The Fourth Annual Conference
Theme: Black Womxn At The Center
The fourth-annual Black Religion, Spirituality, and Culture Conference was held February 27th and 28th, 2020 with the theme Black Womxn at the Center, highlighting Black Womxn doing praxis-driven work in academia, ministry, and the arts, all broadly-defined, and acknowledging self-identified Womanists or Black Feminists doing work that centers folx at the margins.The conference also included current students to present resonant work in addition to panels that brought in academics and activists.
Sankofa Awardee: Jamie Johnson-Riley
Panel Overview
PANEL 1: CENTERING HEALING, A WAY FORWARD - WOMXN SURVIVORS OF INCARCERATION
This panel focused on highlighting the voices and stories of two womxn survivors of incarceration and the ways that they have worked toward healing and justice in their journeys. We were honoured to start the conference, which was centered on Black womxn, with the stories of two incredible womxn who experienced compounded marginalization within the carceral system.
Panelists: Eboni Nash, Stacey Borden, Sylvia Lipscomb
PANEL 2: BLACK IMAGINATION AND THE BEYOND
This panel discussed how Black womxn practice and think about the arts and care within the United States, including but not limited to creative writing, film, music, dance, and other imaginative practices. We brought together change-makers that use arts, contemplative practices, and imagination to break oppressive systems
Panelists: Azmera Hammouri Davis, Sequoia Dickerson, Dr. Cheryl Giles, Yeshi Milner
PANEL 3: BLACK FEMINISM AND WOMANISM IN THE ACADEMY
This panel focused on Black feminist and womanist scholarship pertaining to a variety of concerns within Black and marginalized communities. We brought together scholar-activists who use the Academy to prompt change.
Panelists: Najha Zigbi-Johnson, Dr. Monique Moultrie, Dr. Wylin D. Wilson
PANEL 4: BEYOND HDS - BLACK WOMXN IN ACTION
This panel focused on Black womxn/femmes doing praxis-driven work in the academy or in ministry. This included self-identified black feminists or womanists who take an interdisciplinary approach and based in multi-religious/spiritual identities. Essentially, those who are doing work at the margins of the margins.
Panelists: Chandra Plowden, Taylor Stewart, Sadada Jackson, Dr. Gloria White-Hammond
PANEL 5: STUDENT PRESENTERS
In conjunction with the year’s theme, this panel highlighted the written scholarship of students from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds that emphasize the importance of Black womxn in spirituality and justice.
Panelists: Naikia G. Brown, Vanessa Lindley, Nordia Bennett, Bridget Webster