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MIAMI,
Fla. (April 8, 2003) – What strides are being made
in the area of Black Studies in Florida? That will be among the
topics for discussion when Florida International University’s
African-New World Studies hosts a conference dedicated to looking
at, “Florida: The State of Black Studies and African Diaspora
Peoples.”
Along with the African American Research
Library and Cultural Center, the three-day conference on May
1-3 will feature nine
panels that
will cover a series of topics that include: education, history,
media, youth activism and culture, black students in the academy,
human rights, political disenfranchisement and cultural politics.
A panel discussion scheduled for
Thurs., May 1st will take place in the Kovens Conference Center
on the FIU-Biscayne Bay campus,
3000 N.E. 151 St. Discussions scheduled on Fri., May 2 and Sat.,
May 3 will take place at the newly opened African American Research
Library and Cultural Center located at the corner of NW 27 Avenue
and Sistrunk Boulevard in Ft. Lauderdale.
“
We are bringing together all the Africana Studies programs and
related community interests and organizations in the state to speak
about ways to assess the situation of Black Studies and African
Diaspora Peoples at our various institutions and communities nationally,” said
Carole Boyce-Davies, director of FIU’s African New-World
Studies Program and chair of the conference. “We hope to
get a clearer sense of what kinds of issues our communities face
at this point in history and to chart a path for the future.”
Opening remarks by FIU President
Modesto A. Maidique and the Vice Provost of the FIU Biscayne
Bay Campus Raul Moncarz, will be followed by several panels discussions
that include FIU faculty and
staff. FIU panelists include: Isabel Catellanos, Lisa Delpit,
Clarence
Taylor, Marvin Dunn, Vicki Silvera, Michael McQueen, Sharon
Barrett and Marcia Magnus.
Members of the South Florida based
coalition include: Florida Memorial College, Barry University,
Motherland Bridge Gallery
and the Old
Dillard Museum.
For a more information on the conference
please call 305.919.5521. For a complete list of scheduled events
please visit http://www.floridablackstudies.com. Media
Contact:
Barbara Branas
305-348-2234
branasb@fiu.edu
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