Dear Attendees, ASALH Members and Friends,
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who joined us at the 108th Annual ASALH Meeting & Conference in Jacksonville. Whether in-person, virtual, or simply in spirit, your presence at this event was not only deeply appreciated, but also profoundly meaningful. This is particularly the case during these times of attempted erasure in the state of Florida. Black History is most certainly under attack, and we stood in solidarity as a people.
With this in mind, parts of the conference harkened back to how ASALH engaged local communities pre-desegregation, such as opening at the historic Bethel Baptist Church where we invited some of Jacksonville’s community leaders to discuss “The Value of Black History.” At Social Justice at ASALH’s “Banned Book Readout” at nearby James Weldon Johnson Park, we collectively stood up for the preservation and celebration of our history. We were inspired by readings from such scholar-activists as Dr. Johnnetta Cole, Rodney L. Hurst, and a special pre-recorded address from Angela Davis. Your participation in this event showcased your commitment to the cause and how, through such unity, we can overcome the challenges our people face today.
Of course ASALH held its traditional academic conference, highlighted by some of the top academic leaders in the field of African American history. Scholars such as Hasan Kwame Jeffries of Ohio State, Kimberle Crenshaw of UCLA, Kaye Wise Whitehead of Loyola University of Maryland, and institutional leaders such as Lonnie Bunch of the Smithsonian and Jim Grossman of the American Historical Association provided conference participants much insight on the state of the field. Plenary sessions on Black Student Resistance, A. Philip Randolph and Black Women Resistance were also highlights of the conference. Overall, the conference consisted of over 200 sessions which provided conference participants a potpourri of scholarship, research and knowledge about the African and African American experience.
ASALH owes much gratitude for the conference’s success to the various committees and individuals who worked tirelessly to bring it together. We especially thank the Local Arrangements Committee, chaired by Hazel Gillis and the Academic Program Committee, chaired by Aaisha Haykal. The Marketing and Public Relations Committee, chaired by Zebulon Miletsky, also did a yeoman’s job of publicizing ASALH’s decision to go to Florida and to bring its special message about the importance of teaching Black History. The Social Justice team led by Dr. Lisa Brock and Michelle Pourciau, in partnership with the Mellon Foundation and Howard University, also did a great job coordinating our special off-site events, along with several workshops. I want to give all of these committees, volunteers, and attendees who helped to make ASALH’s conference a success in Jacksonville a special “thank you.”
Your support was a true act of resistance, and has inspired us to continue on our mission. We are more determined than ever to protect and celebrate Black History. Together, we can ensure that it remains an indelible part of our shared narrative, indeed the true example of successful perseverance in our country. Thank you for being a part of this resistance, for being champions of our culture, and for making the 108th Annual ASALH Meeting & Conference a resounding success.
With gratitude and solidarity,
W. Marvin Dulaney
President, ASALH