University of Illinois at Chicago Office of Public Affairs (MC 288)
601 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607-7113, (312) 996-3456, www.uic.edu/depts/paff

March 1, 2001

Contact:Anne Dybek (312) 996-8279; adybek@uic.edu

BLACK PHILOSOPHY CONFERENCE AT UIC

The University of Illinois is hosting "Black Philosophy for the 21st Century," a three-day conference featuring 13 of today's leading philosophy scholars who will meet to discuss the emerging field of black philosophy. In 1970, UIC was the first institution of its kind to host a similar conference titled "Philosophy and Black Liberation."

"UIC's reputation as a forward-thinking university has played a large part in attracting some of the field's most recognized figures to this conference," said Charles Mills, UIC professor of philosophy. "Many believe this conference will prove to be a major milestone in the development of the black philosophy field."

Mills continued, "As a group, black philosophers have brought new perspectives to bear on old questions and raised new questions of their own. Black philosophy is generated from the distinctive experience of the denial of personhood to people of African descent in the modern world as a result of the legacy of slavery."

The conference is free and open to the public. For more information, call 996-2635.

Thursday, March 8

Registration: Registration is encouraged; not required. 1-1:30 p.m. African-American Cultural Center, Room 207, Addams Hall, 830 S. Halsted St. (located inside the UIC campus just south of the Chicago Circle Center).

Keynote Address: "Africana Philosophy," Lucius Outlaw. 1:30-2:45 p.m. African-American Cultural Center, Room 207, Addams Hall, 830 S. Halsted St.

Black Political Thought: "Recurring Themes in African-American Political Thought," Bernard Boxill; "Douglas, DuBois, and the Critique of White Supremacy," Robert Gooding-Williams; and "Black Philosophy and Critical Race Theory," Jackie Scott. 3-5 p.m. African-American Cultural Center, Room 207, Addams Hall, 830 S. Halsted St.

Reception and Book Signing: 5-6 p.m. East Dining Room, UIC's Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

Friday, March 9

Registration: 8-9 a.m. Room 605, UIC's Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

The Black Diaspora: "African Philosophy: Past, Present and Future," Emmanuel Eze and "African-American Philosophy: A Caribbean View," Paget Henry. 9-10:30 a.m. Room 605, UIC's Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

Reflections on Black Philosophy: "Philosophy Born of Struggle: A History," Leonard Harris; "African Philosophy's Teleological Suspension of Philosophy," Lewis Gordon; and "Debates in African and African-American Philosophy," Jennifer Lisa Vest. 10:45 a.m-12:45 p.m. Room 605, UIC's Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

Culture and Atonement: "Can the Day of Atonement Atone? Recognition and Repentance in Culture's Context," Kal Alston and "The Role of Music in the Black Atlantic," Al Mosley. 2-3:30 p.m. Room 605, UIC's Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

Racial Justice: "Democracy, Race and the Tyranny of the Majority," Howard McGary; and "Reparations: History of an Idea," Bill Lawson. 3:45-5:15 p.m. Room 605, UIC's Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

Reception and Book Signing: 5:15-6:15 p.m. Room 605, UIC's Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

Saturday, March 10

Panel Discussion: "Where Do We Go From Here?" 9 a.m.-noon. Room 613, UIC's Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

These events are sponsored by the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Blacks and cosponsored by the department of philosophy, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Institute for the Humanities.

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