Lemon Project prepares for sixteenth annual spring symposium – W&M News

Award-winning novelist Daniel Black returns to William & Mary in March to as soon as once more function the keynote speaker for the Lemon Project Spring Symposium.

The two-day occasion, organized across the theme of “United We Stand: Fortifying Black Communities through Courage, Dignity and Joy,” will happen March 20-21 on the W&M School of Education. Attendees may additionally attend just about by way of Zoom. 

“As one of the earliest initiatives of its kind in the United States, The Lemon Project has established a model of civic leadership by engaging students, faculty, staff and community partners in sustained, critical examination of slavery and its enduring legacies,” mentioned Jajuan Johnson, interim Robert Francis Engs Director of The Lemon Project. “Building on this foundation, the 16th Lemon Project Spring Symposium continues this important work with Daniel Black as our guest scholar and keynote speaker.”

The Lemon Project is an ongoing analysis initiative at William & Mary that seeks to construct bridges between the William & Mary and African American communities via a lot of efforts, together with an annual spring symposium.

This yr’s occasion is free and open to the general public, however folks all in favour of attending are requested to register on-line. Breakfast and lunch will likely be supplied on each days to registered attendees.

The symposium will kick off on Friday morning with a welcome from Johnson adopted by Black’s keynote handle, titled “We are the Way: Move Forward Together.” Black is the writer of such works as “They Tell Me of Home,” “The Sacred Place,” “Perfect Peace,” “Twelve Gates to the City,” “The Coming,” “Listen to the Lambs,” “Don’t Cry for Me,” and “Black on Black.” He additionally served because the keynote speaker for final yr’s symposium. 

“Dr. Black sparked a powerful conversation last year on what it means to build and sustain thriving communities — work that demands imagination, collective responsibility and action,” mentioned Johnson. “His message resonated deeply with descendant communities in Williamsburg and the surrounding region, affirming the strength and relevance of his voice. We are honored to welcome him back to continue and deepen this dialogue, with expanded opportunities to engage students and our off-campus partners in meaningful and sustained exchange.”

This yr’s occasion will characteristic a lot of panel discussions, together with a plenary on Friday morning that includes representatives from descendant communities. They embrace Vanessa Adams-Harris, director of outreach & alliances for the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation; Jacqueline Bridgeforth Williams, founder and government director of The Village Initiative for Education Equity; and Darius Johnson, venture director for the Chesapeake Heartland. The panel will likely be moderated by award-winning journalist Brian Palmer.

Other panel discussions all through the symposium embrace subjects starting from African American historical past on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to the evolution of Black start in America. 

Multiple members of the William & Mary group will likely be among the many presenters, together with graduate college students who will current their analysis throughout a devoted panel dialogue on Saturday afternoon. Other presenters will embrace college, college students, students and group members from throughout the nation.

On Saturday night, the symposium will culminate with a unity gathering at Hearth: Memorial to the Enslaved.

Funding for the occasion was supplied by Arts & Sciences Dean’s Innovation Fund, the Vision 2026 Signature Fund, the Harrison Ruffin Tyler Department of History, the W&M Libraries Special Collections Research Center and W&M Libraries.

Erin Jay, Senior Associate Director of University News