Black
Diaspora
Consortium

The Black Diaspora Consortium (BDC) is a collaborative effort of scholars and activists committed to actively working for social justice for (by, and with) African and African descended populations. The BDC produces analytical and practical resources, regarding the effects of anti-black racisms in the Americas and abroad which condition ways in which race, gender, sexuality, class and nationality are lived. We are particularly interested in making critical interventions under the analytical rubric of Racial Formations: Diaspora Theory and Praxis; Race and Resources; and Transnational Exchanges (of goods, people and ideas).

The BDC enables formation of a critical mass of activist-scholars, academics, and activists with expertise in comparative racial politics and critical race theory, in order to impact public policy formation. The BDC will consist of activists; independent scholars; and representatives from black diaspora programs at major U.S. universities in six geographic regions (Northwest; West; Midwest; Southwest; South; Northeast) in collaboration with scholars and activists in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean.

Black Diaspora Consortium provides broad geographic coverage-- national and international, and both rural and urban spaces-- in terms of both analysis and impact. We undertake a broad range of activities including individual and collective research, and constructive critique of the research, socialization, publication, teaching, training and dissemination. Each of these activities strengthens the capacities of the member institutions. Further, the BDC serves as a clearinghouse of resources and a training space for members and for scholars, activists and interested persons (e.g. media, policy makers).

The DIASPORIC RACISMS: RACIAL PROCESSES IN THE AMERICAS AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF U.S. RACE RELATIONS project provides initial funding and intellectual focus for the formation of the BDC. Beyond the term of the Diasporic Racisms project; the BDC will continue to function and to engage in other cooperative scholarly and practical activities consistent with our commitments and intellectual interests.

Guidelines and Principles

As politically progressive people of conscience and scholarly and political integrity, we agree that there should be some basic guidelines governing our collaboration, beyond those conventions of academic ethics and political praxis to which members of the Academy and activist organizations already adhere:

Black Diaspora Consortium’s guidelines can be summed up by: Process; Product; Dissemination; Accountability; and Conceptual Evaluation and Consideration. Recognizing that the very act of coming together is political work, our work is focused on both Process—that is, a style which is empowering-- especially for those with less power, and Product; which underscores that we are committed to producing materials (trainings, editorials, academic articles and books; syllabi, resource manuals, public policy analyses, etc.) that can be used (on-the-ground). Therefore, these products must be Disseminated in communities and spaces appropriate to the intervention. Holding ourselves and our colleagues Accountable to stated commitments and production goals provides for organizational integrity. Conceptual Evaluation and Consideration assures that our work remains relevant and cutting-edge.

— To the extent that it is possible, our publications and other production will be (at least) bi-lingual (in Spanish and English). In those cases where it is concerning or targeted toward other linguistic groups, in other languages, as appropriate;
— Our products will be made accessible to a wide range of individuals: written in readable language and style, disseminated within a wide geographic reach, and in both rural and urban areas;
— Membership in the Consortium will reflect a plurality of research agenda and areas of study within the African diaspora, as defined by the Diaspora Racisms Project’s Research Activities (for the first 4-year period);
— Academics and activists currently engaged in on-the-ground work will each provide advice and collaboration in particular research projects undertaken by the Consortium.
— Membership in the Consortium will reflect a variety of Progressive political, social and economic projects initiated by people of African descent, and a variety of national, gender, sexual and class positions; (recognizing that movements for social, political and economic justice primarily target those in the deselected category)
— Membership in the Consortium will consist of activists and academics at Senior, Intermediate and Junior positions in their careers, and adhere to democratic principles and affirmative mentoring.

The BDC Project Team

Asale Angel-Ajani (Gallatin School at New York University)
Jafari Sinclaire Allen (University of Texas at Austin)
Mia Bay (Rutgers University)
Kim Butler (Rutgers University)
Herman Bennet (Rutgers University)
Kia Lilly Caldwell (California State University at Monterey Bay)
Angela Gilliam (Evergreen State University)
Deborah Gray-White (Rutgers University)
Edmund T. Gordon (University of Texas at Austin)
Michael Hanchard (Northwestern University)
Juliet Hooker (University of Texas at Austin)
Joni Jones (University of Texas at Austin)
Bettina Ng'weno (University of Texas at Austin)
Keisha-Khan Perry (UNiversity of Texas at Austin)
Mark Sawyer (University of California at Los Angeles)
David Schoenbrun (Northwestern University)
Denise Ferreira da Silva (University of California at San Diego)
Shirley Thompson (University of Texas at Austin)
Eva Thorne (Brandeis University)
João Costa Vargas (University of Texas at Austin)
Ben Vinson (Pennsylvannia State University)
Cynthia Young (University of Southern California)