CLASS Newsletter: African American Studies
Faculty Publications
James L. Conyers, Jr.
Dr. James L. Conyers, Jr. edited Reevaluating the Pan-Africanism of W. E. B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey: Escapist Fantasy or Relevant Reality, which was published by The Edwin Mellen Press in 2006. The book features 14 essays by Africana Studies scholars exploring four associated areas: global Pan Africanism, the intellectualism of W. E. B. Du Bois, the cultural and economic ideas of Marcus Garvey, and a critical assessment of Africana historiography.
Other News
Guest Scholars
In the fall semester, African American Studies hosted a seminar talk on Africana Studies and historiography by Dr. Maghan Keita, Professor of History and Africana Studies at Villanova University, as well as a seminar talk, Social Work and Social Policy” by Dr. Mekada Graham, Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa.
AAS Student Distinctions
Graduate Students
The African American Studies Program awarded fellowship support to Van G. Garrett, who is earning his Masters of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) at the University of Houston-Victoria and is completing the graduate certificate in African American Studies at CLASS. Garrett was one of only 12 poets selected nationally as a participant in the poetry workshop of the Hurston/Wright Writers Week in July 2006.
Undergraduate Students
African American Studies minor Wesley Deason won first place in the national undergraduate essay competition of the National Council for Black Studies. His paper was titled "Amiri Baraka's The Dutchman: An Africana Studies Reflection on Black Theatre." Deason, was recognized at a special awards banquet for essay winners at NCBS's 30th annual national conference, which was held in Houston in March 2006.
Alumni
AAS minor Lamar C. Johnson, who in summer 2006 completed undergraduate studies in CLASS, began studies for the MA in Pan-African Studies at the University of Louisville. Johnson participated as a Fellow in the 2006 Young People For National Summit for Progressive Leaders and Activists; he was also a Dr. Kwame Nkrumah International Study Scholar for summer 2006.
AAS minor Benjamin J. Woods completed his undergraduate studies in CLASS last spring and is now pursuing his Master's degree in Africana Studies at Cornell University. A student scholar-activist, Woods was a Dr. Kwame Nkrumah International Study Scholar for Summer 2004, a 2005 Fellow of the Young People For National Summit for Progressive Leaders and Activists, and president of the UH chapter of the NAACP.
Oliver Rollins, an AAS alumnus, won second place in the national graduate essay competition of the National Council for Black Studies. Rollins, who is completing his MA in Pan-African Studies at the University of Louisville, submitted an essay titled "Freeing the Captive Mind and Striving for Liberation: An Afrocentric Investigation of Optimal Consciousness as Voiced through Hip Hop."
