Stay after the show for a post-performance conversation with playwright Lisa B. Thompson and WashU Law Professor Adrienne Davis as they reflect on The Black Feminist Guide to the Human Body, a vibrant and affirming work that celebrates Black women, community, and survival.

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The 39th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration (Danforth Campus)
Monday, January 19, 2026
Graham Chapel, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.*
Theme: Pressing Our Way: Striving for Change

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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."