Africana Studies at Penn
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africanaupenn.bsky.social
Africana Studies at Penn
@africanaupenn.bsky.social
30 followers 18 following 130 posts
Exploring the experiences of African Americans, Africans and people of African descent around the world.
https://africana.sas.upenn.edu/
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africanaupenn.bsky.social
On November 13, the fantastic 2025 A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Memorial Lecture was delivered. Entitled, “Anti-Blackness as the Vector: The Voting Rights Act and the Crisis of American Democracy” it was presented by Janai Nelson @janainelson.bsky.social. With Penn Carey Law. Photos by David DeBalko
November 18, 2025 at 4:36 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
Prof. Herman Beavers on WGXC 90.7 TONIGHT at 7PM 🎤 - treat yourself to jazz that jumps and poetry that propels vivid images. Join Host Kimberly Erwin and Africana Studies' Prof. Herman Beavers, renowned scholar, poet, and cultural historian.
wavefarm.org/radio/wgxc/s...
November 18, 2025 at 2:53 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
On November 10, 2025, we thoroughly appreciated Bryce Henson’s lecture, “Emergent Quilombos: Black Life and Diasporic Cultures in Brazil.” Henson brought a wealth of insight on the unique culture and vibrant movements within Brazilian communities, especially in relation to hip-hop.
November 17, 2025 at 8:23 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
TOMORROW! See Janai S. Nelson deliver this year's Higginbotham Lecture on November 13 at 5:30pm @janainelson.bsky.social

tinyurl.com/higginbotham...

#voting #voters #votingrightsact #higginbotham #democracy #clecredits #africanstudies #protection
November 12, 2025 at 2:55 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
Please help us wish a Happy Birthday to Audra Rodgers who just celebrated over this past weekend! Audra Rodgers is the Program Coordinator in the Center for Africana Studies. Audra has been coordinating conferences, programs, and events here and abroad for many years at UPenn. #staffappreciation
November 10, 2025 at 6:58 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
TODAY! See Bryce Henson on November 10 at 5:30pm for “Emergent Quilombos: Black Life and Diasporic Cultures in Brazil” tinyurl.com/henson-penn25

#quilombos #brazil #blackculture #afrolatinx #latinx
November 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
These important moments in Black US History took place in 1787

#250YearsOfBlackHistory #1787 #ushistory #blackhistory
November 8, 2025 at 1:06 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
These important moments in Black US History took place in 1786

#250YearsOfBlackHistory #1786 #ushistory #blackhistory
November 7, 2025 at 1:02 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
Janai S. Nelson, President and Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund, will be presenting this year’s Higginbotham Memorial Lecture: “Anti-Blackness as the Vector: The Voting Rights Act and the Crisis of American Democracy.” Join us November 13, 2025, at 5:30pm
@janainelson.bsky.social
Image of a black woman named Janai Nelson in a red suit, beside her is the lecture series title, "Higginbotham Memorial Lecture", underneath that is a lecture title, "Anti-Blackness as the Vector: The Voting Rights Act and the Crisis of American Democracy" Text in front a blurry red and white background, "This lecture will situate the current threats to the VRA within a broader historical pattern. When democratic institutions begin to erode, anti-Blackness operates as the central vector of that decay. From Reconstruction to Jim Crow to today's redistricting bloodbaths, every crisis of American democracy has been accompanied by efforts to suppress or contain Black political power." White text in front of a blurry white and red background, "We must therefore confront the ugly, uncomfortable truth: that the health of American democracy hinges on the full social, political, and economic participation of Black and all other people of color. To protect democracy is to confront and eradicate anti-Blackness itself." Decorative flyer for Higginbotham Memorial Lecture with Janai S. Nelson on November 13, 2025, at 5:30pm, in Penn Carey Law's Fitts Auditorium.
November 6, 2025 at 2:45 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
These important moments in Black US History took place in 1785

#250YearsOfBlackHistory #1785 #ushistory #blackhistory
November 6, 2025 at 1:02 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
These important moments in Black US History took place in 1784

#250YearsOfBlackHistory #1784 #ushistory #blackhistory
November 5, 2025 at 1:02 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
These important moments in Black US History took place in 1783

#250YearsOfBlackHistory #1783 #ushistory #blackhistory
November 4, 2025 at 1:02 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
These important moments in Black US History took place in 1782

#250YearsOfBlackHistory #1782 #ushistory #blackhistory
November 3, 2025 at 1:01 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
These important moments in Black US History took place in 1781

#250YearsOfBlackHistory #1781 #ushistory #blackhistory
November 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
These important moments in Black US History took place in 1780

#250YearsOfBlackHistory #1780 #ushistory #blackhistory
November 1, 2025 at 12:02 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
These important moments in Black US History took place in 1779

#250YearsOfBlackHistory #1779 #ushistory #blackhistory
October 31, 2025 at 12:01 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
These important moments in Black US History took place in 1778

#250YearsOfBlackHistory #1778 #ushistory #blackhistory
October 30, 2025 at 12:02 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
These important moments in Black US History took place in 1777

#250YearsOfBlackHistory #1777 #ushistory #blackhistory
October 29, 2025 at 4:32 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
These important moments in Black US History took place in 1777

#250YearsOfBlackHistory #1777 #ushistory #blackhistory
October 29, 2025 at 12:02 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
These important moments in Black US History took place in 1776

#250YearsOfBlackHistory #1776 #ushistory #blackhistory
Phillis Wheatley’s poetry circulated across the Atlantic, linking African identity with Enlightenment themes of liberty; even as some refused to believe a Black person, let alone a Black woman, could write poetry. Lemuel Haynes wrote “Liberty Further Extended,” as a rebuttal to the Declaration of Independence, challenging slaveholding patriots with their own ideals. Black men fought on both sides of the Revolutionary War, demanding liberation in exchange for service. Thomas Paine published Common Sense. However, he wrote “African Slavery in America” in 1775 and recommended Blacks be given land as payment for their free labor.
October 28, 2025 at 1:37 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
10/21/2025 Kiriana Dube delivered a presentation on a chapter from her book-in-progress tentatively entitled "Reimagining NGO Programming in a Changing Climate: Evidence from Zimbabwe." The chapter topic was “Gendered Dimensions of Climate Change: Impacts and Responses in Rural Zimbabwe”.

#photos
October 27, 2025 at 6:59 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
In recognition of the United States' upcoming 250th anniversary, Prof. Tukufu Zuberi introduces our series "250 Years of Black History" where we are spotlighting important moments in Black US History every day leading up to the 4th of July in 2026.

#250YearsOfBlackHistory #america #250thanniversary
October 27, 2025 at 1:38 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
Opened in 1928 as the Hotel Somerville, the Dunbar Hotel is one of LA's most important African American landmarks and a symbol of resilience during segregation. Built by black businessman Dr. John Somerville, it was the first luxury hotel in LA to welcome African Americans.
October 24, 2025 at 3:43 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
Janai Nelson (@janainelson.bsky.social) is President and Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), the nation’s premier civil rights law organization advancing racial justice and equality, and she will be presenting this year’s Higginbotham Memorial Lecture.

tinyurl.com/higginbotham...
Janai Nelson is President and Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), the nation’s premier civil rights law organization advancing racial justice and equality, and she will be presenting this 2025 Higginbotham Memorial Lecture at Penn Carey Law on the University of Pennsylvania campus.
October 23, 2025 at 2:34 PM
africanaupenn.bsky.social
“Emergent Quilombos: Black Life and Diasporic Cultures in Brazil” - The Center for Africana Studies is back with a new Latinx installment of the African Lecture Series. Don’t miss this presentation by Bryce Henson @profbhenson, on November 10, 2025 at 5:30pm. Register today tinyurl.com/henson-penn25
October 22, 2025 at 4:44 PM