Curto,Jose C. (Editor) and Soulodre-LaFrance,Renée (Editor)
Format:
Book, Edited
Publication Date:
2005
Published:
Trenton, NJ: Africa World Press
Location:
African American Research Center, Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Notes:
Collection of essays from a conference held at York University, October 12-15th, 2000., 338 p, A collection of scholarly works addressing pertinent themes and using innovative approaches and methodologies to advance research on the "Atlantic World" by demonstrating how the slave trade facilitated the creation of one world where before there had been many. The volume includes several of the leading scholars from Brazil, North America and Africa. The organization of this collection of essays reflects an important structural feature of the slave trade itself. That is its circular nature, departing from Africa, coming to America, and then returning to Africa.
While some forget that the United States does not have a monopoly over the title "America," the term, with some exceptions, encompasses most of the Western Hemisphere. As such, many of the communities of African descent that reside within this range possess equal claim to the name "African Americans." The event commemorated "Black Consciousness Day," an annual holiday that is celebrated in Brazil on November 20. The public holiday pays tribute to an African ancestor, Zumbi dos Palmares, revered by Blacks in the country for his fierce resistance to slavery in the 17th century. The day was consciously chosen to symbolize the ongoing struggles of Blacks to achieve social and economic equality in Brazil.
"These talented writers are about to embark on 14 wholly different and fascinating itineraries, from exploring ancient scrolls in Timbuktu, to the Anglican Church in Uganda, to Somaliland's elections, to name a few," says Tom Burke, the Achebe Center program manager. "It is a landmark project, and our partners - large and small - across the continent have lent enthusiasm and support. It's an exciting time to watch these pilgrimages unfold, and it will be quite something to read these books once their pages are written."
