African American Women in Culture and History is the theme for this year's convention of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) in Pittsburgh.
The organization, which created Black History Month, will hold its 97th annual convention at the Westin Convention Center Hotel downtown from Wednesday through Sunday, September 26-30.
Sylvia Cyrus, ASALH Executive Director, says the conference will honor the impact of African American women on the black community and the nation as a whole.
“During the course of the conference, we are going to have over 180 different sessions that deal with research on African American women and other aspects of African American history,” she said.
The convention will feature award-winning poet Sonia Sanchez, civil rights champion Dr. Mary Frances Berry, Sweet Honey in the Rock Founder Bernice Johnson Reagon, and other scholars and leading experts in Black History.
In addition to plenary sessions, the conference will include an educational African American heritage bus tour of Pittsburgh, a youth day, a teachers' workshop and a poetry slam.
Cyrus said these conventions are all about showcasing African American history and culture, and although both are better represented now than before, ASALH’s work will never be done.
“We’ve made great strides, but there’s still so much more to be studied and researched,” she said. “After all, African Americans are still making history.”
