Instructor: Michelle B. Taylor, Ph.D.

This class will serve as an introduction to the film genre known as "Blaxploitation". We will explore the origins, the evolution, and the impact these films had on Hollywood. If you’ve ever been curious about why it’s call “Blaxploitation” or what the goals of these films were, this is the class for you. Dr. Taylor will also debunk some myths about the genre and highlight the ways in which is was subversive, revolutionary, and problematic all at the same time.

Instructor: Miller

This space is an invitation to remember, reclaim, and reimagine. Participants will examine how resistance has always been part of Black life, how colonialism shaped our understanding of gender, and what it means to hold complexity in ourselves and in community. Rooted in Black queer and trans ways of knowing, this space explores gender expansiveness not as theory—but as a lived practice of liberation. Through storytelling, critical dialogue, and reflection, we’ll uncover how gender-affirming care, personal sovereignty, and collective accountability are necessary for any movement rooted in freedom. This session is not about debate or performance—it is about deepening our connection to self, to each other, and to the kind of world we’re trying to build.

Instructor: Shanae S. Jeffries, Ph.D.

Our names serve as the moniker or brand of our lives. Before even showing your face, a person can likely deduce your gender, race and ethnicity, social class, and possibly your age. These demographic assumptions have been documented to be points of discrimination for applicants on housing applications, school admissions, jobs, and so much more; however, there is more that our names can share with society. The names we carry with us every day are a symbol of our ancestry, and while they possess signals of our identity to others, they also are a constant reminder of our heritage to carry with pride every day. The names that are so unique in our society carry stories and honor our ancestors before us. For example, some African cultures name their children based on the day of the week they were born; each day of the week symbolizes different characteristic traits that the child is destined to possess. In European countries there is a long-standing divide on whether to assimilate or stand in the distinctiveness of Africana culture with a unique name. The sociology of naming is vast and to date, this work has largely been Eurocentric. This workshop breaks the tradition and gives voice to the Africana sociology of naming.

Instructor: Naomi Washington-Leaphart

"No matter who is President, God is still in control." "Everything that happens is part of God's plan." Have you ever heard these kinds of statements made in the wake of psychic, material, and physical violence inflicted on Black people in the U.S.? In this class, we will explore the theological reasoning behind unjust and inadequate political and social responses to Black pain and suffering. Ultimately, we will ask, what kind of theology can provide a moral/spiritual foundation for the revolution needed to end anti-Blackness.

Instructor: Vedia Barnett

This interactive workshop explores the powerful, often overlooked acts of resistance by enslaved Black women, centering their bodily autonomy, intelligence, and communal survival strategies. Through discussion, historical storytelling, and creative reflection, participants will engage with the legacy of these women not as victims, but as visionaries and freedom fighters. Students will leave with a deeper understanding of resistance as embodied knowledge and a renewed call to honor, remember, and act in the spirit of those who refused to be broken.

Instructor: Lorena Candelario

The phrase "Me no Black, I am Dominican," famously recounted by comedian Godfrey, encapsulates a prevalent and complex narrative: how Dominicans often deny their African heritage, asserting a distinct "not Black, but Dominican" identity. This narrative is further complicated by the Dominican Nationalist movement's pursuit of former dictator Rafael Trujillo's agenda to reduce "Haitian Blood" in the Dominican Republic. It is important to understand that the Dominican identity has been intentionally shaped and rooted in white supremacy. This workshop will explore the fragmented Dominican identity, examining its formation through the effects of colonialism, tyranny, and revisionist historical narratives. Furthermore, it will highlight the important work and voices of Afro-Dominicans who are dedicated to restoring African pride within the Dominican Republic and fostering unity across the island of Hispaniola with their Haitian counterparts.

Instructor: Leslie Mac

Reproductive Justice (RJ) is a visionary framework created by Black women that expands the fight for reproductive freedom to include racial, economic, and gender justice. This 90-minute interactive workshop will explore the history and principles of RJ, how it differs from reproductive health and rights, and why it remains essential to liberation movements today.

We’ll trace the origins of RJ, honor the movement’s founding mothers, and examine how issues like maternal mortality, environmental racism, and trans and queer reproductive rights connect under this expansive lens. Participants will engage with case studies, reflect on their own experiences, and leave with resources to continue learning and organizing.

This session is for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of RJ—whether you're new to the concept or looking to sharpen your lens. Come ready to learn, connect, and reimagine what justice really looks like when we center the lives of the most impacted.

Instructor: Reynaldo Anderson, Ph.D.

This interactive workshop will delve into the interconnected concepts of Afrocentricity and Afrofuturism in the context of the film, Sinners (2025). Participants will explore how Afrocentric thought, rooted in African history, culture, and agency, provides a vital foundation for Afrofuturist expressions that envision Black liberation, technological advancement, and self-determination in speculative futures. Through engaging discussions, multimedia examples, and creative exercises, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of these powerful frameworks and their relevance to Sinners and the Black Speculative Arts Movement.

Target Audience: Anyone interested in Black history, culture, Black cinema, speculative fiction, social justice, and future studies. No prior knowledge is required.

Instructor: Nairobi Hillaire Seabrooks

This workshop will offer different layers of remembrance. Thematically, this work ranges from family lineage, the creation/existence of archives, and the historical need for marronage and other efforts of autonomy. We utilize heirlooms (i.e. our photographs, letters, documents, memorabilia and other personal items) to tell the full story of our past, present, and future. By creating these spaces activated by physicality and significance, we can imbue our reality with narratives of autonomy.

Instructor: Dr. Ritch Hall II

This class is designed for mental health professionals, educators, consumers, and Black men at-large seeking to deepen their understanding of the unique mental health experiences of Black men. Through an Afrocentric lens, the presentation explores how systemic racism, cultural expectations, and historical trauma shape mental health pathology and treatment needs for Black men in America.

Black men face intersecting pressures—racialized trauma, economic disparities, health inequities, and masculine role expectations—that often go unaddressed in traditional clinical models. Standard diagnostic frameworks frequently miss the cultural nuance of these experiences, contributing to misdiagnosis, underdiagnosis, or ineffective treatment.

This presentation introduces participants to a culturally responsive approach that centers Black men’s lived experiences. The session provides practical tools for working more effectively with Black male clients and offers guidance for Black men seeking to improve their mental health and engage in therapeutic support.

Topics include:

How anti-Blackness and systemic racism impact emotional expression and coping

The role of masculinity and cultural stigma in treatment engagement

Understanding racialized trauma and stress-related pathology in Black men

Adapting therapeutic interventions to align with cultural values and strengths

Instructor: Terrell Strayhorn, Ph.D.

Across the African Diaspora, the spirit of Ubuntu—“I am because we are”—has been a guiding philosophy that shapes identity, community, and resilience. This interactive workshop explores Ubuntu as a foundation for belonging and the collective strength of Blackness. Participants experience storytelling, dialogue, and reflection to examine how Black identity is deeply rooted in shared history, cultural pride, and communal responsibility.

Using examples from history, activism, and everyday life, we’ll discuss how Ubuntu challenges individualism and instead uplifts interconnectedness. How does this philosophy help us navigate spaces where we feel unseen or excluded? How can we use Ubuntu to build belonging in schools, workplaces, and communities?

This session is designed for students, educators, and community leaders who want to understand the power of Ubuntu and its relevance to Black experiences across the globe. By the end, participants will leave with actionable strategies to cultivate belonging, strengthen community ties, and affirm Black identity in meaningful ways.