Media Advisory for Monday, October 23, 2006
The Humanities Council of Washington, DC presents its 2006 International Symposium
In Vogue: Black Culture and Identity in the Jazz Age
Washington D.C., Paris, and New Orleans
A Symposium on the African American Presence in American Public Life
In partnership with
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Embassy of France
This event will commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the Birth of Josephine Baker
WHAT: The In Vogue symposium will provide a unique opportunity for scholars, experts, and the public to reconsider the social and cultural history of the inter-war period from the vantage point of the 21st century and encourage an assessment of the quantity and quality of the African American presence in public life at both historic junctures.
· 10-am-11:30am, Session I, Opening Celebration; Welcomes, New Orleans Jazz Performance, and World of Josephine Baker.
· 11:30am–1:30pm, Session II, The New Negro in the New Century: The 1920s Revisited; Panel discussion and presentations on Washington, D.C., Paris, and New Orleans
· 1:30-3:00pm, Lunch on your own
· 3:00-5:00pm, Session III, A 2020 Vision: Black Culture and Identity in the 21st Century; Exploration of contemporary issues such as Hurricane Katrina, gentrification, rise of Hip Hop and immigration.
WHEN: Saturday, November 18, 2006
WHERE: National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution, Baird Auditorium
WHO: Lonnie Bunch, Director, National Museum of African American History and Culture
Jean-David Levitte, Ambassador of France
John W. Franklin, National Museum of African American History and Culture
Dr. Michael White, Ph.D. Xavier University & The Michael White Jazz Quartet
Bettye J. Gardner, Ph.D., Coppin State University, In Vogue Symposium Chair, Board Member of Humanities Council of Washington, DC Board of Directors
Deborah Macanic, Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, SITES
Tricia Rose, Ph.D., Brown University
Eleanor Traylor, Ph.D., Howard University
Donna M. Wells, Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
Farah Jasmine Griffin, Ph.D., Columbia University
Starmanda Bullock, Ph.D., Howard University
Malkia Lydia, Film Producer and Director
Poets Abdul Ali, Derek Weston Brown, Tinesha Davis, and Ava Wilson
Joy Ford Austin, Executive Director, Humanities Council of Washington, DC
Donald Murray, Educational Consultant and Chair of the Humanities Council of Washington, DC Board of Directors
This program is free and open to the public, however, space is limited. To attend as member of the press, to arrange an interview, or for more information, please contact Talaya Grimes, Director of Development and Communications at , or by telephone at (202) 387-8391 ext. 16.
The Humanities Council of Washington, DC was founded in 1980 as a grant making agency and has grown to become both a funder of community projects and a provider of programs, ensuring that public education in the humanities reaches diverse audiences across wards, neighborhoods, and cultures in the Washington area. The Council works with community partners and social leaders, encouraging then to embrace the D.C. cultural renaissance and collaborate with us to develop activities that raise community consciousness. The Council is an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities; however it is a private, non-profit organization, and not a federal or District agency. The mission of the Humanities Council is to enrich the quality of life, foster intellectual stimulation, and promote cross-cultural understanding and appreciation of local history in all neighborhoods of the District through humanities programs and grants. The Humanities Council believes that in-depth consideration of the issues that affect us as individuals in a society can make a positive impact on our lives, and believes each citizen can participate in our vision to “transform lives through the power of the humanities.” www.wdchumanities.org
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