Africana Studies Symposium

Today, I attended some of the presentations of the first annual Africana Studies Symposium at James Madison University here in Harrisonburg (YAY for living in a college town and getting to go to amazing FREE/cheap events!). Not yet to the point of posting my actual thoughts/reflections about any of the talks, but here are some quotes that are hanging out in my head...

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"The people who are most affected by global warming are the ones least responsible." -Dr. Jennifer Coffman, JMU

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"Our history has not been written." --Stephanie Mireku, JMU, sharing the reflections of Zimbabwean youth currently living in the US

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"One could tell the history of civilisation in two stories: ... one, of a stranger who comes to town, ... and two, of someone who goes on a journey." --Dr. Patrick Dikirr, Binghamton University

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"We know a lot more about how to start a war than resolve one." --Terry Beitzel, JMU

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There is more at stake in the telling of traditional stories than an unbiased presentation of history or an "abstract view of truth." --Professor Isidore Okpewho, Binghamton University