CFP: Exploring the Boundaries of Black Intellectual History

Brandon Byrd Announcement
Location
Tennessee, United States
Subject Fields
African American History / Studies, American History / Studies, Black History / Studies, Intellectual History, Slavery

CFP: Exploring the Boundaries of Black Intellectual History

The African American Intellectual History Society (AAIHS) invites proposals for its second annual conference scheduled to take place at Vanderbilt University on March 24-25, 2017. Proposals are due on November 15, 2016.

What does it mean and what has it meant to “do” black intellectual history? What is a black intellectual? Who have been the producers of black intellectual history? Through a series of papers, panel sessions, roundtable discussions, films, and talks, this two-day conference seeks to address those questions and explore the boundaries of black intellectual history. The conference will examine the vital contributions that self-defined black intellectuals-including artists, writers, and activists--have made to U.S. and global intellectual history. It will also raise questions about the role of organic intellectuals, including enslaved people, in the Black intellectual tradition. The conference will focus on reassessing established theories within Black intellectual history and proposing new paradigms for this critically important field. It will draw upon traditional methods of writing and researching Black intellectual history while integrating new approaches of historical production. In short, the second annual AAIHS conference encourages new thinking about the historical boundaries of African American intellectual history and new ideas about how scholars in the twenty-first century can best define, practice, and recover it. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, religion, political thought, gender, racial ideologies, sexuality, queer theory, popular culture, internationalism, pan-Africanism, slavery, secularism, literature, and Black Nationalism.

The AAIHS welcomes proposals from scholars at all career stages (from graduate students to senior faculty), as well as independent scholars. We welcome submissions for scholarly papers (20-minute presentations), organized panels of three of four papers, poster sessions, lecture-demonstrations, film/video screenings, or workshops. While we are happy to accept individual paper submissions, we will give preference to those who submit full panels. Proposals should be submitted via email (aaihs10@gmail.com) as a Microsoft Word attachment no later than November 15, 2016. The conference organizers will notify participants of acceptances by December 15, 2016.

Individual proposals should include an abstract of no more than 250 words and an abridged C.V. (1-2 pages). They must include the author’s full name, institutional affiliation, phone number, and email address. Individual paper proposals also must include the title of the presentation, proposed format of it (paper, poster, etc.), and A/V equipment needs. Complete panel proposals must include the following: (1) a panel abstract and title (2) a 250-word abstract for each paper (3) names, contact information, institutional affiliation, and an abridged C.V. for each presenter (4) names and contact information for the panel chair and commentator (5) format of the presentation (paper, panel, poster, workshop, etc.) and A/V equipment requirements.

The AAIHS is pleased to offer multiple competitive travel grants to defray the costs of conference attendance. Graduate students and contingent faculty in good-standing as members of the AAIHS are encouraged to apply. Conference participants are also invited to submit their paper for consideration in the AAIHS’s second annual Du Bois-Wells Paper Prize competition. The winner and first runner-up will receive cash prizes. Further details regarding the travel grants and paper prize are available on the AAIHS website.

All participants must be registered for the conference by March 15, 2017. Early bird registration extends from January 1, 2017 to February 14, 2017 and is $20 for AAIHS members; $60 for non-members. Regular registration begins on February 15, 2017 and is $40 for AAIHS members and $120 for non-members. For all further inquiries, please contact aaihs10@gmail.com or visit our website for more information: www.aaihs.org

Conference Organizers:

Chair: Brandon R. Byrd , Vanderbilt University

Christopher Cameron , University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Kami Fletcher , Delaware State University 

Christopher Bonner , University of Maryland, College Park

Nathan Dize, Vanderbilt University 

Contact Information

Brandon R. Byrd

Assistant Professor of History

Vanderbilt University (Fall 2016)

Contact Email
aaihs10@gmail.com