Wilfred Samuels, Professor of English and Director of the Ethnic
Studies Program at the University of Utah, is coordinating a major
conference that will take place in October 2000 in Salt Lake City, Utah. As
President of the African American Literature and Culture Society of the
American Literature Association (ALA)--(http://www.atomicage.com/aalcs),
Professor Samuels is constructing this conference such that it appropriates
the trope of Dubois' participation in the Paris Exposition Universelle,
whose motto was "Le bilan du siecle,"--"the summation of the century." At
this exposition, Dubois mounted the "American Negro Exhibit," a cultural
display on the accomplishments of African Americans--it ran from
approximately 1900-1905. This display may well have been Dubois response to
Washington's Atlanta Exposition show.
>
> In developing the Utah conference, Professor Samuels is trying to
do much the same thing as Dubois, albeit a hundred years later. In addition
to the living writers, artists, painters, scholars, musicians, etc., who
will come, he is hoping to have a major art exhibit (curated by Leslie King
Hammond), a film festival, music and dance (possibly with Wynton Marsalis
and the Alvin Ailey dancers), and a rare book and photography exhibition
from the Smithsonian, which Ethelbert Miller is helping to arrange.
>
> In a real sense, Professor Samuels is attempting to carve out black
public space within a tradition that systematically sought to exclude
African Americans. Since I am a member of his advisory board, he has asked
me to share this conference information with others. I, in turn, am asking
that you pass it on to others as well. If you wish to contact Professor
Samuels about this upcoming conference, his e-mail address is
<wilfred.samuels@m.cc.utah.edu>.
Sincerely,
Chester J. Fontenot, Jr.
============================================================================
Chester J. Fontenot, Jr. 208 English Building 217-333-3575 (office)
The University of Illinois 608 S. Wright St. 217-333-4321 (fax)
Department of English MC-718 Urbana, Il 61801 e-mail: <cfonteno@uiuc.edu>
web site: http://www.english.uiuc.edu/fontenot
ICQ# 20333751
"And we know that all things work together for
the good, to them who love the Lord and are the
called according to His purpose."
--Romans 8:28
After June 30, 1999 I will be relocating. You may reach me at the following
address:
Chester J. Fontenot, Jr.
Baptist Named Chair in English,
Professor of English &
Chairman, English Department
Mercer University
1400 Coleman Avenue
Macon, Georgia 31207
(912) 752-2345 (office)
(912) 752-2562 (dept. office)
(912) 752-2457 (fax)
e-mail: fontenot_cj@mercer.edu
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