Prominent scholars transcend traditions

Transcending Traditions, a two-day conference on African, Afro-American and African diaspora studies, was launched yesterday with a full day of panel discussions and workshops. Sponsored by the African Studies Center and the Afro-American Studies Program, the conference is the first of its kind. Prominent scholars from diverse fields, including literature, anthropology, history, sociology and music, were invited to speak about the interrelationship between African Studies, African-American Studies and the future of the study of the African diaspora. English Department Undergraduate Chair Farah Griffin, who herself has published several books with African-American themes, said the conference is "one of the culminating events? of a broad series of things that have been going on all year." Tukufu Zuberi, director of the African Studies Center, said the conference is "part of an ongoing desire to form a graduate group in African and African diaspora studies." Today, the conference will feature a workshop and panel discussions on Philosophy and Spirituality and Society and Politics. Yesterday's kick-off of the conference included a panel discussion on the history of the African diaspora, led by experts from New York University and Penn, among others. The keynote speaker was Columbia University Anthropology Professor Elliot Skinner. Griffin explained that Skinner was chosen because of his seniority and because he was "one of the earlier people to write about the connection between Africa and the diaspora." "In his own right, he's sort of a historical figure," Griffin said. A panel discussion on black culture followed, led by Harvard University Education Professor Marcyliena Morgan and three other professors. The panelists discussed the evolution of black language and music, African spirituality and diversity within the black community. The discussion was followed by a graduate student workshop focusing on the folklore, linguistics. and history of African peoples. "I think its time has come," said audience member James Davis, a professor at the University of Delaware, of the conference. Davis added that the event is breaking down disciplinary barriers between African-American and African Studies. "The speakers have been vibrant," he added. The idea of forming a graduate group in African, African-American and African diaspora studies was proposed by University President Judith Rodin last year. The proposal is currently being discussed in the School of Arts and Sciences, said Afro-American Studies Director Herman Beavers. Beavers explained that the graduate group "promises to be an opportunity for lots of faculty to collaborate." If approved, the graduate group would be the first of its kind to offer a an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in diaspora studies. "There really is nothing like what we're trying to do," Beavers said.

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