乐播传媒

First day of classes in First-Year Seminar with Assistant Professor of History Patrick Otim. FYS 468 – Beyond Nelson Mandela: Themes and Personalities in South African History Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black president in 1994 after more than three centuries of white dominance. Today, he is considered the greatest African leader of the twentieth century. This popular perception, born of Mandela’s charisma after walking out of jail and becoming president, cut out many actors and events in the history of South Africa. This course introduces students to these obscured actors and events. It begins by exploring the encounter between Europeans and Africans, then examines the institutionalization of the apartheid state, and concludes by studying the reactions to, and defeat of, the apartheid state.

“According to Mark: Part I: Blood in the Revolution.” Commencing a series of plays marking Black History Month at 乐播传媒, this 10-minute reading is one of four looking at the 18th-century experiences of black New Englanders and written by Lecturer in Theater Clifford Odle. Sponsored by the Africana program. Commons, Fireplace Lounge The title character in According to Mark 鈥渨as a slave who could read and was looking for a way to free himself from an oppressive master. And he felt the Bible provided a path to murdering him as long as he didn鈥檛 spill blood.鈥� The play is set during the planning of the murder, which also involved two other slaves, Mark鈥檚 sister Phyllis and a woman called Phoebe. In the actual event, Mark was hanged for the murder and Phyllis was burned at the stake 鈥� a punishment that in Colonial America was reserved for female slaves who kill their masters, Odle says. Cast: Charles Nero as Mark Perla Figuereo as Phyllis Sam Alexander as Phoebe Dawrin Silfa as Quaco

The 乐播传媒 College Philip J. Otis Committee invites you to attend The 25th Annual Otis Lecture, made possible by the Philip J. Otis 鈥�95 Endowment Carolyn Finney, author of Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors will deliver a talk entitled 鈥淩eparative Gestures: On Race, Redemption and (Re)making a Green World.鈥� A book signing will follow the lecture. Wednesday, October 12, 2022 7:30 p.m. Olin Arts Center Concert Hall 乐播传媒 College

鈥淚n many ways, my honors thesis has been a source of love, for which I will forever be grateful.鈥� A crowd of about 50 students, faculty, and staff gathered on the front steps of Coram Library to celebrate Sam Jean-Francois 鈥�23 of Medford, Mass., and bind Jean-Francois鈥� honors thesis in Africana, titled 鈥淐olonialism as the Disaster: Retelling the Fight for Haitian Sovereignty,鈥� with Associate Professor and Co-Chair of Africana Sue Houchins serving as Jean-Francois鈥� 鈥減roud adviser.鈥� The thesis 鈥渉as been a heuristic exercise centered in my journey to uncover more about my history, my family鈥檚 history, and Haiti鈥檚 history as the world鈥檚 first free Black republic,鈥� said Jean-Francois. 鈥淭hrough this thesis I鈥檝e had the opportunity to engage with the works of Haitian scholars such as Myriam Chancy, and reconnect with my mother tongue, Kreyol.鈥� Laughing at calls to read the whole thesis aloud (all 126 pages of it,) Jean-Francois read the acknowledgments page aloud, and then bound the thesis, with the help of Verina Chatata 鈥�26 of Lilongwe, Malawi, followed by a joyous shake-and-pop with a bottle of champagne, adorned with a Haitian flag.

Welcome back! The winter semester at 乐播传媒 began today, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. After consecutive snow and rain storms 鈥� one of each 鈥� the warmth of the sun reappeared midday, along with the pleasure of reconnection. Swipe left for photographs of folks who were willing to be described as 鈥渉appy to see one another after winter break.鈥� Their smiles tell the story. Tim Ruppert 鈥�27 (in black jacket and tan pants) of Edina, Minn., stops for a chat on Alumni Walk with Jack McAvoy 鈥�24, a politics and philosophy major from Scarsdale, N.Y., and as they return to campus after winter break. McAvoy was Ruppert鈥檚 AESOP Habitat for Humanity II trip leader in Rockland, Maine. They teamed up with other students to build a cul de sac. Books on display for MLK Day 2024, featuring cookbooks by keynote speaker Bryant Terry.

Two close friends who met on their first day at 乐播传媒 chose to bind their senior theses together on the steps of Hathorn Hall on April 17, 2024. In the company of friends, staff, and faculty, Aaliyah Moore 鈥�24 and Prinnes Wilson鈥�24 paid tribute to each other, to those gathered, and to family members who have supported them along the way. Wilson, a psychology major from Las Vegas, wrote a thesis titled 鈥淭he Relationship Between Aging and Proximity to Clothing,鈥� under the supervision of Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology Katherine Mathis. After the binding, Wilson expressed pride in his thesis. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good representation of me,鈥� he said. Moore, a double major in Africana and politics from Phoenix, Ariz., bound two theses. Her honors thesis in Africana, written under the supervision of Professor of English Ther铆 Pickens, is titled: 鈥淎lice Walker鈥檚 鈥楾he Color Purple鈥�: An Authentic Depiction of Confinement in Historical Fiction.鈥� Moore called Pickens her 鈥渟piritual guide鈥� whose 鈥渦nwavering support, grace, and kindness know no bounds.鈥� Moore鈥檚 politics thesis, written under the supervision of Professor of Politics Stephen Engel, is titled 鈥淩ethinking the Supreme Court鈥檚 Approach to Discrimination Cases: Adopting a Comprehensive Framework.鈥�

Moments from the event, “Who is Trayvon Martin? Celebrating Black Life & Legacy in Perry Atrium on March 26, 2025. Sponsored by the Program in Africana as part of our Black Life & Legacy Series. Marcelle Medford, associate professor of sociology, Frances Bell, visiting assistant professor of history, Catherine Saunders, visiting assistant professor of africana, Ian Khara Ellasante, assistant professor of gender and sexuality studies and Charles Nero, Benjamin E. Mays ’20 Distinguished Prof of Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies. (Theophil Syslo | 乐播传媒 College)

Day in the Life of Ladd Library on March 12, 2025. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/乐播传媒 College)

乐播传媒 English professor Myronn Hardy spoke about his new book, “Aurora Americana,” and read poems from it in Gomes Chapel on Oct. 11. Myronn Hardy’s Poetry Book Launch and Reading October 11, 2023 Peter J. Gomes Chapel 7:00 – 8:30 PM Myronn Hardy, Assistant Professor of English, will read from his newly published book of poems, Aurora Americana (Princeton University Press, 2023). His other books of poems include: Approaching the Center, The Headless Saints, Catastrophic Bliss, Kingdom, and Radioactive Starlings. He has received several awards and fellowships.

Academic Fair in Pettengill Hall’s Perry Atrium. For three hours this morning, faculty spoke with members of the Class of 2023 about their departments’ offerings. Charles Nero, rhetoric