"Born in Jacksonville, FL, James Weldon Johnson is best known for his composition "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," widely known as the Negro National Anthem. In the presentation of Johnson by Chautauqua scholar Leroy Mitchell, we learn about this creative genius and prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance."
This workshop "will bring together a distinguished team of humanities scholars who will provide an interdisciplinary exploration of Hurston’s life and work. They include a literary scholar who has written extensively on Hurston; a folklorist who wrote the application that placed Eatonville on the Historic Register; a Hurston biographer; the director of the American Folk Life Center at the Library of Congress, where most of Hurston’s folklife collection resides; and a colleague of Hurston’s in the WPA. Participants will examine Hurston’s accomplishments within the context of the historical and cultural development of the Eatonville community. They will grapple with compelling questions about how this unique black enclave fueled Hurston’s appreciation of folk culture, inspired her literary works, created her racial identity, and formed her sometimes controversial views on race." It will include readings, lectures, discussions, visits to historic sites, and curriculum development projects. Specific topics will include "Hurston’s Eatonville Roots," "Inspiration for Hurston’s Racial and Gender Identity, Folkloric Research, and Literary Work," "The Harlem Renaissance and the WPA," "Humor and Religion," and "Fort Pierce: From Halcyon Days to Obscurity."
This workshop "will bring together a distinguished team of humanities scholars who will provide an interdisciplinary exploration of Hurston’s life and work. They include a literary scholar who has written extensively on Hurston; a folklorist who wrote the application that placed Eatonville on the Historic Register; a Hurston biographer; the director of the American Folk Life Center at the Library of Congress, where most of Hurston’s folklife collection resides; and a colleague of Hurston’s in the WPA. Participants will examine Hurston’s accomplishments within the context of the historical and cultural development of the Eatonville community. They will grapple with compelling questions about how this unique black enclave fueled Hurston’s appreciation of folk culture, inspired her literary works, created her racial identity, and formed her sometimes controversial views on race." It will include readings, lectures, discussions, visits to historic sites, and curriculum development projects. Specific topics will include "Hurston’s Eatonville Roots," "Inspiration for Hurston’s Racial and Gender Identity, Folkloric Research, and Literary Work," "The Harlem Renaissance and the WPA," "Humor and Religion," and "Fort Pierce: From Halcyon Days to Obscurity."
This workshop "will bring together a distinguished team of humanities scholars who will provide an interdisciplinary exploration of Hurston’s life and work. They include a literary scholar who has written extensively on Hurston; a folklorist who wrote the application that placed Eatonville on the Historic Register; a Hurston biographer; the director of the American Folk Life Center at the Library of Congress, where most of Hurston’s folklife collection resides; and a colleague of Hurston’s in the WPA. Participants will examine Hurston’s accomplishments within the context of the historical and cultural development of the Eatonville community. They will grapple with compelling questions about how this unique black enclave fueled Hurston’s appreciation of folk culture, inspired her literary works, created her racial identity, and formed her sometimes controversial views on race." It will include readings, lectures, discussions, visits to historic sites, and curriculum development projects. Specific topics will include "Hurston’s Eatonville Roots," "Inspiration for Hurston’s Racial and Gender Identity, Folkloric Research, and Literary Work," "The Harlem Renaissance and the WPA," "Humor and Religion," and "Fort Pierce: From Halcyon Days to Obscurity."
Professor Diana Schaub compares and contrasts the writings and views of a number of civil rights and race relations writers and activists, including Stokely Carmichael (19411998), Charles V. Hamilton, Bell Hooks (1952), Shelby Steele (1946), and Ralph Ellison (19131994).
Professor Diana Schaub reviews the life and views of W.E.B. Du Bois, looking particularly at Du Bois's views on education and his debate and disagreements with Booker T. Washington. This lecture continues from the lecture "W.E.B. Du Bois, Part One."
Professor Lucas E. Morel reviews the life and views of W.E.B. Du Bois, looking at the solutions he proposed to the problem of race relations in the U.S. and the implications of those solutions. Morel also looks at Du Bois's debate and disagreements with Booker T. Washington.
Professor David Tucker looks at the views of religion, government, and the ideal American citizen and way of life presented in early 20th-century writing and contrasts them with the views on the same subjects held by the Founding Fathers. He uses writing by the authors Flannery O'Connor (19251964), Herbert Croly (18691930), and Howard W. Kellog.
Professor Christopher Flannery looks at the autobiography of novelist, journalist, historian, and academic Henry Adams (18381918). Flannery focuses on what it says about the "American character" and how Adams saw it changing at the turn of the century.
Professor David Foster analyzes Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, looking at what the novel, its characters, and the life of its author reveal about the "American character" and views of American ideals and life at the time of its writing. This lecture continues from the lecture "Mark Twain and the American Character, Part One."