What:

The African and African American Studies program at George Mason University will host a multidisciplinary conference titled "African Identities in the Age of Obama" to explore the complex ways in which African identities are constructed, expressed and represented.

Why:

Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44th president reminds Americans that beliefs about persons of African ancestry based on their appearance are precarious at best. While African Americans, African immigrants, Caribbean immigrants, Afro-Latino immigrants and Afro-European immigrants may have black skin, their cultural perspectives, historical experiences and evolving identities should suggest different conceptions of "Africanness."

Who:

Scholars and students from across the country will be in attendance.

A full schedule of events and presenters is available at http://aaas.gmu.edu/conference_schedule

Featured Panel: "Through the Lens of Africanity: Reconceptualizing Obama in the Past and Present"
Joseph Miller, University of Virginia 
Ibrahim Sundiata, Brandeis University 
Joseph Leonard, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Department of Agriculture

Moderator: Spencer Crew, Robinson Professor, George Mason University

When:

October 8-10, 2009

George Mason University, Fairfax Campus

http://www.gmu.edu/welcome/Directions-to-GMU.html

 Additional information is available at http://aaas.gmu.edu/conference_obama_2009.