African American And Diaspora Studies

Four students will be Keegan Fellows and travel the world for one year, and for the first time, Vanderbilt has also awarded four students a Keegan Fellowship to travel in summer 2024. The Keegan Fellowship reflects the promise from the university and Keegan Fellowship alumni to provide transformative global experiences that foster the growth of future leaders. Read More

Vanderbilt University will host a panel discussion, “Confronting Hate: Antisemitism and Racism,” on Tuesday, March 28, at 7 p.m. in the Central Library Community Room. The discussion will address the historical links between antisemitism and other forms of racism and their contemporary resonances in the United States today. Read More

Briana Perry, co-executive director of Healthy and Free Tennessee, will discuss “We Who Believe in Freedom: Sustaining the Power of Grassroots Organizing” on Tuesday, April 12, at 6 p.m. in the Vanderbilt Student Life Center Board of Trust Room. The event, presented by the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, is in honor of Ella Baker Day. Read More

The Heard Libraries have acquired the papers of Rissi Palmer, an influential singer-songwriter and Apple Music host who is breaking barriers for country music artists of color. The library’s acquisition is helping Vanderbilt build a world-class archive of African American music in partnership with the National Museum of African American Music. Read More

Sonia Sanchez, a poet, playwright, professor and activist, will give a virtual talk on Wednesday, April 7, beginning at noon CT in celebration of National Poetry Month as well as Black art and artists. Read More

Prominent scholars Cornel West and Victor Anderson will participate in a virtual event, “Race, Faith and American Democracy: A Conversation,” on Friday, Feb. 5, from noon to 1 p.m. CT as part of Vanderbilt University’s celebration of Black History Month. Read More

Author Alice Randall, writer in residence in African American and Diaspora Studies, will discuss her new book, "Black Bottom Saints," during a virtual event on Thursday, Feb. 4. The event, open to all faculty, staff and alumni, will begin at 5 p.m. CT and be conducted via Zoom. Read More

Alice Randall and Caroline Randall Williams are both writers-in-residence at Vanderbilt—Randall in the Department of African American and Diaspora Studies and Williams in the Department of Medicine, Health and Society. And neither is afraid to shine a light on complicated questions around race. Read More

From Rosa Parks to the Freedom Riders, buses have been a potent symbol of change in Dara Johnson’s hometown, and she’s working to become the next person to deliver transformation through transportation—in the form of a mobile dental clinic. Read More

Tracy Sharpley-Whiting, a renowned scholar on race, gender and culture and chair of African American and Diaspora Studies, has won a Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award. Read More

Vanderbilt’s 2020 celebration of Black History Month included lectures, off-campus trips, community events and more to celebrate and reflect on the history, impact and contributions of African Americans throughout the country’s history and at the university. Read More

“Stirring the Waters Across America,” a multimedia production highlighting the Civil Rights Movement through captivating music, spoken word and dance, is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 28 in Langford Auditorium. Read More

Acclaimed author and feminist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will keynote a signature event as part of the Vanderbilt University Chancellor’s Lecture Series on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m. in Langford Auditorium. The event, hosted by Interim Chancellor and Provost Susan R. Wente, is free and open to the public. Read More

An Oct. 7 panel discussion will explore the connections between the women’s suffrage movement and current voting rights activism. The panel is free and open to the public and will take place from 4:10 to 5:30 p.m. in the Great Room of E. Bronson Ingram College. Read More

​Gilman Whiting, an associate professor of African American and Diaspora studies and director of the Scholar Identity Institute, will lead a Winter Break camp and film seminar for boys of color in sixth through ninth grades Jan. 2-4. Read More

Vanderbilt Writer-In-Residence Alice Randall, a best-selling author and award-winning songwriter, will lead a Sports and Society lecture on “Flags and Anthems" Thursday, Nov. 29. Read More

Seven Vanderbilt faculty were awarded microgrants through the Sports and Society Microgrant Program to investigate how sports and society impact each other across disciplines. Read More

College of Arts and Science professors Suzana Herculano-Houzel, David Ikard and Robert Talisse are among the speakers at the TEDxNashville event March 16–17 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Read More

Associate Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies Gilman Whiting recently was honored with two prestigious awards. Read More

"Why We Can't Wait," a weeklong film seminar intended for teenage boys of color, will be led by Professor Gilman Whiting at the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center Dec. 18-21. Read More