National Black Herstory Conference
Keeping African American History Through Authentic Storytelling
Founded in 1997, the National Black Herstory Task Force sponsors conferences, awards banquets, workshops and book festivals. The Task Force schedules civic leaders, academics and private individuals to attend local events and update audiences on pertinent community initiatives such as healthcare, economic empowerment, family life and more.
National Black Herstory Conference at Emory University
One of the most popular events organized by the Task Force is their annual conference which is typically held at the end of March on Emory University’s campus. The major of the founding board of directors were Emory employees and the university has been in community partnership with the Task Force since the beginning.
The first conference was held in 1998. The conference consists of panels and workshops that are open to the public. Through the conference, the Task Force strives to collect, research, authenticate, document and celebrate the legacy and lives of all women of African descent and their alliances. One of the conference organizers, Mozella Galloway, makes it clear that the conference is open to everyone and seeks not to exclude men or people from any part of the globe.
Previous conferences have focused on the impact of relationships between the police and the African Diaspora as well as the impact of literature on culture and history. The 2006 conference focused on depression in black women and women policing themselves in effort to bring an end to domestic violence and reparations. The 2010 conference will focus on economic, self and community directed empowerment.
Literacy as a Keeper of History
An onsite book signing during the conference was so successful that it needed a separate time slot. The new Ashe’ Black Herstory Book Festival is being planned and scheduled to be held in October, 2010. As in the past the attendees will learn about new and older books. Local and national authors will give presentations on their books and their personal stories.
Everyone will have the opportunity to and network, purchase books, arts and crafts and ethnic foods. Writers come from as far away as California and Pennsylvania to attend the Atlanta, Georgia book signing. Local bookstores support the conference by sending a delegate to the event.
In 2004 Denise Turney, author of the books Long Walk Up, Portia, Spiral and Love Has Many Faces, Dr. Geneva Baxter, associate dean at Spelman College and Jacqueline Miller Carmichael, English professor at Georgia State University, presented a literary weave that included discussions on the poet Margaret Walker, Iceberg Slim’s popular novels and Frederick Douglass’ autobiography. The presentations were lively and engaging. Post-presentation discussions with audience members were candid and insightful.
A non-profit cultural and educational organization, the Task Force uses non-fictional and fictional material to re-teach the global community in regards to women and the stories that women’s lives tell. The readings or full presentations of plays and musical events are also used to teach and celebrate herstory.
The organization’s aim is to combat years of mis-education about women and to begin to give women a voice in a world that has long been dominated guided from a male point of view. They also seek to bridge prejudice and self hatred through education and dialogue.
National Black Herstory Task Force’s Global Impact
To help this goal become reality, the Task Force puts out a quarterly newsletter titled “The Herstorian”. In previous years, the Task Force has honored Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti from Nigeria. Ms. Ransome-Kuti was a women’s right activist/feminist during the early 1900s.
Also honored was Ms. MaVynee Betsch from American Beach, Florida. Ms. Betsch is an eco-activist and former opera star in Europe. The Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization that fights for civil rights via the courtroom and right education has also been honored by the Task Force. Other honorees include Audri Scott-Williams, Donna Wong, Save Darfur Urgent Action Coalition of Georgia, Reverend Angela Harrington Rice and Mrs. Rita Marley.
In 2000, the United States President's Commission on the Celebration of Women in America presented a Presidential Commission Certificate of Recognition to the National Black Herstory Task Force for developing ways to best acknowledge and celebrate the roles and accomplishments of women in American History. In 1999, the City of Atlanta, Georgia became the first city to proclaimed March, National Black Herstory Month.
In 2006, the master level architectural and design classes of North Carolina A & T University presented a proposal to begin designing a future library for the Task Force. This exciting program allows the qualified students to design the exterior and interior of the building, and present an actual budget to help that can be used by the Task Force to start a building fund raising campaign.
National Black Herstory Task Force
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