention Center that kicks off a day of metro-wide celebrations. The event honors Dr. King's contributions to the civil rights movement, which not only transformed American laws and life, but also inspired worldwide human rights reforms.
Although tickets for the breakfast at the Minneapolis Convention Center are sold out, the St. Paul Area Council of Churches again this year will host five simultaneous events in St. Paul and Duluth, where guests can enjoy breakfast and watch the live broadcast together. These community breakfasts -- held from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. -- are free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Reservations are available online at the St. Paul Area Council of Churches Web site at www.spacc.org or by phone at 651-789-3877.
The host of ceremonies for the 2008 breakfast will be Angela Davis, reporter for "WCCO This Morning." Davis, a well-known Twin Cities journalist, has been on-air in the market for more than a decade. The breakfast also will feature Gregory Washington & Voices of Praise, as well as the annual Local Legends awards presentation.
This is the 18th year that General Mills and UNCF have collaborated on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast. Previous speakers have included U.S. Rep. John Lewis, Juan Williams, Vernon Jordan, Alex Haley, Cicely Tyson, Yolanda King, Andrew Young and Martin Luther King III. This year's speaker, Hunter-Gault, replaces Tavis Smiley, who was unable to attend the event.
As the nation's oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization, the United Negro College Fund's mission is to provide financial support to its 39 member institutions and increase minority degree attainment by reducing financial barriers to college. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 25 percent of African-American baccalaureate degrees.
The General Mills Foundation, celebrating more than 50 years of giving, is a champion for stronger communities. In fiscal 2007, General Mills awarded $82 million to communities across the country, representing more than 5 percent of company pretax profits that year. Of the total, the General Mills Foundation contributed more than $20 million in grants in the targeted areas of youth nutrition and fitness, social services, education, and arts and culture.
Hunter-Gault, the first black woman admitted to the University of Georgia and the first African-American reporter at the New Yorker, recently rejoined National Public Radio as a correspondent following six years as CNN's bureau chief in Johannesburg, South Africa. For two decades, she worked for PBS, where she served as national correspondent for "The News Hour with Jim Lehrer," and anchored the award-winning newsmagazine on human rights, "Rights and Wrongs."
The Emmy award-winning journalist will share her journey in America and beyond with breakfast guests at the annual holiday celebration. The event -- including musical performances from Melinda Doolittle of "American Idol" fame -- will be broadcast live on Twin Cities Public Television beginning at 8 a.m.
With a theme of "Answering the Call," the 2008 MLK Holiday Breakfast will feature a new community service component that will encourage the 2,000 breakfast guests as well as television viewers to fill out commitment cards pledging to volunteer in the community in the coming year. The effort, with support from Hands On Twin Cities, is expected to generate thousands of hours of volunteer service in the Twin Cities in 2008. Potential volunteers can learn more about service opportunities -- ranging from mentoring a child to serving meals -- at www.mlkbreakfast.org.
Each year, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and the General Mills Foundation host the annual MLK Jr. Holiday Breakfast, a Twin Cities tradition at the Minneapolis Convention Center that kicks off a day of metro-wide celebrations. The event honors Dr. King's contributions to the civil rights movement, which not only transformed American laws and life, but also inspired worldwide human rights reforms.
Although tickets for the breakfast at the Minneapolis Convention Center are sold out, the St. Paul Area Council of Churches again this year will host five simultaneous events in St. Paul and Duluth, where guests can enjoy breakfast and watch the live broadcast together. These community breakfasts -- held from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. -- are free and open to the public, but reservations are required. Reservations are available online at the St. Paul Area Council of Churches Web site at www.spacc.org or by phone at 651-789-3877.
The host of ceremonies for the 2008 breakfast will be Angela Davis, reporter for "WCCO This Morning." Davis, a well-known Twin Cities journalist, has been on-air in the market for more than a decade. The breakfast also will feature Gregory Washington & Voices of Praise, as well as the annual Local Legends awards presentation.
This is the 18th year that General Mills and UNCF have collaborated on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Breakfast. Previous speakers have included U.S. Rep. John Lewis, Juan Williams, Vernon Jordan, Alex Haley, Cicely Tyson, Yolanda King, Andrew Young and Martin Luther King III. This year's speaker, Hunter-Gault, replaces Tavis Smiley, who was unable to attend the event.
As the nation's oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization, the United Negro College Fund's mission is to provide financial support to its 39 member institutions and increase minority degree attainment by reducing financial barriers to college. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 25 percent of African-American baccalaureate degrees.
The General Mills Foundation, celebrating more than 50 years of giving, is a champion for stronger communities. In fiscal 2007, General Mills awarded $82 million to communities across the country, representing more than 5 percent of company pretax profits that year. Of the total, the General Mills Foundation contributed more than $20 million in grants in the targeted areas of youth nutrition and fitness, social services, education, and arts and culture.
Friday, January 11, 2008
The Wiz
The University of Minnesota Theatre will perform The Wiz in April of 2008 under the artistic team of director Dominic Taylor, assistant director T. Mychael Rambo, musical director Sanford Moore, and choreographer Uri Sands. This tour de force artistic team will explore Oz like never before, leading a cast comprised of students from many disciplines throughout the University.
WHAT: The Wiz
WHEN: April 11-19, 2008
WHO: University of Minnesota's Department of Theatre Arts and Dance students under the direction of Dominic Taylor, with T. Mychael Rambo, musical direction by Sanford Moore, and choreography by Uri Sands.
WHERE: Rarig Center's Stoll Thrust Theatre, West Bank Arts Quarter, University of Minnesota. 330 21st Ave. S, Minneapolis
TICKETS: $12 - $17 and $2 at the door. U of M Arts Ticket Office 612.624.2345.
THE TRADITION OF OZ
Through the trials and tribulations of Dorothy, The Wiz tells a tale of finding one's place in the world. The universal themes of courage, intelligence, love, and the importance of home are personal journeys that each character takes on their own. Even while the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and Dorothy all travel together, their journey is one of finding what each are missing as individuals: a heart, a brain, courage, and a home.
The University Theatre is proud to be a part of the long history of The Wiz. In 1975 The Wiz opened and ran for 1,672 performances on Broadway. Two subsequent national tours and one big-budget/big star film adaptation later, The Wiz became known for its electric musical score and its all African American cast, which was a first for Broadway. More than 30 years later, The Wiz is poised for a possible return to Broadway with the recent success of the Los Angeles based Ja Jolla Playhouse's re-imagining of the tale, and an overwhelming renewed interest in the Land of Oz.
Despite the many adaptations of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the heart of the story remains the same. Wherever Oz may be to you -- whether as a new student at the University of Minnesota, in a new job, or the deserts of Iraq -- if you believe in yourself, you can always find home.
TICKET/PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The Wiz runs April 11th - 19th, 2008, at the Rarig Center's Stoll Thrust Theatre in the University of Minnesota's West Bank Arts Quarter. For ticket information, call the University Arts Ticket Office at 612.624.2345 or visit the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance.. For group sales information, call 612.625.8878. For additional information please contact Sean M. Nolan at utheatre@umn.edu or call 612.625.4001.
WHAT: The Wiz
WHEN: April 11-19, 2008
WHO: University of Minnesota's Department of Theatre Arts and Dance students under the direction of Dominic Taylor, with T. Mychael Rambo, musical direction by Sanford Moore, and choreography by Uri Sands.
WHERE: Rarig Center's Stoll Thrust Theatre, West Bank Arts Quarter, University of Minnesota. 330 21st Ave. S, Minneapolis
TICKETS: $12 - $17 and $2 at the door. U of M Arts Ticket Office 612.624.2345.
THE TRADITION OF OZ
Through the trials and tribulations of Dorothy, The Wiz tells a tale of finding one's place in the world. The universal themes of courage, intelligence, love, and the importance of home are personal journeys that each character takes on their own. Even while the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and Dorothy all travel together, their journey is one of finding what each are missing as individuals: a heart, a brain, courage, and a home.
The University Theatre is proud to be a part of the long history of The Wiz. In 1975 The Wiz opened and ran for 1,672 performances on Broadway. Two subsequent national tours and one big-budget/big star film adaptation later, The Wiz became known for its electric musical score and its all African American cast, which was a first for Broadway. More than 30 years later, The Wiz is poised for a possible return to Broadway with the recent success of the Los Angeles based Ja Jolla Playhouse's re-imagining of the tale, and an overwhelming renewed interest in the Land of Oz.
Despite the many adaptations of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the heart of the story remains the same. Wherever Oz may be to you -- whether as a new student at the University of Minnesota, in a new job, or the deserts of Iraq -- if you believe in yourself, you can always find home.
TICKET/PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The Wiz runs April 11th - 19th, 2008, at the Rarig Center's Stoll Thrust Theatre in the University of Minnesota's West Bank Arts Quarter. For ticket information, call the University Arts Ticket Office at 612.624.2345 or visit the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance.. For group sales information, call 612.625.8878. For additional information please contact Sean M. Nolan at utheatre@umn.edu or call 612.625.4001.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Save Yar Campaign
Ajak Mading and her sister Yar were abducted on October 3, 2007, from a village in southeastern Sudan. Ajak will turn two years old on Monday, January 14, but her parents still do not know where she and her sister are. The two girls are among hundreds of young children who have been abducted by armed groups in southeastern Sudan in the last two years because of their future value as brides. That the local government has taken no steps to find Yar and Ajak reflects how children's rights have been overshadowed by power struggles between ethnic groups in southeastern Sudan.
The University of Minnesota Human Rights Program and its Save Yar Campaign invite you to gather at noon Monday, January 14, in the Rotunda of the Minnesota State Capitol to commemorate Ajak's second birthday. Moreover we will issue an appeal to Sultan Ismail Konyi, the leading public official from the Murle ethnic group. (Yar and Ajak are believed to have been abducted by one of several remotely located armed groups of Murle ethnicity.) Sultan Konyi has publicly condemned child abduction, but we will call upon Sultan Konyi to take a personal role in working with local Murle leaders to find Yar, Ajak, and other young abductees, and to negotiate for their release.
The University of Minnesota Human Rights Program and student groups have taken up this cause in solidarity with Minnesota's growing African population including Gabriel Kou Solomon of St. Paul, the uncle of Yar and Ajak. U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum and U.S. Sens. Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar have issued official statements on this crisis: Visit www.save-yar.org for details. Monday's event will be attended by state and federal legislators and their aides. For more information on the event, contact Daniel Lynx Bernard, coordinator, Save Yar Campaign, dbernard@umn.edu.
The University of Minnesota Human Rights Program and its Save Yar Campaign invite you to gather at noon Monday, January 14, in the Rotunda of the Minnesota State Capitol to commemorate Ajak's second birthday. Moreover we will issue an appeal to Sultan Ismail Konyi, the leading public official from the Murle ethnic group. (Yar and Ajak are believed to have been abducted by one of several remotely located armed groups of Murle ethnicity.) Sultan Konyi has publicly condemned child abduction, but we will call upon Sultan Konyi to take a personal role in working with local Murle leaders to find Yar, Ajak, and other young abductees, and to negotiate for their release.
The University of Minnesota Human Rights Program and student groups have taken up this cause in solidarity with Minnesota's growing African population including Gabriel Kou Solomon of St. Paul, the uncle of Yar and Ajak. U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum and U.S. Sens. Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar have issued official statements on this crisis: Visit www.save-yar.org for details. Monday's event will be attended by state and federal legislators and their aides. For more information on the event, contact Daniel Lynx Bernard, coordinator, Save Yar Campaign, dbernard@umn.edu.
Monday, January 7, 2008
MLK event
Northwest Airlines is sponsoring a January 9, 2008 event about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
"Courage to Live the Dream: Commitment, Community, Opportunity.
"Courage to Live the Dream: Commitment, Community, Opportunity.
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