Seminars & Lectures
(current offerings)
“My Story, My Rules: Changing the Perspective to Challenge Racism”
“In America, whiteness is the default. Everyone else must hyphenate.”
--Toni Morrison
Stories are a powerful means of communication. They inform us of our past, project us into our future, and are at the core of our self-portrayal, self-worth and continued human development. But whose stories are being told, by whom and for what purpose? This seminar examines how narratives are used to support racism and how a shift in perspective can be a powerful tool in challenging the system.
Minimum/Maximum Participants: Min—20/Max--1500
Time Requirements: 90 minutes minimum
Materials needed: Conference room/hall, projection/audio system (computer accessible), personal/portable microphone
“It’s Not a Room I Was In…Again: The Black Oral Tradition as Living Literature”
This seminar examines the rich oral tradition(s) of the African Diaspora and its impact on the world’s linguistic canon. From the ancient practice of Oriki, to patois, scat, rap, the Gullah/Geechee dialect, slang, Ebonics, and the 280-character jargon of “Black Twitter”, members of the African Diaspora have birthed, honed and implemented new communication methods that have widely influenced pop culture, literature and politics. Though often excluded from conversations on literary contributions—the “room”, as it were—the Black oral tradition has shaped the lexicon of countless communities and exemplifies living literature.
Minimum/Maximum Participants: Min—20/Max--1500
Time Requirements: 90 minutes minimum
Materials needed: Conference room/hall, projection system (computer accessible), personal/portable microphone
