Angela Y. Davis with Nikky Finney: The Irresistible Conversation

African American Studies at UofSC

Join the African American Studies Program for the Annual Robert Smalls Lecture featuring Angela Y. Davis in conversation with Nikky Finney.

Pastides Alumni Center

Location Update (As of April 18): This event has been moved from the BTW Auditorium to the Pastides Alumni Center. The African American Studies Program at the University of South Carolina is pleased to welcome activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis as the featured speaker for the Annual Robert Smalls Lecture. This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. We anticipate tickets will sell out. At the request of our guest speakers, masks will be required during this event. Check-in will open at 5:30 p.m. and we ask all guests to be seated no later than 6:30 p.m. The program will begin promptly at 7. The event will be video recorded. By registering, you agree to being filmed.Cosponsored by the African American Studies Program and the College of Arts &amp; Sciences, the Institute for African American Research, the Center for Civil Rights History and Research, and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Please note: This event is currently sold out.About Angela Y. Davis Through her activism and scholarship over many decades, Angela Davis has been deeply involved in movements for social justice around the world. Her work as an educator – both at the university level and in the larger public sphere – has always emphasized the importance of building communities of struggle for economic, racial, and gender justice.Professor Davis’ teaching career has taken her to San Francisco State University, Mills College, and UC Berkeley. She also has taught at UCLA, Vassar, Syracuse University the Claremont Colleges, and Stanford University. Most recently she spent fifteen years at the University of California Santa Cruz where she is now Distinguished Professor Emerita of History of Consciousness – an interdisciplinary PhD program – and of Feminist Studies. Angela Davis is the author of ten books and has lectured throughout the United States as well as in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America. In recent years a persistent theme of her work has been the range of social problems associated with incarceration and the generalized criminalization of those communities that are most affected by poverty and racial discrimination. She draws upon her own experiences in the early seventies as a person who spent eighteen months in jail and on trial, after being placed on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted List.” She also has conducted extensive research on numerous issues related to race, gender and imprisonment. Her books include Abolition Democracy and Are Prisons Obsolete?, and two books of essays entitled The Meaning of Freedom, and Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement. Her most recent books include a re-issue of Angela Davis: An Autobiography and Abolition. Feminism. Now., with co-authors Gina Dent, Erica Meiners and Beth Richie. About Nikky FinneyNikky Finney is the John H. Bennett, Jr. Endowed Professor of Creative Writing and Southern Letters at the University of South Carolina. She has a joint appointment in the department of English Language and Literature and the African American Studies program. African American history, the history of America, as well as topics in popular culture, gender and sexuality, art, race and social justice are at the core of her work. Finney has authored five books including On Wings Made of Gauze (1985), RICE (1995), The World Is Round (2003) and Head Off &amp; Split (2011), which was awarded the 2011 National Book Award for Poetry. About the Annual Robert Smalls Lecture Inaugurated in 1997, this lecture series has grown from the African American Studies Program&#x27;s strong sense of identification with South Carolina history and culture, both past and present. We&#x27;re proud to present the lecture to the university and the local community. Learn more about the lecture series and view videos of past lectures <a href="https://www.sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/african_american_studies/for_the_community/robert_smalls/index.php" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here.</a>Robert Smalls (1839-1915) was originally known as a daring hero during the Civil War. In 1862, he delivered the CSS Planter, a transport steamer, to Union soldiers and by April 1863, he was pilot of the ironclad USS Keokuk. On December 1, 1863, after an act of bravery under fire, Smalls became the first black captain of a vessel in the service of the United States. After the war, he became a Major-General in the South Carolina militia and a state legislator. Parking Parking convenient to the Pastides Alumni Center is available in the Park Street city parking garage (parking fees apply). Several city parking garages are located in the vicinity. Garages/parking spaces are available on a first come, first serve basis. Please see the parking map below for more information.AccessibilityThe Alumni Center is built to make guests’ experience enjoyable and comfortable for everyone. All public areas are ADA and wheelchair user accessible.The Alumni Center has one street level entrance to the building off of Senate Street and three automatic ADA doors that leads in to the main lobby. A wheelchair ramp from the street level to the main entrance is located on Senate Street. Two guest elevators are located on all levels and the entrances to restrooms and doorways are wide to allow for easy passage. The restrooms have a wider stall area, handrails, automatic faucets and hands- free towel dispensers. Fully accessible drinking fountains can be found on the first and second floors.Security In order to ensure the wellbeing of our audience and speakers, there will be additional security measures at this event. Metal detectors will be in place and bags may be searched by security. Prohibited Items: - Coolers, thermoses, cups, glass bottles, cans, flasks - Food of any kind - Video cameras, tripods, recording devices, detachable camera lenses over 6&quot;, selfie sticks - Weapons/concealed weapons - Alcoholic beverages - Banners or posters - Illegal drugs- Non-approved face coverings *Other items that in the judgement of event management pose a safety hazard or diminish the enjoyment of an event by other patrons All attendees are expected to adhere to the Carolinian Creed and the Gamecocks Code of Conduct. Carolinian Creed I will practice personal and academic integrity; I will respect the dignity of all persons; I will respect the rights and property of others; I will discourage bigotry, while striving to learn from differences in people, ideas and opinions; I will demonstrate concern for others, their feelings, and their need for the conditions which support their work and development. Gamecocks Code of Conduct - Conduct themselves in a manner that represents their University with honor, dignity, and respect - Not use vulgar, abusive, racist, sexist, demeaning, or intimidating language at any time - Treat the panelists, event staff, and other patrons with courtesy and respect at all times - Demonstrate the qualities of civility at all times - Not engage in language that is vulgar, crass, or demeaning - Refrain from becoming belligerent or engaging in disruptive behavior - Be a positive role model for those around them by treating others with courtesy and respect Noncompliance with the code may result in ejection from the event.

Angela Y. Davis with Nikky Finney: The Irresistible Conversation

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Angela Y. Davis with Nikky Finney: The Irresistible Conversation

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