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Vol. 22 F College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Association F Fall 2008 AAADS adds doctorate, more dual MA programs he most momentous event at importance of transnational, global, and John McCluskey, professor of African AAADS this year was the official comparative perspectives. This diasporic American and African diaspora studies and T approval of the innovative PhD approach closely examines emancipation, adjunct professor of English, chaired the program in African American and African imperialism, decolonization, racism, and PhD Proposal Committee that crafted the diaspora studies, making IU the seventh other phenomena through the disciplines program that was finally approved. Mc- university in the nation to offer the PhD in of history, politics, sociology, and literature Cluskey describes the process thus: “On Africana or black studies. The first doctoral and the arts. With a choice of specializations the very first day the committee met, we cohort will be admitted for fall 2009. — “Power, Citizenship, and the State” or reviewed the requirements for the existing The 90-credit-hour doctoral program is “Race, Representation, and Knowledge Sys- doctorates in African American studies and an interdisciplinary analysis of race in the tems” — graduate students can focus their shared our thoughts on our own graduate world, focusing on the experiences of people course work toward their academic goals, training. We would create a program that of African descent in the United States and culminating in a dissertation project that none of us had completely experienced — in the African diaspora and emphasizing the may be both scholarly and creative. (continued on page 5)

AAADS lectures bring other perspectives into focus for students n Oct. 3, renowned filmmaker Julie Dash spoke on “My ONarrative: Experiences of a Filmmaker” as part of the “Reel Images: Film in Teaching and Research” conference at the Neal–Marshall Black Culture Center. On Nov. 5, the Black Film Center/Archive hosted filmmaker Donnie L. Betts, who screened his documentary about Oscar Brown Jr. On Nov. 19, the AAADS Critical Issues Lecture Series was given by Tonia Poteat on the topic “Botswana to Bloomington: A Clinician’s Perspective on HIV in Africa and the U.S.” The AIDS activist, public health practitioner, HIV clinician, and scholar dis- cussed the global politics of HIV representation and care, focusing on Africa, African America, and the links between them. On Feb. 11, the AAADS Critical Issues Lecture Series featured Rashad Shabazz on “Carceral Geographies and Black Masculin- ity.” He spoke of the intersections around prison masculinity and spatial order, drawing from history, literature, and geography and using the Robert Taylor housing projects of Chicago to expand on how spatial order prior to prison has consequences in the lives and performance of masculinity for African American males. On April 15, the department hosted a conversation with prize- winning playwright, director, and novelist Suzan-Lori Parks, whose visit to IU was sponsored by the Department of Theatre and Drama. Parks talked about her career and answered questions posed by students and faculty.

The department hosted a conversation, with refreshments, for play- wright-novelist-educator Suzan-Lori Parks (foreground) in April. Parks’s visit to IU was sponsored by the Department of Theatre and Drama. Department News

ties and conducted preliminary research on James Mumford (emeritus director, Faculty notes Afro-Germans, with a special emphasis on African American Choral Ensemble) was A.B. Assensoh and Yvette M. Alex-As- historical rural cultures. named the first recipient of the Black sensoh (political science) presented papers Michael Martin, director of the Black History Month Trailblazer Award, which on Abraham Lincoln and Africa and on Film Center/Archive, has been appointed honors individuals who have been especially Abraham Lincoln, women, and other to the National Advisory Board of the meaningful in the lives of black Blooming- minorities at the International Abraham Washington University Film and Me- tonians. The award was presented at the Lincoln Conference, sponsored by the dia Archive, which includes the Henry city of Bloomington’s Black History Month German Historical Institute in Washington, Hampton/Blackside Collection and the Bill Gala in February. D.C., on Oct. 4–6. The two also attended Miles Collection and is one of the largest (continued on page 3) the 25th annual meeting of the Associa- and most prestigious collections of media tion of Third World Studies in Lima, Peru, materials chronicling the African American where Assensoh presented a paper on experience in the United States. Mar- “Teaching Third World Studies: Africa and tin has an entry in The Little Black Book: From the chair Latin America” and chaired two conference Movies, edited by Chris Fujiwara (Cassell panels and Alex-Assensoh presented “Peda- Illustrated, UK, 2007, p. 440). The piece, Our garden grows gogical Issues in Teaching Third World about a work by Gillo Pontecorvo (Quei- Studies.” Their papers celebrating Ghana’s mada!, 1969), is titled “The Rupture of Over the past few years, the Depart- 50th independence anniversary, which were the Master/Slave Dialectic in Burn!” While ment of African American and Afri- presented at University of London’s School Valerie Grim, chair of the department, is can Diaspora Studies has experienced of Oriental and African Studies, were pub- on sabbatical this year, Martin is serving as phenomenal success in growth of our lished in the summer issue of New African acting chair. degree programs. Read more about Magazine. On Feb. 24, Audrey T. McCluskey was the new PhD and additional MA Marlon Bailey, who also teaches in the the featured speaker, on the topic “We’ve programs in this issue of Atumpan. Department of Gender Studies, has been Come This Far by Faith: Black Women and Such growth has been a collabora- elected chair of the National Black Gay Re- the Civil Rights Struggle,” for the Black tion among search Group. His co-authored article on History Month program at Second Baptist faculty, staff, ballroom culture and HIV/AIDS preven- Church in Bloomington. Mary Smith- and friends, tion was published in the Journal of Gay Forrest, BA’01, MA’06, served as co-chair and they have and Lesbian Social Service’s special spring for the program. On Feb. 14, McCluskey my deepest issue on LGBTQ communities of color and was a presenter at the first Women of Color thanks. their construction of home. Symposium, which examined issues that This Valerie Grim, chair of the department, affect women of color daily. She received year, I will gave an invited lecture in the Common Ex- the Distinguished Alumni Award in Liter- be on leave perience Multicultural Lecture Series at IU conducting ary Arts from her alma mater, Clark Atlanta Valerie Grim Southeast last fall. The talk was titled “Race University, on May 16. research on and Representation: The Impact of Sym- John McCluskey Jr.’s well-respected black farmers, farm policies, and is- bolic Images and Racialized Stereotyping City of Refuge, an anthology of Rudolph sues related to human and civil rights on African Americans’ Lived Experiences.” Fisher’s short stories, is being republished in the United States. My thanks She is guest-editing a special issue for the this fall. The new and revised edition, to Michael Martin for standing in Black Women Gender and Family Journal, published by the University of Missouri as acting chair. During this time, focusing on rural women, children, and Press, brings forth much new material, AAADS will have three essential families of color. She was awarded the including a preface, revised introduction, focuses: preparing to admit the first university’s 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. seven previously unpublished stories, and cohort of PhD students next fall; Building Bridges Faculty Award for dedi- two unpublished speeches, one of which conducting a search to fill a senior cated service and outstanding leadership. In is Fisher’s commencement speech. A new position; and developing the depart- February, Alpha Phi Alpha honored Grim volume of short stories, titled The Jazz ment’s programs and infrastructure. and Fred McElroy with the fraternity’s Fiction Anthology, coming out in 2009 As AAADS continues to grow as Unsung Hero Award for outstanding (IU Press, ed. Sascha Feinstein, et al.), will a department — in enrollments, service and leadership. On sabbatical this include McCluskey’s short story ”Lush majors, and graduating students year, Grim will be conducting research for a Life.” On Oct. 24–27, Callaloo, the dis- — its faculty is experiencing success book on civil rights. Over the summer, she tinguished journal of literature by African through research and publication. taught a Study Abroad course, in collabora- American writers, was feted by the Center As always, we invite your contribu- tion with the Hudson-Holland and Over- for Africana Studies at Johns Hopkins tions in any form, whether donating seas Studies programs, which took students University with a conference that featured to the IU Foundation or offering to Ghana; attended the Tepoztlan Institute the 100 “best creative writers, intellectuals, ideas that can help the department be- for the Transnational History of the Ameri- academics, and artists to launch the journal come even better. Our ability to con- cas, held in Tepoztlan, Mexico; and spent into the next 30 years.” One of those 100 tinue on this path of growth means time at Kiel University in Germany, where is McCluskey, who moderated a panel at having our alumni engaged in our she worked to build greater collaboration the event on “Writing and Publishing in endeavors. We invite your presence. between AAADS and European universi- the U.S.A.” — Valerie Grim

2 AAADS events inspire, stimulate n Nov. 28, the AAADS Graduate Society held a silent Oauction to raise funds for its activities, including the Herman Hudson Symposium. With numerous items — such as artwork, food, and apparel — available to the highest bidders, the auction brought in more than $400 for the group. On Saturday, March 22, the AAADS Graduate Society pre- sented the Herman Hudson Symposium on the theme “Lifting the Veil: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Identity and Responsibility in Global Societies.” The conference featured Sonia Sanchez as the keynote speaker, along with a series of student panels. In the AAADS Brown Bag Lecture Series, highlighting new research and creative activity by faculty and graduate students, took place monthly this year. Seven talks were given by faculty and graduate students: • Regina Barnett, “A Change Gon Come: The Plantation in Ernest J. Gaines’s Bloodline,” Sept. 12; • Hassan Wahab, “Assessing the Symbiotic Relationship Be- tween Ghanaians and African Americans in the Diaspora,” Oct. 10; • Sylvester Johnson (religious studies), “Black Religions, F.B.I. Surveillance, and the Rise of Black Ethnics in the Early 20th Cen- tury,” Nov. 14; • Micol Seigel (AAADS), “Zero Tolerance Goes South: U.S. Police in Latin America after the Cold War,” on Dec. 5; • Sara Bagby Farmer, “Triangulation of the Diaspora: Afro- Caribbean Writers in America,” on Feb. 13; • Kevin Brown (law), “Lessons Learned from Comparing the Application of Constitutional and Federal Discrimination Laws to Poet-activist-educator Sonia Sanchez, keynote speaker for the Higher Education Opportunities of African-Americans in the U.S. graduate-student-produced Herman Hudson Symposium in March, with Dalits in India,” on March 19; and thrilled a large audience of students and faculty with a recounting • Khalil Muhammad (history), “Disappearing Acts: White of past social activism and exhortations for activism today. Criminality in the Age of Jim Crow,” on April 9. She ended the program with a reading of one of her poems.

United States.” On April 17, Stanfield lec- Faculty notes tured on “The Obama Phenomenon,” dis- Adjunct faculty notes (continued from page 2) cussing how U.S. senator and presidential Yvette Alex-Assensoh (political science) Iris Rosa delivered a panel paper, titled candidate Barack Obama “offers a message has been named IU dean for women’s af- “Text and Performance: Carving Out a of civic healing that goes beyond the con- fairs. Assensoh is the second professor con- Space for Latina/o Performance,” at the cept of reparation to achieve broad respect nected to AAADS to head up that office: Blackness in Latin America and Caribbean for individuals, considered as human beings AAADS Professor Emeritus Phyllis Klot- Conference. At the Evening of Contem- and not simply members of a race.” man served as dean from 1986 to 1993. porary Dance Concert in January, she William H. Wiggins (emeritus) was the Kevin Brown (law) published his article premiered “Bolitas de Pegao,” which was 2007 recipient of the William S. Armstrong “Lessons Learned from Comparing the restaged for the African American Dance Award, presented by the university for his Application of Constitutional and Federal Company’s annual spring concert on “ambassadorship” in bringing recogni- Discrimination Laws to Higher Education April 4. Rosa and Stephen Selka are the tion to Indiana University and developing Opportunities of African-Americans in the 2008–09 co-directors for graduate studies. friends for the institution over the years. U.S. with Dalits in India” in the Harvard John Stanfield is the recipient of a Wiggins will be teaching the African Ameri- Blackletter Law Journal. His essay “Re- $250,000 grant from the BEA Founda- cans in Sports course while Gary Sailes flections on Justice Kennedy’s Opinion tion, which provides “grants to support (HPER) is on leave this year. in Parents Involved: Why Fifty Years of organizations or programs that encourage Vernon Williams published an article, Experience Shows Kennedy Was Right” early intellectual development of preschool- titled “An Inclusive History of Sociology,” will be published by the University of South age children.” The foundation’s parent in the March edition of the Journal of Afri- Carolina Law Review this fall. company, BEA, is a provider of infrastruc- can American Studies. In February, he gave Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe (theatre ture software. Stanfield was awarded the a colloquium at the University of California and drama) made her directorial debut at Distinguished Fulbright Chair in American at Riverside. Williams’s most recent book, IU with her production of An American Studies at the Pontifical Catholic University The Social Sciences and Theories of Race Ma(u)l, by Robert O’Hara, on March 21. of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for spring 2008. (2006), was nominated for the 2008 Best Cooper-Anifowoshe received a New Fron- His research topic was “Becoming Hu- Book Award in the Ethnicity and Politics tiers Fellowship to create the first IU Black man Again: Race and Restorative Justice Section by the American Political Science Play Lab and mini-conference, which took in Three Multiracial Societies — Brazil in Association. place July 18–Aug. 3 on the IUB campus. Conversation with South Africa and the (continued on page 5)

3 Student Notebook

Department welcomes • AAADS Outreach Award: Phillip Awards and certificates of recogni- Wagner; tion were presented to various students, new graduate cohort • Curriculum Committee’s Outstanding including the inaugural Joe Russell Award Grader Award: Langston Wilkins; and for Leadership, which went to Tyren The department welcomed 11 new gradu- • Medal of Honor for Service to Edenburgh. Former IU Professor of ate students this fall. The 2008 cohort AAADS: David Amponsah, Cory Brod- Afro-American Studies and Dean of Afro- comprises Malaki Baxa (University of nax, Delphine Criscenzo, Sara Bagby American Affairs Joe Russell (now at Ohio Wisconsin, Madison), Shannon Caldwell Farmer, J.C. Henry, Kate Hipskind, State University), who was on hand for the (Rutgers; Hampton), Adeyemi Doss (Earl- Bergis Jules, and Alyssa Liles-Amponsah. presentation, was honored with a surprise ham College), Heather Essex (Indiana Students, faculty, staff, and friends presentation of the AAADS Distinguished University), Rafi Hasan (University of enjoyed the annual AAADS Undergradu- Service Award. Following the awards, Wisconsin, Parkside; Georgia State), Cara- ate Awards Luncheon, held in the Tudor Stevener Gaskin performed an original lee Jones (), Bernard Room on April 18. The guest speaker was spoken-word poem. McFarland (Martin University; Vincennes Sheryl Wilkerson, BA’85 (AAADS and University), Michael Potts (Youngstown telecommunications), senior vice president University), Shana Riddick (Clark Uni- of marketing, strategy, and external affairs versity), Breon Tyler (Virginia Common- for Ygomi, an international holding and wealth), and Carmen Williams (University operating company for technology services, of Arkansas, Fayette; Arkansas State). headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill. AAADS recognizes achievements Graduating MA students and others were recognized during the annual AAADS Graduate Appreciation Reception, held on April 21. The awards and those honored: • William Wiggins Award for Outstand- ing Teaching: Regina Barnett, Sara Bagby Farmer, and Alyssa Liles-Amponsah; • Phyllis Klotman Award for Outstand- ing Thesis and Creativity: Garlia Jones; • Winona Fletcher Award for Leadership: Katie Dieter;

Professor Valerie Grim presents the Medal of Honor for Service to AAADS to MA student Kate Hipskind during the annual AAADS Graduate Appreciation Reception.

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(800) 824-3044 www.alumni.indiana.edu Professor Audrey McCluskey gives a congratulatory hug to MA student Katie Dieter, who received the Winona Fletcher Award for Leadership.

4 Doctorate Talking Drum (continued from page 1) both interdisciplinary and comparative in Felita R. Bradford, Cert’82, BA’83, is Later, however, he was touched by the sib- nature. By the end of the first meeting, we an officer for U.S. Customs and Border lings’ attachment to each other and wanted had shaped a working metaphor: designing Protection in . She lives in to ensure that they stay together. Irving and assembling a plane from many parts on Indianapolis. has also volunteered for the Boys & Girls the floor around us. After that it was simple Matthew W. Roberts, MA/MPA’88, Clubs of America and Habitat for Human- hard work and gathering as much useful PhD’91, is a real-estate agent with Houn- ity. Recently named an Outstanding Young data as we could, including what colleagues shell Real Estate in Washington, D.C. Pre- Lawyer by the Defense Trial Counsel of at other programs shared about their viously, he was the project director at the Indiana, he lives in Gary, Ind. experiences in shaping their proposals and Academy for Educational Development, Beryl A. Cobham, MA’00, PhD’03, putting their programs in place. We wanted helping hundreds of companies establish is assistant provost for student life at the a program that would be attractive, excit- HIV/AIDS workplace programs and poli- University of Denver. She lives in Engle- ing, and challenging for our students and cies. Roberts can be contacted at matthew wood, Colo. would prepare them for the job market. So @matthewroberts.biz or matthew Jacqueline S. Wiley-Morris, BA’02, we brought the airplane gingerly out of its @hounshellrealestate.com. He lives in writes, “It was a great experience attending hangar and it is now awaiting its first crew.” Washington, D.C. IU. It prepared me for my ultimate chal- The department was founded in 1971 as Shontrai D. Irving, BA’97, MA/ lenge of obtaining a PhD in organizational one of the first programs in African Ameri- JD’03, is an attorney for State Farm Litiga- leadership. In all your endeavors, continue can studies nationally, offering the bacca- tion Counsel in Crown Point, Ind. Since to strive for your goals.” Wiley-Morris lives laureate and, later, a PhD minor. In 1999, October 2006, he has served as a foster in Douglasville, Ga. AAADS began offering the MA degree and parent to four siblings, ages 3–9, and he Tandra Foster Stovall, BA’03, JD’06, now shares dual master’s degree programs was recently named the Indiana Foster Care is an associate for the law firm Stuart & with several other departments and schools, and Adoption Association Foster Parent Branigin. Her primary area of practice is including the MFA in creative writing. The of the Year. After completing training in litigation. An I-Woman in track, Stovall new PhD program is the capstone of an out- foster-parenting classes, Irving was initially lives and works in Lafayette, Ind. standing department that has a track record contacted about caring for only one child. of nearly 40 years of high-quality teaching. To read more about the program, please visit the department’s Web site at Derby, England, is also a visiting professor www.indiana.edu/~afroamer. Faculty notes for 2008–09. (continued from page 3) Dionne Danns (education) was the Staff notes ATUMPAN recipient of an Indiana University New Carol Edge, BA’87, MA‘03, who has Frontiers in the Arts and Humanities grant. served the department for three years as its This newsletter is published by the IU The $50,000 award will assist her with PR/media specialist, retired from Indi- Alumni Association, in cooperation with the her current research project, titled “The Department of African American & African ana University in August. In addition to Struggle for Desegregation in Chicago. Diaspora Studies and the College of Arts & preparing publicity for departmental events George Hutchinson (English), chair of Sciences Alumni Association, to encourage and programs, she edited Diaspora and the Department of English and the Booth alumni interest in and support for Indiana Atumpan and provided content for the University. For activities and membership Tarkington Professor of Literary Studies, departmental Web site. information, call (800) 824-3044 or send was presented with the Christian Gauss Arnell Hammond, undergraduate e-mail to [email protected]. Award at a formal dinner in Washington, student adviser, has been selected as one of Department of African American D.C., on Dec. 7, for his 2006 book In 10 Emerging Leaders for 2008–10 by the & African Diaspora Studies Search of Nella Larsen: A Biography of the National Academic Advising Association, Color Line, which has garnered numerous Chair...... Valerie Grim headquartered at Kansas State University. Editor...... Carol Edge other awards. The award, made annually Black Film Center/Archive archivist by the Phi Beta Kappa Society, is given to College of Arts & Sciences Mary Huelsbeck took the lead in secur- outstanding works of literary scholarship Dean...... Bennett I. Bertenthal ing a $9,000 grant from the New York and criticism. Executive Director of Development Women’s Film Preservation Fund to restore Samuel Obeng (African studies, linguis- & Alumni Programs...... David Ellies the BFC/A’s copy of Jessie Maple’s film tics) became director of the African Studies Will (1981) — the first feature film made IU Alumni Association Program on July 1. by an African American woman filmmaker. President/CEO...... Tom Martz The BFC/A is required to raise, by April Senior Director of Constituent & Alumni Programs...... Nicki Bland Visiting faculty notes 30, 2009, additional funds of about $2,000 Editor for Constituent Former visiting scholar Claudia Drieling to complete the project. Anyone wishing to Periodicals...... Sarah J. Preuschl earned her doctorate last summer and will contribute should contact the BFC/A or Class Notes...... Raymond Fleischmann be teaching part time in AAADS as a visit- AAADS at (812) 855-3875. ing professor this year. Drieling will work Yunika Jackson was recently presented toward publication of her dissertation on with her 10-year employment pin for a Gloria Naylor’s “Home.” decade of service to Indiana University. She David Wall, coming to IU from the Bat- has been with AAADS since July 2006. ley School of Art and Design, University of

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