Freedom Dreams Lecture Series Spotlights Black Women Scholars
09/10/2019
The SLU community is invited to engage with Black women scholars, their ideas and the ways they shed light on the historical and current African American experience as part of this year’s Freedom Dreams Lecture Series.
The series’ first two talks are set, with the first scheduled Wednesday, Sept. 11, and featuring Andrea Boyles, Ph.D. Boyles will lecture from her new book, Can’t Stop the Revolution, and will speak about the impact of activism in Ferguson, Missouri, and its impact on 21st century Black movements.
A second lecture, by Elizabeth Todd-Breland, Ph.D., will focus on Black politics and education reform since the 1960s.
The series, which is set to continue throughout the fall and spring semesters, will feature African American women scholars who have published recent works on black experiences in the U.S., in the African Diaspora and on the African continent.
“We feel that our students and campus community will greatly benefit from engagement with these scholars,” Christopher Tinson, Ph.D., director of SLU’s African American Studies Program said. “Black women scholars have been crucial in the development of African American Studies since its arrival and institutionalization in the 1960s.”
The lecture series stems from the need to acknowledge, read, critically engage and appreciate the scholarly work that black women have been contributing to critical discussions in academia and society.
“The women we will feature are in a long tradition of intellectual-activist public engagement not only enriching our curriculum offerings in programs and departments around the country, but enhancing our understanding of critical, engaged citizenship,” Tinson continued.
Plans are currently underway to bring other scholars from around the country to speak at SLU for future talks in the series.