ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE AND HISTORY®
2023 BLACK HISTORY THEME: BLACK RESISTANCE
WELCOME FROM THE ASALH PRESIDENT Dear Conference Participants: Welcome to the 108th Annual Meeting and Conference of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Our national conference in Jacksonville, Florida has a very special theme this year: Black Resistance. This is a theme that will shape the mission of our conference because the state of Florida and its governor have in effect declared war on the teaching of Black History. As the oldest organization in the United States whose mission is “to promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community,” ASALH is coming to Florida to challenge the restrictions on the teaching of Black History and to assist Florida residents in resisting the “anti-woke” policies of the state’s politicians. This year’s conference will have several programs and events to engage the citizens of Florida in resisting the draconian policies of its governor and legislature. We are holding several community events to highlight the importance of teaching Black History, defending free speech, and challenging draconian laws and policies. For example, the conference will open on Tuesday evening with a community forum to discuss the importance of teaching Black History. On Wednesday, ASALH will host two public plenary sessions. Then on Thursday, ASALH will host Resistance Day by going to James Weldon Johnson Park where members of ASALH will read “banned books” and challenge Florida’s anti-First Amendment legislation and policies. ASALH will send a clear message of how to resist those who try to stymy free speech, the free exchange of ideas, and teaching the facts of American history. It is quite apropos that ASALH is having its annual conference in Jacksonville this year. Recently, the city has suffered the shooting of three African Americans by a racist gunman who joined the trend of white supremacists targeting African Americans in their efforts to intimidate us and to start a race war. Thus, ASALH is not only pushing back on anti-wokeness, but it is also pushing back against the racist violence that African Americans have suffered throughout American history. We are saying that “we have had enough and we will no longer be victims of racist violence.” ASALH appreciates that you are “running to the fight” with us. While you are here please enjoy the plenary and luncheon sessions that feature Dr. Kwame Jeffries of Ohio State University, Dr. Khalil Muhammad of Harvard University, and the wonderful poetry of Sonia Sanchez. Of course, there will be other highlights of the conference, and there will be many more sessions and roundtables that will capture your attention and provide you vital information about the African American experience. Please enjoy what I know will be a very historic conference.
W. Marvin Dulaney President Association for the Study of African American Life and History JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA | THE 2023 BLACK HISTORY THEME: BLACK RESISTANCE
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