SETTING THE STAGE

The Women of the African Diaspora conference arose from vibrant conversations in journals, at national and international conferences and in our classrooms. As we participated in and generated discussions with writers, scholars, and activists, we recognized the need for a forum that would bring academics, activists, artisans, and other world-changers together. Women of the African Diaspora: Writers, Scholars, and Activists in Conversation unites some of the most dynamic thinkers we know. We hope that conversations commenced at The University of Texas at El Paso will resonate for years to come. We know that this meeting will connect colleagues who share common interests and experiences. It will also shape our understandings of diasporic identity, experience, and politics. We invite you to test new ideas and time-worn boundaries throughout the conference. We hope you will feel free to engage, explore, and question notions of diasporic people, places, and productions. We thank you for contributing your best ideas to this important discussion.  

Conference Organizers

Maceo Dailey, Marion Rohrleitner, Sarah Ryan, and Joyce Stahmer  

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Thursday April 15th, Natural Gas Conference Center

6pm                    Any Black Woman in the Postnational House? Gendered Geographies of Home in the  Diaspora, Ayo Coly

                          Opening Reception and Book Signing

Friday April 16th, Natural Gas Conference Center

8:30am                Black is not art, Art is not black, Olumide Popoola

9:30-10:30           A freedom stolen, Dr. Yvette Christiansë  & Dr. Kathy Staudt

10:45-11:45         Keeping the story alive, Dr. Natasha Gordon-Chipembere & Joyce Stahmer

12:00-1:30pm     Framing the silence, Dr. Myriam J. A. Chancy

1:45-2:45           Tales of love and survival, Ana-Maurine Lara & Cynthia Selfa

3-4                    The poetics of justice, Angie Cruz & Sacha Pimentel

430pm              Closing Reception and Steel Drum Band Performance