Cross-disciplinary effort brings together Arts and Sciences programs in Africana, American, Asian American, colonialism and Latino studies
America’s multiracial history, colonialism’s international legacy and the displacement of people around the globe are some of the issues that Tufts’ new Consortium of Studies in Race, Colonialism and Diaspora will examine through scholarship, special programming and workshops beginning this fall.
The consortium is the new academic home for Tufts’ programs in Africana, American, Asian American, colonialism and Latino studies in the School of Arts and Sciences. It will encourage new cross-disciplinary research and opportunities for students to study themes that intersect all five areas of inquiry.
“These might include slavery in America and its aftermath, or the impacts of war, empires and militarization over history and in our time,” says James Glaser, dean ad interim of the School of Arts and Sciences. “The consortium will help scholars and students address topics and methods drawn from the humanities and social sciences and focus on the analytical, thematic, theoretical and political linkages among these programs.”
The consortium’s director is Adriana Zavala, associate professor of art history, who will work with a steering committee representing the consortium programs as well as the departments of Sociology and Anthropology.
An inaugural performance and lecture, “Tracing the Roots of Afro-Latino Musical Traditions in the Caribbean,” will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at noon in the Distler Performance Hall. An inaugural workshop, “Comparative Colonialisms: Approaches to the Global Humanities,” will be held on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m. in the Alumnae Lounge. For more information about these events and the consortium, visit http://as.tufts.edu/raceColonialismDiaspora/default.aspx.
