“Who Run the World?” Black Women’s Voices in Popular Music

WHEN:             Monday, March 1, from 3—4:30 p.m.
WHERE:            https://utexas.zoom.us/j/93386280985

Panelists
Shirley Thompson, Ph.D., American Studies, African and African Diaspora Studies
Traci-Ann Wint, Ph.D., Lecturer, African and African Diaspora Studies
Skyller Walkes, Ph.D., Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, College of Pharmacy

Moderators
Ya’Ke Smith, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Moody College of Communication
Dave Junker, Director Moody College Honors Program

In racial justice movements as well as in popular music, Black women have been at the center of political action and artistic creativity. Yet their voices have rarely been given their just recognition. Perhaps this is about to change. Does the increased visibility of Black women in popular music – along with recent films on Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Ma Rainey – suggest a corrective to this history and a new era of greater equity and inclusion?  Artistically, culturally and politically, what have Black women been telling us through their music over the years, and what should we be listening for today? In this special panel of Black women scholars and music fans, we’ll address these and other questions by listening to and discussing selected tracks from important and overlooked Black women artists from jazz to neo-soul, and from hip hop to the rich musical mix of the Black diaspora.

This event is sponsored by the Moody College Honors Program; the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Moody College of Communication; and the Center for Women and Gender Studies.

CONTACT: Dave Junker, junker@austin.utexas.edu