Past Events

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Critical Race Theory at the Bottom of the Well: Derrick Bell’s ‘Grandchildren’ Reflect on the Future of CRT

Join us for a roundtable with Adrienne Davis, Robert Chang, and Anthony Farley as they reflect on Derrick Bell’s legacy and the future of Critical Race Theory.
Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom (A-B Hall, Room 310)

2025 Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora (ASWAD) Conference

Join Us for ASWAD’s 25th Anniversary!
The Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora (ASWAD) invites scholars, artists, activists, and community members from around the globe to join us in St. Louis, Missouri, for our 12th Biennial Conference – a historic 25th anniversary celebration of African and African Diaspora scholarship, culture, and resistance.

This year’s theme, “I’ve Known Rivers: The Ecologies of Black Life and Resistance”, explores the interwoven histories, movements, and lived experiences that shape the African and African Diaspora. Engage in groundbreaking research presentations, artistic showcases, workshops, and cultural experiences as we gather in a city rich with Black history and contemporary activism.
St. Louis, MO | Marriot St. Louis Grand

Anti-Haitianism, Statelessness, and Religious Practice in The Bahamas

Join the African and African American Studies and Anthropology departments for a talk led by Dr. Bertin M. Louis, Professor of Anthropology and African and African American Studies at the University of Kentucky. A light reception will follow the event.
McMillan Hall G052

Religion and Politics: A Conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates

The John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics is pleased to host a special Danforth Distinguished Lecture featuring award-winning author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Ta-Nehisi Coates holds the Sterling Brown Endowed Chair at Howard University in the English department. His bestselling books include The Water Dancer, The Message, and 2015 National Book Award winner, Between the World and Me.

Elizabeth Hinton, Yale Professor of History, African American Studies, and Law, will join Coates on stage for this wide-ranging public conversation. Hinton’s research focuses on the persistence of poverty, racial inequality, and urban violence in the 20th century United States.

Graham Chapel

Religion and Politics: A Book Talk with Elizabeth Hinton and Douglas Flowe - America on Fire

Douglas Flowe (WashU History) discusses the recent book, America on Fire, with the author.

Umrath Lounge

Hélène's Dream - Stage Play

Join us for a staged reading of the play Hélène’s Dream, written and directed by Amira-Géhanne Khalfallah, followed by a panel discussion about the politics of translation today.
Women's Building Formal Lounge

Global Black Studies Graduate Certificate Launch

Join us in celebrating the launch of the Global Black Studies Graduate Certificate, an exciting new interdisciplinary program that highlights critical inquiries into the global dimensions of Black experiences, politics, and cultural expressions.
Washington University Danforth Campus | Seigle Hall, Room 109

Workshop of Afro-Brazilian Samba and Capoeira from Backland Bahia, Brazil

Pillsbury Theatre, 560 Music Center

AFAS Fall 2025 Welcome Back Event

Join AFAS for our Fall 2025 Welcome Back Event on September 9th, 4:30–6:00 PM in McMillan Courtyard! Enjoy food, games, and networking as we kick off the new school year together. Students, faculty, and community partners are all welcome!
McMillan Courtyard

AFAS Senior Seminar Showcase

Join the African & African American Studies senior majors as they present their senior capstone projects to the department, friends, and family.
Come learn about the hard work of our seniors and discover the projects they have developed throughout the year.
Seigle 301

Classical Slave Names and Container Theory: An African American History

Emily Greenwood, James M. Rothenberg Professor of the Classics and of Comparative Literature, Harvard University
Steinberg Auditorium

Nourishing Roots: Addressing Food Apartheid in Black Communities

Systemic racism, economic disinvestment, and environmental injustice have long contributed to food apartheid in Black communities across the United States and the African diaspora. This conversation brings together scholars, organizers, and food justice advocates to explore community-driven solutions, policy interventions, and innovative strategies for building equitable and sustainable food systems that promote both well-being and self-determination.
Register to receive the zoom link

‘Suffering is not seldom the reward for service …’: Anna Julia Cooper and the Black Feminist Prometheus

Emily Greenwood, James M. Rothenberg Professor of the Classics and of Comparative Literature, Harvard University
Umrath Lounge

Black Women's Studies Association - 2nd Annual Virtual Symposium

“No One is Free Until We All are Free:” Activism, Advocacy, and Academic Freedom During Late-Stage Capitalism
April 4-5, 2025
Virtual

19th Annual African Film Festival

Join us for the 19th Annual African Film Festival at Washington University, taking place March 28–30, 2025. This beloved event brings the latest and best in African cinema to the St. Louis region, featuring a curated selection of films that are less than two years old and have been celebrated at international film festivals.
Washington University

"Future in Black Studies," featuring visiting scholar Dr. Lisa B. Thompson

Join us for an intellectually engaging event, "Futures in Black Studies," featuring visiting scholar Dr. Lisa B. Thompson. This event is co-hosted by the Department of African and African American Studies, American Culture Studies, and the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Equity.

Dr. Thompson will present a compelling talk titled "Art, Scholarship, & Community: Reflecting on the Past, Present, and Future of Black Studies," where she will explore the evolving landscape of Black Studies through the lenses of creativity, research, and collective action.
Seigle 301

Toxic Tropics: Presentation by Jessica Oublié

African & African American Studies Department Faculty Colloquium

The Department of African and African-American Studies (AFAS) invites you to join us for our upcoming Faculty Colloquium, featuring presentations from AFAS faculty members Professor Tomos Evans and Professor Jessica Samuel. This event is an opportunity for the WashU professional community to engage with innovative research and support ongoing scholarly work within our department.
Seigle Hall, 301

"Futures in Black Studies," featuring visiting scholar Dr. Peniel E. Joseph

Join us for an intellectually engaging event, "Futures in Black Studies," featuring visiting scholar Dr. Peniel E. Joseph.

This event is co-hosted by the African and African American Studies Department, the Center for the Humanities, and the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Equity. Dr. Joseph will present a compelling talk titled:

"The Third Reconstruction: Black Studies and the Search for the Beloved Community in the Twenty-First Century."
Seigle Hall, Room 208

Distinguished Visiting Scholar Lecture: Mariela Noles Cotito

AFAS is honored to bring the Mariela Noles Cotitio to our campus as the Distinguished Visiting Scholar. Join us for this impactful lecture.
Seigle 301

Intricacies and Intimacies: A Conversation on Black Queer/Trans Sexuality with Matt Richardson and Marlon M. Bailey

Join Us for a Community Conversation About Sexual Health!

The Department of African and African American Studies, in collaboration with the Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and The Pleasure Circle, invites you to "Intricacies and Intimacies: A Conversation on Black Queer/Trans Sexuality with Matt Richardson."
Umrath Lounge

Book Talk with Dr. Raven Maragh-Lloyd

Join the Alpha Omega City-wide Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated on January 21, 2025, as we host Dr. Raven Maragh-Lloyd for a book talk. This event is also co-sponsored with the Center for the Humanities and WashU’s Department of African & African American Studies! We will also be doing a raffle for a free and signed copy of Black Networked Resistance​: Strategic Rearticulations in the Digital Age. There will also be an opportunity for a Q&A with the author. This is a free event, but registration is required since seats are limited! 
Umrath Lounge

Everyday Exploitation: Autonomy and Accumulation in the Mines of Madagascar

Join AFAS' visiting lecturer, Brian Klein, for an engaging exploration of Madagascar’s mineral fields as landscapes of both opportunity and vulnerability. Focusing on the gold diggings of Betsiaka in the island's far northwest, Klein delves into the everyday practices that Malagasy artisanal miners use to secure and sustain access to gold, which serves as a foundation for extended social reproduction. He also examines the mechanisms through which various elites and capital investors extract value from these rural laborers, shedding light on the complex dynamics of labor, power, and resources.

Seigle L006

Racializing Sex: Black Gay Men and the Crisis of HIV in the U.S.

The Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity (CRE2 ) at Washington University in St. Louis is pleased to announce the launch of The Race & Ethnicity Study Group. Designed to meet three to four times per year, bringing together faculty and doctoral students across universities in the greater St. Louis region whose research and scholarship focus on race and ethnicity, The Race & Ethnicity Study Group will provide a forum for this community of scholars to gather on a regular basis for the purpose of becoming familiar with each other’s work, networking, exploring future collaborations, and supporting each other’s new work-in-progress.
RSVP Required

Faculty Book Talk: Bronwyn Nichols Lodato

Olin Library, Room 142

St. Louis International Film Festival - "Gonzo"

The African & African American Studies Department is proud to sponsor the film "Gonzo", as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival. Tickets are free but registration is required below.
Brown Hall Auditorium
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