Brandeis to celebrate African and African American studies

Brandeis commemorates the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Department of African and African American studies with a two-day symposium

Photo/Brandeis Communications

Brandeis commemorates the 50th anniversary of its Department of African and African American Studies with a two-day academic and cultural symposium on Feb. 8-9.

Brandeis will commemorate the 50th anniversary of its Department of African and African American studies (AAAS) with a two-day academic and cultural symposium on Feb. 8-9.

The commemoration recognizes the establishment of AAAS – a pioneer of black studies in higher education – which grew out of the 1969 Ford Hall student occupation at Brandeis.

Participants from the occupation, along with many generations of Brandeis alumni, will return to campus for the occasion and recall their experiences either in panels or lectures.

Angela Y. Davis ’65, Julieanna Richardson ’76, H’16 and Hortense Spillers, PhD’74, will provide keynote remarks on both days while the festivities open with a poetry reading by Askia Touré. Many of Friday’s events will be livestreamed, while keynote remarks on Friday will also be broadcast in the Shapiro Campus Center at 5 p.m.

A complete schedule, along with more information on panelists and speakers, can be found on the 50th anniversary commemoration site.

The following is a selection of the schedule for the 50th anniversary commemoration:

Friday, Feb. 8

Rose Art Museum curatorial tour of Howardena Pindell: “What remains to be seen” (11:15 a.m.)

AAAS Alumni Open House, Mandel Center for the Humanities, 2nd floor lobby (noon)

Opening and poetry reading by Askia Touré (3 p.m.)

Ford Hall 1969 panel (3:30 p.m.)

Keynote conversation with Angela Davis ’65 and Julieanna Richardson ’76, H’16 (5 p.m.)

Saturday, Feb. 9

Welcome and acknowledgements (1 p.m.)

AAAS alumni legacies panel (1:15)

Brandeis black studies panel (2:45 p.m.)

Keynote remarks from Hortense Spillers, PhD ’74 (4:15 p.m.)