ANNUAL CONFERENCE Hampton Inn LaGuardia New York, New York October 29-31, 2015
Academic and Social Impact of Africana, African and Black Studies: Teaching, Research, Publication and Dissemination of Information AHSA OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Shelby Lewis, President LaVerne Gyant, Vice President Gloria Braxton, Secretary General William Boone, Interim Treasurer William Dorsey, Director Stephanie Evans, Director Shelia Flemming-Hunter, Director Leonard Jeffries, Director Mack Jones, Director Mae King, Director Abdul Nanji, Director Elsie Scott, Director James Turner, Director
AGENTS, COMMISSIONERS, COORDINATORS AND MANAGERS Carolyn Williams, Registered Agent Mack Jones, Chair, Policy Commission and Face Book Manager Shelia Flemming-Hunter, Chair, Archives Commission Leonard Jeffries, Chair, History Commission William Dorsey, Chair, By-Laws Commission Gloria Braxton, Editor, AHSA Newsletter LaVerne Gyant, Chair, Program Committee Darlita Moye, Coordinator, AHSA Institute Sidney Alfred, AHSA Webmaster
AHSA LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP CIRCLE
• Ron Daniels • Gerterlyn Dossier • Mae C. King • Tilden LeMelle • Shelby F. Lewis • Beverly Lindsey ANNUAL CONFERENCE PLANNING TEAM
2015 PROGRAM COMMITTEE
LaVerne Gyant, Chair Gloria Braxton, Member Shelby Lewis, Member
2015 LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE
Leonard Jeffries, Co-Chair James Small, Co-Chair Abdul Nanji, Member Perezi Kamunanwire, Member Greetings from the President
Welcome to the 2015 Conference of the African Heritage Studies Association (AHSA)
From its founding in 1969, AHSA has documented and explicated the global context in which simultaneous forces of racial slavery, colonialism and imperialism emerged, converged, pillaged the African world and interrupted its development. Since entering a Renewal Phase in 2012, the association has focused on examining and confronting current historical forces that destroy the lives of African descendants and divide, destabilize, exploit and shape relations among African peoples and between African peoples and the rest of the world.
One outcome of this Renewal is the inclusion of the Summit of Professional Associations in the 2015 Annual AHSA Conference. The Summit is designed to promote productive deliberations on collaboration strategies for engaging the struggle for Human Rights and Justice for African Descendants. As background for the Summit, a copy of the Call for Collaboration is attached to this letter. All conference participants are invited to join the Roundtable deliberations and follow our progress towards implementation of recommendations in the AHSA Newsletter.
I want to congratulate and thank the AHSA Board of Directors for providing the wind beneath the wings of AHSA’s Renewal Program. It is still a work in progress, but the flame has been ignited and we are regaining our position as the preferred forum for scholarly exchanges on the history, culture, achievements, conditions, ideas, struggles and goals of African descendants on the continent and in the diaspora. Special thanks to Dr. Gloria Braxton for posting monthly AHSA Newsletters that inform the community about association activities and program development. Thanks also to Dr. LaVerne Gyant for developing a quality conference program, and Dr. Mack Jones for ensuring AHSA’s presence on Social Media. Finally, I offer sincere thanks to all of the supporters of the 2015 Annual AHSA Conference.
A Luta Continua
Shelby F. Lewis, President AHSA AFRICAN HERITAGE STUDIES ASSOCIATION A Call for Collaboration on Human Rights and Justice for African Descendants July 21, 2015 African descendants have been targets of crimes against humanity in the United States for centuries. State sanctioned slavery, segregation and discriminatory laws and policies produced a safe environment for violence, hate and terrorism, including lynching, police brutality, gross injustices in the governance system, and Ku Klux Klan and other hate group attacks on individuals and their organizations and churches. The racist massacre of nine African Americans inside Emanuel AME Church on Wednesday, June 17, 2015 is only one of the recent reminders of oppression through terrorism. We extend heartfelt sympathy and solidarity to the families of the Emanuel Nine, but we know that while it is necessary to offer solidarity and denounce racial violence and injustice, such action is not sufficient to bring about the long-overdue change that we need. We must wage a smart, massive struggle to end the barbaric rein of terror that is the handmaiden of white entitlement and white privilege. Most of us have engaged in laborious research, published books and taught courses that examined 21st century and late 20th century manifestations of terrorism: mass incarceration, militarization of police forces, disenfranchisement and the resurgence of Reconstruction/Jim Crow laws, policies and behavior. We marched with outraged citizens and proclaimed that “Black Lives Matter.” We documented and denounced the serial murders of Black men and the mistreatment of Black women and children, and we demanded human rights and justice for all. Yet, the long rein of terror continues! We believe that now is the time for Black professional associations to collaborate, to combine our collective knowledge, expertise and experiences in order to help prevent African descendants yet unborn from being consumed by racist oppression, to enable them to be “free at last.” The African Heritage Studies Association (AHSA) is calling for a Summit of Black professional associations in conjunction with the October 29-31, 2015 Annual AHSA Meeting at the National Black Theatre in New York. The goal of the Summit is to develop An Agenda and Work Plan for Human Rights and Justice for African Descendants. Collaborative Sessions will be held on Friday, October 30, 2015 and a Wrap-up Session is scheduled for Saturday, October 31st. All sessions will focus on the following questions: What does Political and Social Justice for African Descendants Look Like? How can we work together to eliminate racial injustice and terrorism? Is the solution local, national, global, or all of the above? How much time and resources are we prepared to commit to this collaborative endeavor? The Time for Action is NOW!
Shelby F. Lewis, PhD President, African Heritage Studies Association . CONFERENCE PROGRAM
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015 Conference Registration 11:00 AM – 5:00 pm (New York A & B) AHSA Board Meeting 8:30 AM – 10:00 pm (New York B) AHSA Business Meeting 10:15 AM – 12:30 pm (New York A ======
1:30pm - 3:15pm OPENING SESSION (New York A & B) ======Welcome: Shelby Lewis, AHSA President Panel: HONORING AHSA PIONEERS IN AFRICANA STUDIES Chair: Abdul Nanji, Columbia University Panelists: “From John Henrik Clarke to James Turner ” Greg Carr, Howard University “The Legacy of Charshee McIntyre – In Memoriam” LaVerne Gyant, Northern Illinois University “The Legacy of W.B. Ofuatey-Kodjoe – In Memoriam” Leonard Jeffries, City College of New York (Emeritus)
Comments from colleagues and friends 3:30pm-5:00pm SESSION 2 (New York A)
Panel: DIMENSIONS OF ANALYSIS IN AFRICANA STUDIES: CONVERSATIONS ACROSS SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT Chair: Karanja Keita Carrol, SUNY New Paltz Panelists: Chris Roberts, Temple University Sekhmet Ra Ern Kht Maat, Simmons College of Kentucky Luana Horry, CUNY Graduate Center Jessica Hamilton, Temple University Ifetayo M. Flannery, Temple University
3:30pm-5:00pm - SESSION 3 (New York B) ======Panel: TEACHING AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES Chair: William Dorsey, Atlanta Metropolitan College Panelists: “Challenges of Teaching African American History in U.S. Public Schools: Reflections From 20 Years of Teaching” Brian Morrison, Watkins Education Institute Inc. “Behind Enemy Lines: The Role of the African Teacher in 21st Century Colonial Schools” Akil Parker, Lincoln University “Missing in Our History: Bimbia, Cameroon, in the Transatlantic Slave Trade – The Apertura” Lisa Aubrey, Arizona State University
6:00pm – 9:00pm - RECEPTION John Henrik Clarke House, 286 Convent Avenue, Harlem, New York (201-807-2355) FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2015
8:30am-10:00am SESSION 4 (New York A&B) Plenary: AFRICAN, AFRICANA AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES Chair: Gloria Braxton, Southern University (Emeritus) Participants “Africana Studies and Research Center, Cornell University “ James Turner, Founder (tentative) “African American Studies, Emory University” Delores Aldridge, Founder “Africana Studies, Temple University” Molefi Asante, Founder “Africana Women’s Studies, Atlanta University” Shelby Lewis, Founder -
10:15am –11:45pm SESSION 5 (New York A) ======Panel: LIBERATING VOICES Chair: Shelia Flemming Hunter, Clark Atlanta University Panelists: “Teaching The Sorrow Songs in The Souls of Black Folk” MaryNell Morgan, SUNY-Empire State College “Gender Mainstreaming Governments and Public Institutions” Catherine Kanabahita Guma, Makerere University “ Stay in Your Lane: A Black Woman’s Fate in the 21s Century “ Celillianne Green, Washington, DC. 10:15am - 11:45pm SESSION 6 (New York B) Panel: TEACHING AND ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Chair: Gerterlyn Dossier, Baruch College Panelists: “Teaching About the Black Panther Party and Li’l Bobby Hutton: Pedagogy, Social Problems, and a Black Social Movement” -J. Vern Cromartie, Contra Costa College “Macroaggressions in Media, Social Spaces, and Programming” Bianca McGraw, SUNY Buffalo State University “The Drum Major Instinct in West & Dyson: An Analysis of Egomania” Mark Christian, Lehman College
12:15pm-1:15pm LUNCH (On Your Own)
1:30pm-3:00pm SESSION 7 (New York A&B) ======Round Table: GLOBAL APPROACHES TO JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA AND THE DIASPORA Chair: Leonard Jeffries, AHSA Board of Directors Panelists: “The African Renaissance and the Diaspora Network: the Global Alliance” Djibril Diallo, UNAIDS “How African Universities Underdeveloped African Legal Education: The Challenge of Teaching African Customary Law in Africa” Akin Ibidapo-Obe, University of Lagos Law School Pan-Africanism and Global Reparations” Ife Williams, Delaware County Community College 3:15pm – 4:45pm SESSION 8 (New York A) ======Roundtable: DISCIPLINARY ASSOCIATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUSTICE FOR AFRICAN DESCENDANTS Chair: Darlita Moye, AHSA Institute Participants: Shelby Lewis, African Heritage Studies Association Todd Shaw, National Conference of Black Political Scientists Segun Shabaka, National Association of Kawaida Organizations Gloria Scott & L. Zakiya Newland, National Association of Black Social Workers Gregory Thomas, National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives Sheila Flemming-Hunter, National Association for the Study of African American Life and History 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm SESSION 9 (New York A&B)
ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET Presiding: Shelby Lewis, AHSA President Introduction of the Speaker: Leonard Jeffries, AHSA Board of Directors
Banquet Speaker
DR. RON DANIELS “THE STATE OF THE BLACK WORLD’
2015 AHSA AWARDS
African Heritage Award DR. JAMES TURNER Pioneering Giant in Africana Studies and 2nd and 5th President of AHSA
Extraordinary Service Awards
o Dr. Hassan Adamu o Dr. Ron Daniels o Dr. Tilden LeMelle o Dr. Gloria Braxton SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2015
9:30am -11:30am SESSION 10 (New York A) ======Panel: MYRIAD WAYS THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER Chair: LaVerne Gyant, Conference Program Chair Panelists: “New Public Policy Direction for Public Housing Privatization Revealed ” Carolyn Sue Williams, Consolidated Services Worldwide “Building Bridges for STEM Professionals of Color: Moving Toward the Center or Remaining at the Periphery” Beverly Lindsay, University College of London “The Black Lives Matter Movement” Representative, Black Lives Matter Movement “Report: Summit on Human Rights and Justice for African Descendants” Gloria Braxton, AHSA Secretary General 11:45am – 2:00pm CLOSING SESSION (New York A&B) ======ANNUAL AHSA LUNCHEON
Presiding: Mae King, AHSA Board of Directors Introduction of Speaker: Chuks Ochonogor, Pro-Chancellor, Novena University,
KEYNOTE LUNCHEON SPEAKER
AMBASSADOR HASSAN ADAMU Business Man, Diplomat, Public Servant and Philanthropist
Acknowledgements: Shelby F. Lewis, AHSA President LaVerne Gyant, Conference Program Chair
2:30 pm End of Conference Dr. James Turner 2015 African Heritage Awardee
Dr. James Turner is a trusted leader and a brilliant African-centered analyst and lecturer, who has mentored hundreds of students and colleagues, all of whom have benefited from his advice and support. He has had a distinguished career as a scholar activist in the field of Black/Africana Studies. He is one of the visionary, architects and leaders of the National Council of Black Studies and a founding member of TransAfrica and the African Heritage Studies Association (AHSA), where he served two terms as president. In 1969, the same year that AHSA was founded, Dr. Turner became founding director of the Africana Studies & Research Center at Cornell University. He coined the term “Africana Studies” to address the comprehensive studies of Africa and the African Diaspora. Under his leadership the Center hosted the State of Black America Conferences, supported various struggles and movements and became a place where scholar-activists and community-activists could meet, acquire information, retool and discuss their works. Dr. Turner was an organizer for the Southern Africa Liberation Support Committee; Chair of the North American Delegation to the Sixth Pan African Congress; Co-chair of the International Congress of Africanists in Ethiopia; and a member of the editorial board of a number of Black Studies journals. As a Schomburg Research Fellow at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, his work on the political philosophy of Malcolm X led to his selection as Chair of the National Malcolm X Commemoration Commission that made 1990- The Year of Malcolm X a success. Dr. Ron Daniels Keynote Banquet Speaker
Veteran social and political activist Dr. Ron Daniels was an independent candidate for President of the United States in 1992. He served as Executive Director of the National Rainbow Coalition in 1987 and Southern Regional Coordinator and Deputy Campaign Manager for the Jesse Jackson for President Campaign in 1988. He holds a B.A. in History from Youngstown State University, an M.A. in Political Science from the Rockefeller School of Public Affairs in Albany, New York and a Doctor of Philosophy in Africana Studies from the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati. He currently serves as Distinguished Lecturer at York College, City University of New York. From 1993-2005 Dr. Daniels served as first African American Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR). During his tenure, CCR emerged as a major force fighting against police brutality and misconduct, church burnings, hate crimes, voter disenfranchisement, environmental racism and the threats to civil liberties posed by the government’s response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. In June of 1995, Dr. Daniels led an African American fact finding and support delegation/mission to Haiti. As a result of the visit, the Haiti Support Project (HSP) was created to mobilize ongoing political and material support for the struggle for democracy and development in Haiti. HSP has emerged as the leading African American organization working to build a constituency for Haiti in the U.S. A prolific essayist and commentator, Dr. Daniels’ column Vantage Point appears in numerous Black and progressive newspapers and web sites nationwide. He is also an occasional radio talk show host who Guest Hosts the WWRL Morning Show, 1600 AM in New York, The Warren Ballentine Show, Keeping It Real with Rev. Al Sharpton on the Radio One Network and, Make It Plain with Mark Thompson on SIRIUS/XM Satellite Radio. Dr. Daniels is Founder and President of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century [www.ibw21.org], a progressive, African centered, action oriented Resource Center dedicated to empowering people of African descent and marginalized communities. Dr. Hassan Adamu Keynote Luncheon Speaker
Dr.Dr. AdamuAdamu isis a a titled titled chief chief (Wakili (Wakili Adamawa) Adamawa),, a businessa business man manand and a public a public servant servant who who has heldhas held governmentgovernment postsposts atat both both local local and and national national levels, levels, including including serving serving as Ambassadoras Ambassador to theto the UnitedUnited States;States; High HighCommissioner Commissionerto tothe theCommonwealth Commonwealthof theof theBahamas; Bahamas;Secretary Secretaryfor Powerfor Power andand Steel;Steel;Minister Minister of of Agriculture Agriculture and and Rural Rural Development; Development; and and Minister Minister of theof Environment.the Environment. He He isis viewedviewed as as a akeen keen promoter promoter and and observer observer of agroof agro-technology,-technology, especially especially biotechnology biotechnology and andits its rolerole inin advancing advancing food food security security in inAfrica. Africa. Believing Believingthat that“Educ “Educationation is the is theKey Keyto Development to Development,”,” Dr.Dr. AdamuAdamu currentlycurrentlyserves servesas asChancellor Chancellorof ofEnugu EnuguState StateUniversity Universityof Technology of Technology,, Delta DeltaState State CollegeCollege andand NovenaNovena UniverUniversity.sity.
WithinWithin thethe NigerianNigerian businessbusinesssector, sector,Dr. Dr.Adamu Adamuhas hasoccupied occupiedthe theposition positionof Chairmanof Chairmanof of NAFON;NAFON; NICON;NICON; NRIC;NRIC;Hadeji Hadejiaa Jama; Jama;’and ’andRiver RiverBasi Basinn Development DevelopmentAuthority. Authority.He Hewas wasa a DirectorDirector atat Cadbury;Cadbury;Le Leverver Brothers Brothersand andWiggins WigginsTeape; Teape;Nexim NeximBank; Bank;NAL NALMer chaMerchantnt Bank; Bank; andand SocietySocietyBancaire. Bancaire. He Hewas waselected electedPresident Presidentof Manufacturesof ManufacturesAssociation Associationof Nigeria of Nigeria(MAN) (MAN) forfor aaperiod periodof ofseven sevenyears, years,making makinghim himthe thesecond secondlongest longestserving servingPresident Presidentof MAN of MANafter afterChief Chief Odutola.Odutola. Dr.Dr. AdamuAdamualso alsoserved servedas asChairman Chairmanof ofNigeria NigeriaIndustrial IndustrialComplex ComplexLimited; Limited;Bagale Bagale Motels;Motels; NigerNiger BrassBrassShipping ShippingLine; Line;Bulkship BulkshipNigeria NigeriaLimited; Limited;O.A.N. O.A.N.Agency AgencyLimited, Limited,and and FrenchiesFrenchies NNig.ig. Limited.Limited.He Heis ispresently presentlyChairman, Chairman,of ofthe theBoard Boardof Nigeriaof NigeriaDepos Depositit Insurance Insurance Corporation. Corporation. Dr. Adamu holds a Bachelors degree in Economics and a Post Graduate Diploma in Transport Dr. Adamu holds a Bachelors degree in Economics and a Post Graduate Diploma in Transport StudieStudiess fromfrom thetheUniversity Universityof ofLondon Londonand andthe therecipient recipientof manyof manyHonorary HonoraryDegrees, Degrees,including including LLD,LLD, AhmaduAhmadu BelloBelloUniversity; University;DSC DSC;; Dan DanFodio FodioUniversity; University;LLD, LLD,Clark ClarkAtlanta AtlantaUniversity University,, USA;USA; DoctorDoctorof ofEnvironmental EnvironmentalScience, Science,Babcock BabcockUniversity, University,Ogun OgunState; State;Delta DeltaState StateCollege College;; andand NovenaNovenaUniversity. University.The Theprestigious prestigiousnational nationalhonor honorof ofth etheCommander Commanderof Theof TheOrder OrderOf theOf the NigerNiger (CON)(CON) hashasalso alsob eenbeenawarded awardedto Dr.to Dr.Hassan HassanAdamu. Adamu.He isHe frequently is frequently descri beddescribed as a as compassionatea compassionate man man with with a deepa deep sense sense of fairof -fair-play,play, and anda “consummate a “consummate philanthropist” philanthropist” who who valuesvalues friendshipfriendship andand loyaltyloyalty andand isis supportivesupportive ofof otherother people’speople’s aspirations.”aspirations.”