AFRE Co-Hosts Two-Day Symposium Marking the 400th Anniversary of the Beginning of Slavery in the US

On 26-27 September 2019, AFRE co-hosted a two-day symposium in collaboration with the African American and African Diaspora Studies Department (Columbia University) and the Department of Africana Studies (Barnard College), marking the 400th anniversary of the beginning of slavery in the U.S.

Through a series of events, which included an exhibition, a scholarly speaker series, a performance and a roundtable featuring Atlantic Fellows, we explored the continuities of trauma and resiliency that have characterized African American life for the past four centuries. In addition to exploring the impact and legacy of chattel slavery and anti-Black racism, over the course of two days we also examined strategies for advancing liberation for Black people.
The roundtable discussion featuring Atlantic Fellows focused explored how models of leadership are evolving as organizers, artists, scholars and others think more expansively about Blackness, racial equity, and what is needed to truly bring about liberation for Black people—particularly within a South African and U.S. context. The panel featured Cedric Brown, Chief Foundation Officer at the Kapor Center; Regina Holloway, Senior Program Manager at the Policing Project; and Dylan Valley, an award-winning documentary filmmaker and educator. It was moderated by Sebabatso Manoeli, our Director of Strategic Programmes.