Submit your proposal for the 108th ASALH Annual Meeting and Conference

Submit proposal here

African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression, in all forms, especially the racial terrorism of lynching, racial pogroms, and police killings since our arrival upon these shores. These efforts have been to advocate for a dignified self-determined life in a just democratic society in the United States and beyond the United States political jurisdiction. During the 1950s and 1970s the United States was defined by actions such as sit-ins, boycotts, walk outs, strikes by Black people and white allies in the fight for justice against discrimination in all sectors of society from employment to education to housing. Black people have had to consistently push the United States to live up to its ideals of freedom, liberty, and justice for all. Black people also have sought ways to nurture and protect Black lives, and for autonomy of their physical and intellectual bodies through armed resistance, voluntary emigration, nonviolence, education, music, literature, sports, media, and legislation/politics.


Black-led institutions and affiliations have lobbied, litigated, legislated, protested, and achieved success. In an effort to live, maintain, and protect economic success Black people have organized/planned violent insurrections against those who enslaved them, or choose to self-liberate as seen by the actions those who left the plantation system. Black people established faith institutions to organize resistance efforts; and it was a space that inspired folk to participate in the movements and offered sanctuary during times of crisis.

This is a call to everyone, inside and outside the academy, to study the history of Black Americans’ responses to establish safe spaces, where Black life can be sustained, fortified, and respected.

Proposal Types

Proposals should be detailed, comprehensive, and descriptive that outline the theme, scope, and aim of session. Details on each can be found on the ASALH website.

Papers: There will be limited slots for paper sessions at the ASALH annual meeting. Papers will ONLY be accepted by non-academics, undergraduate, and graduate students on the 2023 Annual Black History Theme: Black Resistance. For those who do not fit into these categories the Academic Program Committee encourages you to use the Google spreadsheet, which is an informal tool to connect individuals who are seeking ideas and/or collaboration. The spreadsheet is not monitored by ASALH or the Academic Program Committee and is not part of the official submission process.

Panels, Workshops, Roundtables, Media, and Woodson Pop-Ups: Proposals that incorporate the annual theme are preferred, but submissions can be on a variety of temporal, geographical, thematic, and topical areas in Black history, life and culture. Proposals will be accepted by all affiliations and academic status. For individuals who are interested in collaborating on a panel, workshop, roundtable please use the Google spreadsheet, which is an informal tool to connect individuals who are seeking ideas and/or collaboration. The spreadsheet is not monitored by ASALH or the Academic Program Committee and is not part of the official submission process.

Submission

The All Academic system will be open in January 2023. The submission deadlines for proposals are as follows: Early Bird Submissions will be accepted via All Academic until March 18, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. (EST). Conditional acceptance responses to Early Bird submissions will be sent out by April 21, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. (EST). After this date, the committee will accept all submissions until the deadline of April 30, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. (EST). Regular conditional acceptances submissions will be responded to by June 9, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. (EST). You will not be considered official until all session participants have joined the Association and registered for the conference.

The Reconstruction Curriculum Representative is coming to Charleston

Join E3 for an opportunity to hear directly from the Reconstruction team about their curriculum that provides live tutoring, K-12 supplemental and enrichment courses through an online platform that situates Black people, Black culture and Black heritage and contributions to America and the world in an authentic, identity-affirming manner.

Reconstruction is a unique, full-service curriculum company offering supplemental, live-tutored, virtual courses that situate Black culture and achievement in an authentic, identity-affirming manner.

“Reconstruction was created to show our kids that they are descendants of powerful, creative, and resilient ancestors whose contributions permeate every aspect of life across the globe; and that they too are called to contribute to this rich legacy. It’s the way we were taught as children. It’s the way we teach our children.”

Use this link to register for the virtual session on March 21, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

A Critical Conversations event with Tamara Lanier on Repatriating Artifacts of North American Slavery on March 21st

Tuesday, March 21 5:30-7:00 PM

Septima Clark Memorial Auditorium (ECTR 118)

The Center for the Study of Slavery in Charleston invites students, faculty, staff, and members of the community to attend a public conversation about repatriation of artifacts, archives, race, and justice. The conversation will feature the story of Tamara Lanier, whose fight against Harvard University for images of her enslaved ancestors Renty and Delia has been covered by numerous national and international media outlets including the New York Times, Boston Globe, Guardian, and Democracy Now! The event is free and open to the public. 

Tamara Lanier gives voice to her enslaved ancestors whose naked or partially clothed photographs were forcibly taken in 1850 outside Columbia, SC for a Harvard scientist, Louis Agassiz, who supported racist theories of polygenesis. Lanier’s case foregrounds the need for legislation that protects the cultural property of descendants of chattel slavery in the United States. All are invited to witness Lanier’s inspiring story about the importance of her family’s history and its relevance to national discussions about slavery and reconciliation. 

If you have questions about the lecture, please contact Mary Jo Fairchild at fairchildmj@cofc.edu.

March 18: Black Resistance: Septima Clark Teaching Citizenship

Date: March 18, 2023

Time: 2:00 PM EST

Location: Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture | 125 Bull Street | Charleston, SC 29424

Description: Join us for a discussion on the importance of Septima Clark’s work and view some items from her collection at the Avery Research Center!

CHS ASALH Black History Month Program on Feb. 11, 2023 at 1pm EST

Title

Branch Meeting and Black History Month Forum

Date and Time

February 11, 2023, 1-3 pm

Sponsor

Charleston Area Branch ASALH

Location

Riley Center for Livable Communities: 176 Lockwood Drive, Charleston 29403. (virtual link TBD)

Description

The program addresses the Black History Month theme “Black Resistance”

Efforts to repress the teaching of Black history in the United States have a long history. Ironically as we celebrate Black History Month we find ourselves engaged in a highly charged public debate around this very issue. We invite you to join us and a panel of scholars, teachers, parents and activist to engage in a conversation on the issues, proposals, opportunities and strategies that are part of today’s struggle on the national, state and local levels.

Panelists

Agenda

  • Welcome
  • Lift Every Voice and Sing
  • Officers’ Comments
  • Black Resistance – The Fight Over Black History Forum
  • Announcements
  • Affirmations

Zoom Participation Details

Register in advance for to participate in the zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIsfuyrrz4jE9H-Ygb-HrxPBLPgSBEFOFR5

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

RSVP for In-Person Participation

Colour of Music and Branch Member only Reception

Charleston Branch members are invited to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Colour of Music Festival founded in Charleston SC by Lee Pringle, the Artistic Director. Over the four days the festival presents a diverse classical repertoire of baroque, classical and 20th century music featuring classically trained musicians of African descent. ASALH members are invited to a reception celebrating the tenth anniversary and honoring Lonnie Hamilton III, musician, educator, community leader who was the first African American to serve on the Charleston County Council.

The reception will be held on Saturday, February 4 at 6pm prior to the festival finale. Information will be provided on the branch website.

Festival Schedule

About Festival

The Colour of Music Festival, Inc. presents a diverse classical repertoire of baroque, classical and 20th-century music at the highest of musical standards to diverse audiences nationally. The festival has presented in Atlanta, Georgia; Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Houston; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia; Washington, D.C.; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Sacramento, California.

Few classical music enthusiasts are aware of the tremendous contributions of Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges, an African-French composer whose opera and classical masterpieces equaled or far exceeded those of his 18th-century contemporaries. Although his compositions are highly recognized overseas, they have gathered little notice in the United States. Today there are thousands of celebrated and prodigiously talented classical principals, composers and performers of African descent throughout the world. Yet, their opportunities to grace concert stages of major American orchestras are rare to non-existent. The Colour of Music Festival’s mission is reversing this trend.

Since 2013, the Colour of Music Festival offers a musical kaleidoscope highlighting the impact and historical significance of black classical composers and performers on American and world culture. The Colour of Music Festival began with performances at various venues throughout historic Charleston, South Carolina and has grown to debut in cities across the country with artists from across the globe.

Assembling acclaimed black chamber ensemble players and artists to form the Colour of Music Orchestra, the Festival showcases some of the top black classical musicians in the United States, trained at some of the most prestigious music schools, conservatories and universities in the world.