Weekend Symposium to focus on diaspora influences

This weekend’s Herman C. Hudson Symposium will discuss politics, music, holistic therapy and different types of identity as among the many ways African-American culture still influences society.

The African-American and African Diaspora Graduate Student Society will sponsor the sixth-annual symposium.

The symposium includes a panel discussion and opening event Friday, followed by five panels and a keynote speaker Saturday. All events relate to the theme “Constructions of Race and Identity in the African Diaspora.”

“The theme is to move outside of just talking about African-American experience,” said Caralee Jones, co-vice president of the society. “It’s the broad perspective of the African Diaspora.”

The symposium will collaborate with the Women of Color Leadership Conference for a panel discussion about careers and graduate school at 3 p.m. Friday. Jones said the collaboration aims to combine the two different audiences from the conference and symposium.

Friday night, the two groups will collaborate with the Hip Hop Congress and Anthropology Department for the symposium’s first “jump-off” party at 7 p.m. in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center Grand Hall.

The party includes a performance from guest artist Gina Athena Ulysse and a spoken word poetry contest, which the winner will open for the keynote speaker Saturday.

Jones said people can enter the contest by registering upon arrival and should bring three poems, one for each round. Judges for the contest include representatives from the society graduate student society and the Hip Hop Congress along with Ulysse.

Shana Riddick, co-vice president of the graduate student society, said the party is a way to have undergraduates involved in the event and publicize the panels on Saturday.

Registration for the symposium begins at 8:15 a.m. Saturday and will be followed by opening ceremonies. Participants can choose to attend any of the five panels. Each one will have three panelists, ranging from undergraduates to professors, who will present their work and answer questions.

Riddick said the panel is an open dialogue about race and diaspora communities.
After the panel, keynote speaker Chuck D, leader and co-founder of rap group Public Enemy, will speak at 5 p.m. in the Neal-Marshall Grand Hall. Riddick said members of the graduate society decided to bring him because the performing arts have been an important part of the department this year, and he has transformed from a performer to a social activist.

Riddick said the conference is a chance for members of the campus to develop and grow. The jump-off party and Saturday events are free and open to the public.