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Criminal Injustice in African American and Black Diaspora Communities To Be Focus of Conference at Columbia University April 11-12


Columbia University will hold a public conference “Africana Studies Against Criminal Injustice: Research—Education—Action,” on April 11-12, 2003, to explore the crisis of mass criminalization and incarceration in African American and other black diaspora communities. Sponsored by the University’s Center for Contemporary Black History (CCBH), the conference will address forms of social and political exclusion generated, produced or intensified by criminal justice policies and procedures, especially in marginalized communities.
“We doubt that the mainstream in criminology and other social sciences is fully able or inclined to interpret and help in addressing these pressing issues,” said Manning Marable, director of the CCBH. “We believe that the academic community, and specifically scholars and programs in African-American and Africana Studies, must provide the leadership.”

More than 200 scholars, educators, practitioners and community organizers, including Angela Davis, Marc Mauer, Van Jones, Elaine Brown, and Joseph “Jazz” Hayden, are expected to gather for the two-day event—which features panel discussions, short films and breakout groups. The conference will explore will explore new strategies for critical research, education and collective action on the following topics:

  • Policing in the Black Experience
  • Felon Disfranchisement: Oldest Living Black Code?
  • Impact of Criminal Justice Systems on Black Children and Youth
  • After Prison: From Re-Entry to Reconstruction
  • Impact of Criminal Justice Systems on Black Women and Girls

    For more information and a complete list of speakers, visit the conferences page.




  • Center for Contemporary Black History | Columbia University