Spring Break
The Daily OrangeAfrican American Studies | Department commemorates bicentennial of slave trade's abolition with initiative
By Sarah DiGuilio
Posted: 3/21/07, 11:00 PM EST Section: News
"Humanity has been denied consistently and is still being denied," he said. There is a more subtle manifestation of this denial of humanity now, compared to the slave trade. But it is important to understand that it is happening and what it means, Salaam said.
"We look at things in a vacuum," he said.
The week's events began with a keynote address Tuesday evening by Adam Hochschild, author of two books that discuss the injustices Africans have faced. Hochschild set the scene of the trans-Atlantic slave trade for the students, faculty and community members who gathered in Hendricks Chapel to listen to him speak.
Forty thousand slaves were transported each year, not just to British colonies, but other European nations as well, he said. The conditions were horrible. Close to 500 rebellions on the ships were documented. But uprisings were so routine most were never entered in the records. They were brutally suppressed.
"It's a story that even though it happened 200 years ago, it's one that I hope we can take some inspiration from today, because the battle against injustice is by no means won," Hochschild said.
Events continued Tuesday with a round table discussion on trafficking and modern-day slavery, led by Linda Carty, associate professor of African-American studies at SU. Participants discussed the atrocities occurring today and the measures that need to be taken to fix them.
"Class collusion is being played out on the poor bodies of these black people," Carty said. "It's about ruling class collusion."
The program is relevant because slavery still exists, said Lillian Baker, a graduate assistant to the Africa Initiative. It is overwhelmingly connected to economics.
"It dehumanizes everyone: those enslaved and those allowing it to continue," she said.
The program continues this week with a film series and concludes Monday with a keynote address by author and professor Sam Anderson in Bird Library. Anderson wrote "The Black Holocaust for Beginners" and will speak about the human rights struggles of the 21st century.
Eric Spina, vice chancellor of SU, acknowledged the program as an example of "scholarship in action" during his introduction of keynote speaker Adam Hochschild Tuesday night.
"They have helped us really turn the mirror on ourselves and our humanity," Spina said.
"We look at things in a vacuum," he said.
The week's events began with a keynote address Tuesday evening by Adam Hochschild, author of two books that discuss the injustices Africans have faced. Hochschild set the scene of the trans-Atlantic slave trade for the students, faculty and community members who gathered in Hendricks Chapel to listen to him speak.
Forty thousand slaves were transported each year, not just to British colonies, but other European nations as well, he said. The conditions were horrible. Close to 500 rebellions on the ships were documented. But uprisings were so routine most were never entered in the records. They were brutally suppressed.
"It's a story that even though it happened 200 years ago, it's one that I hope we can take some inspiration from today, because the battle against injustice is by no means won," Hochschild said.
Events continued Tuesday with a round table discussion on trafficking and modern-day slavery, led by Linda Carty, associate professor of African-American studies at SU. Participants discussed the atrocities occurring today and the measures that need to be taken to fix them.
"Class collusion is being played out on the poor bodies of these black people," Carty said. "It's about ruling class collusion."
The program is relevant because slavery still exists, said Lillian Baker, a graduate assistant to the Africa Initiative. It is overwhelmingly connected to economics.
"It dehumanizes everyone: those enslaved and those allowing it to continue," she said.
The program continues this week with a film series and concludes Monday with a keynote address by author and professor Sam Anderson in Bird Library. Anderson wrote "The Black Holocaust for Beginners" and will speak about the human rights struggles of the 21st century.
Eric Spina, vice chancellor of SU, acknowledged the program as an example of "scholarship in action" during his introduction of keynote speaker Adam Hochschild Tuesday night.
"They have helped us really turn the mirror on ourselves and our humanity," Spina said.
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