African and African Diaspora Studies

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african & african diaspora studies at boston college

BC News

New Director of African and African Diaspora Studies

On July 1, 2009, Dr. Rhonda Frederick became the new Director of the African and African Diaspora Studies program.  An associate professor in the English department, Professor Frederick's research interests include Caribbean and African American literatures, particularly twentieth century women's popular fiction, mystery/detective, and futurist fiction/fantasy writing.  Her first book, "Colón Man a Come": Mythographies of Panamá Canal Migration, examines the recurring figure of the Panama Canal worker in Caribbean literature, song, and memoir.  Her current project investigates black Americas writers' engagement with a black pan-genre reading audience through the consideration of science fiction/fantasy, mystery/detective, and/or futurist fiction.


History of the Black Talent Program

William Bole has published "Power of the People:  An Oral History of the Black Talent Program" in the spring 2009 edition of the Boston College Magazine.  Read the article here.


Grace Akallo lecture "Girl Soldier" available on BC Front Row

Grace Akallo discusses her experiences as a child soldier in Uganda after she was kidnapped at age 15 by a rebel group, and forced to serve in their army. She is the author, along with Faith J.H. McDonnell, of Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda’s Children (Chosen, 2007).  Akallo's lecture was originally delivered November 18, 2008.  Visit Front Row to view the lecture.



Letter to President Obama

Read AADS Director Dr. Cynthia Young's letter to President Barack Obama.


Dr. Cynthia Young featured on WGBH's "Basic Black" TV show, June 6, 2008

Dr. Cynthia Young, Director of the African & African Diaspora Studies Program at Boston College, appeared on the WGBH show “Basic Black” on June 6, 2008.  Dr. Young participated in a conversation focused on the presidential run of Senator Barack Obama. “Basic Black” is a half-hour long show and “is Boston's longest-running weekly television program devoted exclusively to African American themes.”


A Sad Farewell

The African and African Diaspora Studies program bids a sad farewell to beloved professor and anti-apartheid activist Christopher Nteta.

 

Shelby lecture available online

Tommie Shelby, a faculty member at Harvard University, describes how class differences among African Americans undermine the community's efforts to build a unified progressive movement. Listen to or view his talk Class, Poverty and Shame online today!

 

Walters is proud alum of ECU and valuable asset to BC

Prof. Hubert Walters was recently the subject of an article titled "Songs in the Key of Life" featured on the East Carolina University's website. Walters, professor of Music at BC and Director of Voices of Imani, is an alum of East Carolina University.

 

Singh lecture available online

Boston College Magazine's online version provides links to videos and recordings of lectures and events at BC. Last April, Historian Nikhil Singh presented a lecture titled "Beyond the Empire of Jim Crow: Race and Foreign Policy in the Post Civil Rights Era." He was introduced by African & African Diaspora Studies Affiliate Faculty member (History) Davarian Baldwin and African and African Diaspora Studies Program Director Cynthia Young. Visit the Front Row website for a video or audio recording of this lecture.

 

Stephens' book available online and at the BC library

On Wednesday, November 8th, 2007 Michelle Stephens presented a talk at Boston College as part of the New Directions Lecture Series sponsored by African & African Diaspora Studies. Copies of Stephens' new book Black Empire: The Masculine Global Imaginary of Caribbean Intellectuals in the United States, 1914-1962 (Durham: Duke University Press, 2005), is available at the Boston College library and is available for purchase online at Amazon.com.

Local and Other News


In Memoriam:  John Hope Franklin


March 24, 2009

John Hope Franklin, a pioneering scholar in the field of African American history, has died at the age of 94.

Remembrances:

New York Times
Boston Globe
Washington Post
Duke University




Busing in Boston:  Reappraisals of Race and Education in the City


"It's Time to End Busing in Boston"

Ted Landsmark
January 31, 2009

School Buses' Vacant Seats Costing Hub
James Vaznis
February 2, 2009



Ethiopia

"Investigating Africa's Guantanamo"

Robert Walker, BBC News
October 1, 2008