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Director's Statement
Summary of Research Highlights
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A. The Congress of Santa Barbara
We consider it a major achievement that The Congress of Santa Barbara was created
at UCSB in 1997 as a result of our work here at the Center. The group has pledged to
institutionalize its efforts to further research the religion of Haiti and to disseminate
its research findings. The administrative
site for the Congress of Santa Barbara is at the Center for Black Studies at UCSB.
The Association has over 70 members (see Congress of Santa Barbara Board of Directors).
See Conference Photos..
Researchers from various other institutions were making plans
for the next conference to take place in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. However,
due to the possibility of political unrest due to elections scheduled
in Haiti at the time of the conference, it has been rescheduled to
Trinity College on March 22 and 23, 2000. A second volume will be
published to disseminate their research findings.
(see Flyer and
By-Laws for more information on the work of the Congress) The
following excerpt from its Declaration
summarizes the goals and objectives of the organization: The presence, role, and importance of
Vodou in Haitian history, society, and culture are unarguable, and recognizably a part of
the national ethos. The impact of the
religion qua spiritual and intellectual disciplines on virtually all aspects of life in is
indisputable. It is the belief of the
Congress that Vodou plays, and shall continue to play, a major role in the grand scheme of
Haitian development and in the socio-economic, political, and cultural arenas. Development, when real and successful, always
comes from the modernization of ancestral traditions, anchored in the rich cultural
expressions of a people. The Congress of Santa Barbara invites
other Haitian scholars and non-Haitians who subscribe to its goals and objectives to join
it in the defense and illustration of this poto-mitan on the Haitian cultural heritage
that is such an integral part of the nation’s future.
The work of the Congress of the Santa Barbara is part of the larger Indigenous Religion
Project which the Center is developing. (By-Laws) B- Colloquia
Our annual colloquia series was well received and well attended and included
scholars from a number of different departments whose work had relevancy for the Center's
agenda. We plan to continue our
cross-disciplinary presentations in 1999-2000, particularly with other Ethnic Studies
programs.
Fall 1998 Colloquia Earl Stewart, Professor, UCSB Department Black
Studies, October 28: Presentation on his latest
book: African American Music: An Introduction Catherine Squires, Dissertation Fellow, UCSB
Center for Black Studies, November 5: Presentation on dissertation
research: The Black Public Sphere: An Investigation
into the Development of Public Spheres Joanne Grant, writer and filmmaker, November 12: Discussion of her film Fundi: The Story of Ella Baker and her recent book,
Ella Baker: Freedom Bound. Daryl Dance, Professor of English, University of
Richmond in Virginia and Visiting Professor, Stanford University, November 16: Presentation on “Oral
Tradition” and reading from her book Honey,
Hush! An Anthology of African American Women’s Humor Damita Brown, Dissertation Fellow, UCSB Center for
Black Studies, November 19: Presentation of dissertation
research: Can We Get There From Here: Black Labor,
Critical Consciousness and Liberation Discourse Helen Pyne-Timothy, Professor Emerita, University
of the West Indies, Trinidad, November 23: Discussion of her edited
volume, The Woman, the Writer and Caribbean Society Douglas Daniels, Professor, UCSB Departments of Black Studies
and History, December 3: Lester
“Prez” Young: His Critics and Colleagues
Winter, 1999
Colloquia Marilene Phipps, Caribbean Painter and Poet, January 12: A
Relationship Between Painting and Poetry in the Creative Process (Flyer) Scopas S. Poggo, recent Ph.D. recipient, UCSB
Department of History, February 17: Are Ancestral Spirits a Myth or a Reality? The Case of
the Kuku Benevolent and Malevolent Spirits of the Southern Sudan Jane Rhodes, Professor, UC San Diego Department of
Ethnic Studies, February 24: Discussion of her latest book, Mary Ann Shadd Cary: The Black Press and Protest in
the Nineteenth Century Thomas Fleming, Journalist, March 1: A
Conversation with Nonagenarian Journalist Thomas Fleming Erwan Dianteill, Visiting Professor, UCSB Department of
Black Studies and GŽrard Pigeon, Professor, UCSB Department of Black Studies, March 10: The
Creolization of an African Religion: From Africa to Los Angeles via Cuba Gary Phillips, Writer, March 11: A reading from his latest Ivan
Monk mystery, Bad Night is Falling Patrick Bellegarde-Smith, Visiting Professor, UCSB Department
of Black Studies, March 16:
Spring 1999, Colloquia A joint presentation by Lilas Desquiron, Haitian film critic, novelist
and scriptwriter and Florence Bellande-Robertson,
Professor of French, La Sierra University, May
4, sponsored by the Department of Black
Studies Reginald Daniel, Professor, UCSB Department of
Sociology, June 2: Multiracial Identity and the Decennial Census: Black No
More or More than Black? Stephan Miescher, Professor, UCSB Department of
History, June 3: Salome
Owusua’s Quest: Gender, Personhood, and Legal Consciousness in Colonial Ghana Babatunde Folayemi, Director, Pro-Youth Coalition,
City of Santa Barbara, June 9: The
Disposable Generation: The State of Youth in Santa Barbara and Across the Nation co-sponsored by the Department of Black Studies Jude Akudinobi, Lecturer, UCSB Department of Black
Studies, June 9: Diaspora, Marginality and Identity in Home Away
From Home C. Annual Lectures at the UCSB
Women’s Center by Dissertation Fellows Catherine Squires, Dissertation Fellow, Center for Black
Studies, May 19: The Black Public Sphere: Unfinished
Conversations, Past & Present Damita Jo Brown, Dissertation Fellow, Center for Black
Studies, June 3: History
is a Hungry Traveler: Black Female Subjects and The Grammars of Liberation D. Co-Sponsored
Activities As in the past, the Center
cosponsored many events with other campus associations, departments and the local
community: Building Bridges in Our Community, the Center for
Black Studies, the Community Action Commission and Human Relations Commission of Santa
Barbara County, the Anti-Defamation League, KEYT Television, La Casa de La Raza, NAACP,
Santa Barbara Museum of Art and the Santa Barbara News-Press along with thirty other community organizations, sponsored
and/or participated in a series of special events in October. Department of Black Studies 30th
Anniversary,
November 21
Martin Luther King Day at Chase Palm Park. This event was organized by the Center in
collaboration with the City of Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara NAACP 7th Annual Historical Art Exhibit &
Celebration in honor of Black History Month, February 1-28 “Beloved”, The Day After: A
Discussion Group,
February 12: This group discussion on the
movie Beloved took place the day after its
screening in Campbell Hall. Sponsored by the Center for Black Studies’ Black Film
Committee, an Ad Hoc Committee of the Center for Black Studies Advisory Board The Center for Black Studies
was a co-sponsor of an event that featured Ramona
Africa, sponsored by ASIAN!, Save Mumia! Santa Barbara Coalition and Food Not Bombs,
March 1 Kwesi Yankah African Norms of Communication and the Crisis of a
Global Order, March
12, co-sponsored by the Departments of History and Religious Studies and the
Interdisciplinary Humanities Center Black Graduation 1999, the Center for Black
Studies contributed to the Black Graduation Committee which has been committed to honoring
the academic achievements of African-American undergraduates at UCSB since 1982, June 18 The Center for Black Studies
contributed to a series of events titled Resisting Imperialism. Featured speakers: Olu Awoonor-Gordon, a central committee
member of the Pan-African Union political parity, Vernon Bellacourt, a spokesperson for
the American Indian Movement, Rafael Mariano, from the Philippines and Rafael Cancel
Miranda of Puerto Rica, October 26, 31 and November 2, sponsored by 100 Black College Men,
A.S.I.A.N.!, A.S. Student Lobby, American Indian Student Movement, El Congreso, Kapatirang
Pilipino, and S.C.O.R.E. El Congreso, Raza
College Day: The Seventh Annual Raza College Day provided outreach to students and
community members through cultural programs and educational workshops, April 18 Grass Roots Organizing Weekend, sponsored by the
UCSB Office of Student Life, provided training and organization skills for student
activists. E. REPORT FROM DR. SHIRLEY KENNEDY,
CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS COORDINATOR AT THE CENTER. The Academic work of the Center for
Black Studies is well known and highly respected. The
Center’s contribution to the intellectual life and reputation of UCSB has traveled
beyond its walls, through the work, the research, and the publications of its Fellows and
its faculty associates. One component of its
work that is less well known is the Center’s community outreach. Below is a brief
outline of some of the Center’s intramural and extramural involvements, past and
current. The work of the Coordinator for
Cultural and Community Affairs has largely been one of outreach to the campus and
community, of representing the Center, of acting as a liaison and a clearinghouse for
information, and of initiating and organizing special events and projects. Often these endeavors are collaborative in nature,
and serve to connect the Center to the campus and the campus to the community. However, the ceremonial and public
relations aspects of the job are not its most important duties. A major project is
proposed for the year 2001 which has consumed a large share of Dr. Kennedy’s time.
There is an expectation that this time commitment will increase as the project transitions
into full gear. Other projects in 1998-99 included: á Martin Luther King Day at Chase Palm
Park. This event was organized by the Center
in collaboration with the City of Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara NAACP. á Black History Month events at the
Cabrillo Arts Pavilion. This included an art
exhibition, speakers, videos, and community organization displays and was organized by the
City of Santa Barbara with support from the Center for Black Studies. á Established two exploratory committees
to research and investigate the feasibility of 1) bringing a major and very powerful
traveling exhibit that features artifacts from the slave ship “Henrietta Marie”
which sank off the coast of Florida in the early 18th century, and 2)
organizing an academic conference around the theme of the global economic ramifications of
400 years of the slave trade. Dr.
Kennedy’s work involved coordinating the goals and activities of the two committees,
building support, seeking funds, and attending many meetings. á Organized and served as co-chair of the
“Building Bridges Committee”. This committee organizes the annual Tolerance
Month event in Santa Barbara, which is a collaborative event among many community
organizations. In addition to these projects, Dr. Kennedy attended a great many events on campus including receptions and orientation for new students and programs in the residence halls. She attended events in the community including the “Women Against Gun Violence” dinner, “Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee” dinner and the “Fund for Santa Barbara” annual dinner. Dr. Kennedy also attended Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meetings as well as Human Relations Commission meetings. She participated in Santa Barbara High School’s “Project College Bound” as a mentor and acted as a liaison to UCSB campus organizations such as K-12 Outreach, Relations with Schools, Alumni Association, EOP and others, as needed and invited. Dr. Kennedy maintained a connection with interested constituents by disseminating announcements by email to them. DONORS In addition to subscription revenue,
the Center received donations in support of the Journal
of Haitian Studies. We also received
donations to the Congress of Santa Barbara (KOSANBA).
We hope to continue with these efforts ANITA MACKEY FELLOWS In recognition of Anita Mackey’s
lifetime commitment to the highest standards of education, social responsibility and
community serve, the Center has established the
Anita Mackey Scholarship and Service Award for both undergraduate and graduate
students. SERVICE AWARDS Service awards were presented to Anita Mackey for her 30 years of dedication to the
Center’s ideals and mission and to Louise
Moore, from the Office of Research, in appreciation of her invaluable support and
advice.
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