Reinvigorating Social Theory; Redefining Political Struggle
Overview
The Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University (IRAAS) Presents “A New Vision of Black Freedom: the Manning Marable Memorial Conference,” an academic and community-focused event scheduled for April 26-29, 2012 at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and Columbia University’s Low Memorial Library in New York City.
Vision and Mission
In an era of emerging social protests and revolutions the world over, the conference will reflect the late professor’s emphasis on history and social analysis as ways of illuminating national and global socio-economic crises and their underlying causes. Dr. Marable’s work emphasized the union of scholarly analysis and grassroots activism as a central project of progressive social transformation. The conference seeks to bring together scholars, students, activists, teachers, artists, social workers, community residents and others for a series of democratic conversations about the task of creating a more equitable and just world.
The political spirit of the conference reflects Dr. Marable’s materialist critique of racism (past and present), imperialism, war, and capitalist exploitation, as well as his commitment to the black radical tradition; transnational liberation movements; human rights; environmental justice; radical democracy; solidarity and common cause among—and comparative analysis of—the struggles of oppressed and colonized people around the world; workers; women; the poor; people of color; gays and lesbians; immigrants; and prisoners. The conference seeks to generate new energy, analysis, ideas and initiatives that creatively address and engage the social problems that Dr. Marable’s work addressed, especially the ongoing crisis of structural racism in national and global political economies.
Background
The impetus for this conference emerged in the days after Dr. Marable’s death. Amidst our grief and sense of loss, we felt a desire to commemorate Dr. Marable’s life and to build on the themes of his scholarship and activism to generate further progressive work and organizing. Several of Dr. Marable’s current and former students began discussing the possibility of a memorial conference that would reflect his intellectual and political vision. With the enthusiastic support of the IRAAS faculty and staff, the Coordinating Committee—Robyn Spencer of Lehman College (http://www.lehman.edu/academics/arts-humanities/history/historyspencer.php¬), Johanna Fernandez of Baruch College (http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/wsas/academics/black_hispanic/JohannaFernande...), and Russell Rickford of Dartmouth College (http://www.dartmouth.edu/~history/faculty/rickford.html) —was constituted.
Confirmed Speakers (more to be announced)
Mumia Abu Jamal (via conference call)
Horace Campbell
Angela Davis
Staceyann Chin
Rosa Clemente
Cathy Cohen
Bill Fletcher Jr.
Vijay Prashad
Barbara Ransby
Loretta Ross
Peter Wagner
Rhonda Y. Williams
Registration and Accommodations information will be posted in the coming weeks.
Registration for this conference is free and open to the public, though space is limited. Details about registration and hotel accommodations will be available on this page in early fall 2011.
Travel Grants
A limited number of modest grants may be available to help offset travel and other conference expenses for students, workers, early career scholars, community activists and other conference participants. See below for inquiries.
Additional inquiries:
Institute for Research in African-American Studies
758 Schermerhorn Extension
Mail Code 5512
Columbia University
1200 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10027
Email: askmarableconference@gmail.com (inquiries only)
