Interpreting American History Lecture Series
Interpreting American History Lecture Series
“To Joy My Freedom: Resistance and Culture in African American History”
Convener: Sydney Smith (Graduate Student, Department of History)
Series Sponsors:
Department of History
Taking inspiration from historian Tera Hunter’s landmark study of Black washerwoman in the postbellum South, this year’s theme invites scholars to reflect on the following questions: What is the relationship between resistance and culture? What does a singular focus on struggle obscure about Black life? What are the stakes of examining leisure, pleasure, creativity, and joy in African American history? Ultimately, this year’s theme seeks to grapple with the enduring idea that as much as African American history is defined by resistance and struggle, it is also rooted in creativity and joy.
During the 2024-2025 academic year, the series will host outside scholars whose work complicates traditional or dominant narratives of resistance in American and African American History, especially those who or interrogate key analytics of geography, space, emotion/affect, labor, and class. The scholars will lead small workshop luncheons with graduate students, a forum designed to give students representing a range of fields the chance to discuss how these scholars of American violence: chose to martial their evidence; the methodologies they mobilize; questions of theory usage; and the process of academic publishing. Evening lectures are open to the entire Rutgers community and give the distinguished visiting scholar the chance to spotlight their research projects.
Graduate students interested in attending the luncheon workshop must RSVP no later than one week before the event to guarantee seating. To RSVP, please complete this Google Form: https://forms.gle/T4rU2uumhDS4CUUW8.
Spring 2025 Series:
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Van Dyck Hall 308
“Grave Matter(s): Unearthing Black Cemeteries in the Santee-Cooper Basin”
Dr. Kelsey A. Moore
Provost’s Distinguished Faculty Fellow and Assistant Professor of African American History and Black Studies, Georgetown University
The graduate workshop will be held from 12:30 to 2pm followed by an evening lecture from 5:30 to 7:30pm.
See the Themes from past years
2017-2018 2012-2013 | 2011-2012 | 2010-2011
Interpreting American History Lecture Series
“To Joy My Freedom: Resistance and Culture in African American History”
Convener: Sydney Smith (Graduate Student, Department of History)
Series Sponsors:
Department of History
Taking inspiration from historian Tera Hunter’s landmark study of Black washerwoman in the postbellum South, this year’s theme invites scholars to reflect on the following questions: What is the relationship between resistance and culture? What does a singular focus on struggle obscure about Black life? What are the stakes of examining leisure, pleasure, creativity, and joy in African American history? Ultimately, this year’s theme seeks to grapple with the enduring idea that as much as African American history is defined by resistance and struggle, it is also rooted in creativity and joy.
During the 2024-2025 academic year, the series will host outside scholars whose work complicates traditional or dominant narratives of resistance in American and African American History, especially those who or interrogate key analytics of geography, space, emotion/affect, labor, and class. The scholars will lead small workshop luncheons with graduate students, a forum designed to give students representing a range of fields the chance to discuss how these scholars of American violence: chose to martial their evidence; the methodologies they mobilize; questions of theory usage; and the process of academic publishing. Evening lectures are open to the entire Rutgers community and give the distinguished visiting scholar the chance to spotlight their research projects.
Graduate students interested in attending the luncheon workshop must RSVP no later than one week before the event to guarantee seating. To RSVP, please complete this Google Form: https://forms.gle/T4rU2uumhDS4CUUW8.
Spring 2025 Series:
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Van Dyck Hall 308
“Grave Matter(s): Unearthing Black Cemeteries in the Santee-Cooper Basin”
Dr. Kelsey A. Moore
Provost’s Distinguished Faculty Fellow and Assistant Professor of African American History and Black Studies, Georgetown University
The graduate workshop will be held from 12:30 to 2pm followed by an evening lecture from 5:30 to 7:30pm.
See the Themes from past years
2017-2018 2012-2013 | 2011-2012 | 2010-2011
