New Orleans Since Katrina

Jordan Flaherty and Sunni Patterson

New Orleans journalist and activist Jordan Flaherty is on a national book tour to highlight the recent publication of "Floodlines: Community and Resistance from Katrina to the Jena 6" (Haymarket Books, 2010). The Center was fortunate to have the tour extended to UCSB. A special guest of Flaherty will be Sunni Patterson. Longtime activist and a young leader of the New Orleans spoken word movement, Patterson will be returning to UCSB for just an hour after a three year absence. She will read her poetry and discuss post-Katrina New Orleans from 1- 1:45 pm. Flaherty will discuss his work and sign books from 2-3pm. Come join us for an enlightening afternoon. Center for Black Studies Research, Room 4603 South Hall. For further information, please call 805.893.3914. Food for Thought Linda Jean Hall "The Dynamic Catalysts of Interculturalism:  The Metamorphosis of Racism in 20th Century Ecuador" 12:00 noon on Monday, November 22, 2010 The number of Afroecuatoriano grass roots organizations exceeds 300 and they are scattered throughout several culturally and geographically diverse regions of the nation.  Therefore, the development of a homogenous socio-economic agenda to meet the demands of all Ecuadorian citizens of African heritage tends to emerge from a regionally and community centered and multi-faceted discourse.  In order to accommodate this diverse interchange of ideas during the 20th century, the State often supported social concepts based on cultural heritage.  In the most recent constitution, the State began to employ the “top-down” measures of affirmative action and reparations as a means to correct and curtail civil inequities and social injustices suffered by citizens of Afro heritage.  This presentation’s historical perspective is utilized to provoke dialogue about this constitution and the disappearance of racism from the public discourse about difference.  The seminar also includes a discussion of how the counter-hegemonic concepts of multiculturalism, pluralculturalism and inter-culturalism continue to reconfigured racism and the hegemonic structure of the nation.  The intent of this seminar is to promote a constructive discussion and academic interest in the following question:  Do Afroecuatorianos now have access to the basic rights of citizenship, including educational opportunities to assure the counter-hegemonic development of strategies to oppose the threat to their communities posed by global and domestic enterprise and disingenuous political interests?