News and Events

THE THIRD ANNUAL WOMEN, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY STUDIES GRADUATE SYMPOSIUM: A Century of Black History Commemorations: “The Impact and Meaning of Black History and Life Commemorations in Transforming the Status of Black Peoples in the Modern World”

Deadline for submissions:

January 31, 2026

THE THIRD ANNUAL WOMEN, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY STUDIES GRADUATE SYMPOSIUM

A Century of Black History Commemorations

“The Impact and Meaning of Black History and Life Commemorations in Transforming the Status of

Black Peoples in the Modern World”

Morgan State University, April 2, 2026

2026 marks a century of national Black history commemorations. Dr. Carter G. Woodson and his colleagues founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) in 1915, institutionalizing the teaching and celebration of Black history. From Nannie Helen Burroughs’s early inclusion of African American history in her school’s curriculum to Mary McLeod Bethune’s leadership and creation of the Negro History Bulletin in 1937, African American educators have advanced Woodson’s vision. Evolving from Negro History Week to Black History Month, ASALH’s mission endures as a cornerstone of American and global culture, celebrating Black history as liberatory and essential.

Submission Deadline: January 31, 2026: Please submit abstracts to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe7ZLaBIXq8JDbB_IbOxilH3aSd8JJ7HzhMcBOHHLFE_8oafg/viewform?usp=dialog

Symposium Theme:

Topics of Interest Include, but Are Not Limited To:

• The legacy of Carter G. Woodson and the founding of ASNLH

• The evolution from Negro History Week to Black History Month

• The role of Black history commemorations in challenging racial inequality, with a focus on women

• The impact of Black history celebrations on cultural identity within the African Diaspora

• Commemoration as a tool for social justice and advocacy

• Women and the intersection of Black history, memory, and collective liberation

• Black feminist and queer perspectives on historical commemoration

• The role of Black women scholars, activists, and cultural figures in the commemoration of Black history

• A comparative look at global commemorations of Black history across the African Diaspora

• The contemporary relevance of Black History Month and its evolving role in public consciousness, especially on women.

Submission Guidelines:

We welcome abstracts for individual papers, panel discussions, and creative works that engage with the themes of Black history, memory, and commemoration. Submissions should demonstrate a clear connection to the historical and contemporary significance of Black history observances.

Abstract Requirements:

• Length: Maximum 250 words (must have a title and submitted on a word doc,)

• Biography: A short biography of the author(s) (maximum 150 words)

• Submission Type: Indicate whether your submission is an individual paper or a panel discussion

(If a panel, please provide details of all panelists and titles of each paper)

• Contact Information: Full name and email

• Institutional Affiliation: Name of institution of study or work (independent scholars can also submit abstracts)

For inquiries, contact:Dr. Denise Jarrett - denise.jarrett@morgan.edu or Dr. Maya Nitis- maya.nitis@morgan.edu

Research Orientation at the Library of Congress, Washington D.C. (September, 2023)

The Department of English and Language Arts sponsored a trip to the Library of Congress (LOC) to explore research opportunities and participate in instruction on research and bibliographic discovery. Moreover, students were designated as researchers and received 2-year LOC reader’s cards. The research topic was lynching in support of the 6^th Annual Quarles Conference hosted by the College of Liberal Arts. The Special Collections staff prepared exhibits of holdings on Geography and Maps, Newspaper and Periodicals, Prints and Photographs, and Music that reflected the research theme of lynching in the U.S.

Students at the Capitol

Morgan State University Student Researchers at the Library of Congress

Students in the Reading Room

Dr Sybil Moses

JP Morgan SYI Grant Sponsored Experiential Learning of African American History

Morgan State University students, supported by the JP Morgan SYI grant, embarked on a field trip to three former plantations – Hampton, Homewood, and Mount Clare – which once held enslaved workers. This excursion fostered experiential learning and allowed students to witness the living conditions and experiences of enslaved individuals, directly relating to their studies of works like Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and other related themes (Dr. Denise M. Jarrett, October 21, 2023).

Hampton Site