The power of storytelling has been the foundation of culture, human communication, and cross-generational connection. Black history, past and present is shared through the research and experiences of the presenters with the ultimate goal of empowering English language educators and their students.
Panelists
Mary L. Romney, Independent Consultant
An Afro-Caribbean in World War II: Oral History in ELT
How did an Afro-Caribbean sailor become a political prisoner during World War II and spend the final year of the war in a concentration camp? The presenter answers this question, discusses the importance of oral history within the context of Black history, and offers suggestions for the use of oral history in ESOL.
Harry Kuchah Kuchah, University of Leeds
The Odyssey of a Black African English Teacher
In this presentation, I share critical incidents from my personal and professional life that have shaped my understanding of the (subtle) racial politics within the ELT profession. I will reflect on the possible pathways to engaging with other professionals in identifying and uncovering racial biases and establishing equity within our profession.
Awad Ibrahim
Black English and Pop Culture as Symbolic Spaces of Identification
In this presentation, I tell two stories: Delores and Alaa Barcelona. Delores is a 22-year old South African from Johannesburg. Alaa Barcelona is a 21-year old Sudanese who lives in Khartoum. Their stories show how Blackness, namely Black English and Black pop culture, has turned into a symbolic space of identification for continental Africans. In being so, the Black diaspora, I will conclude, is coming home to the continent.