Join Prof. Keisha N. Blain, Occidental’s 2021 Stafford Ellison Wright Black Alumni Scholar-in-Residence, in conversation with Prof. Robin D.G. Kelley.
Blain, who teaches at the University of Pittsburgh, will be in residence at Occidental February 23-25. An award-winning 20th-century historian who specializes in African American History and writes about black internationalism, radical politics and global feminism, Blain will participate in a public conversation, titled “Black Internationalism and Radical Politics” with UCLA professor Robin D.G. Kelley on Thursday, February 25 at 5 p.m. This is the second public lecture as part of her residency.
This virtual event is free and open to all students, staff, faculty, alumni and the general public. .
About Keisha N. Blain, Ph.D.
“Professor Blain is a brilliant and incredibly prolific scholar and public intellectual,” says Regina Freer, professor of Politics, Department Chair and Stafford Ellison Wright Committee member. "Her work on the history of African American women’s radical activism helps us understand the rich and complex legacy that informs our current moment in which Black women’s leadership is so pivotal.”
Blain’s most recent book, Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African American 1619-2019, an anthology co-edited with Ibram X. Kendi, gathers some of the most important voices of today. Blain is also the author of Set the World on Fire: Black Nationalist Women and the Global Struggle for Freedom, winner of the 2019 Darlene Clark Hine Award from the Organization of American Historians; co-creator and co-editor of the #CharlestonSyllabus Twitter movement and subsequent book; and co-editor of To Turn the Whole World Over: Black Women and Internationalism and New Perspectives on the Black Intellectual Tradition.
About Robin D.G. Kelley. Ph.D.
Robin D.G. Kelley is the Gary B. Nash Professor of American History at the University of California, Los Angeles. His work has explored the history of social movements in the U.S., the African diaspora and Africa; Black intellectuals; music and visual culture; Marxism, racial capitalism, among many other facets of Black life. Kelley is the author of numerous award-winning essays, articles and books, including the upcoming Black Bodies Swinging: An American Postmortem.
About the Stafford Ellison Wright Black Alumni Scholar-in-Residence
Created by Occidental’s Black Alumni Organization (BAO), the Stafford Ellison Wright Endowment enables distinguished Black scholars from a variety of fields, artists, elected officials and others to spend time in residence at Occidental each year. BAO members believe that a student’s educational experience will be enriched by in-depth contact with individuals who serve as symbols of excellence.
The Endowment honors Occidental’s first Black graduates, all members of the Class of 1952: Dr. Janet Stafford, George F. Ellison, and Barbara Bowman Wright.
