Sponsored by Dr. Jenna Sciuto

An Intro to Pan-Africanism: Past, Present, Future

Author: Salimatu Bah

My research examines the evolution of Pan-Africanism, focusing on the contributions of prominent figures like Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Kwame Nkrumah. It explores the historical context and significance of their ideas within the movement. Additionally, it raises questions about the current status and future of Pan-Africanism. My findings suggest that ongoing collaboration and support with other liberation movements are crucial for Pan-Africanisms advancement. Furthermore, my research highlights the unique contribution of Pan-African thought to the black and African identity. Currently, there is a noticeable shift from a predominantly political focus to one centered around culture. Diasporic Africans are redefining their relationship with Africa through art, music, and reconnecting with the continent, primarily Ghana. This research highlights the fight against colonialism, imagining the liberation and unity of diasporic Africans.

Who Was He Really For?: The Issue of Race Relations in the Films of Sidney Poitier

Author: Spencer Fossett

My research will explore transnational American writer James Baldwin’s views on the famous African American actor Sidney Poitier and the racial and cultural implications behind his films through examining the documentary I Am Not Your Negro (2016) and Baldwin’s book The Devil Finds Work. Despite Poitier being a revolutionary figure in the African American community, Baldwin was fiercely critical of the films in which Poitier acted. He describes the implicit harm they caused the black community by pandering to white audiences and toning down their depictions of race relations in the United States to make them more palatable for white audiences. I argue that in Baldwin’s eyes, the target audience of Poitier’s films were not members of the African-American community, but rather white audiences seeking reassurance and reconciliation for their historic role in the unjust racial climate of both the past and the present.

Comparison of Themes Between Nella Larsen and Maya Angelou

Author: Aja Noelle Mercer

Racial identity within femininity acts as a key factor in the characters' connections between timelines within Nella Larsen's novel Passing and Maya Angelou's poem "Still I Rise." Academic scholars like H. Jordan Landry and Yasmin Y. DeGout provide insight into the roles of women of color in relation to rejecting typical gender and race expectations placed on them by men. My paper, Comparison of Themes Between Nella Larsen and Maya Angelou, discusses the complex characters of Claire and Irene from Passing and the narrator of Still I Rise and their experiences redefining harmful stereotypes. My presentation will explore the difference that timelines make when placed in discussion with women of color characters in positions of discriminatory expectations.