'Black Civic Activism and Counter Narratives of Africa in the Early Cuban Republic'

The Department of History and the Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity present "Black Civic Activism and Counter Narratives of Africa in the Early Cuban Republic," a lecture by Melina Pappademos, an author and assistant professor of history at the University of Connecticut, on Monday, Feb. 20, at 4:30 p.m. in Room 106 of Bill Hall. Timed to coincide with Black History Month, Pappademos' talk will cover the political and cultural imaginaries of Africanist Cuban civic organizations in the early republican period. Explained Leo Garofalo, associate professor of history, "In 1902, Cuba became an independent republic following more than 400 years of Spanish colonial rule. Even though independence was won conjointly by black and white Cubans, and Cuban nationalism relied on ideas of social equality, Cuban racial politics offered an invented, demonized 'Africa' as a trope used to justify black republican social, economic and political marginalization. This talk will help the audience learn about race relations in a case outside the U.S. that shows some parallels but also some very significant differences." The talk is free and open to the public. To view other events on campus this month, visit the Connecticut College calendar of events.

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February 17, 2012