Colleagues in Education for Mumia Abu-Jamal (EMAJ) –
Yes, this is a plea for donations, and I think it is an easy pitch to make. I invite you to make a donation to a very exciting conference that EMAJ and others have planned in Philadelphia.
Indeed, I am delighted to announce that the Black Radical Tradition conference, which long has been percolating in our minds, is now up and alive – building to its actual conference date of January 8-10, 2016 at Temple University. It is entitled Reclaiming Our Future: The Black Radical Tradition in Our Time. It will feature critical dialogue in our current political moment between those of earlier and recent generations who identify with the black radical tradition.
Anthony Monteiro, Johanna Fernandez (also a Coordinator of EMAJ and of the Bring Mumia Home Campaign) and myself have been plugging away since May - meeting, talking, ruminating, struggling for speakers and a venue at Temple University – in order to get this meeting up and off the ground. Angela Y. Davis and Robin D. G. Kelley first indicated they’d speak. We also got a big boost when Cornel West decided to come forward.
Now younger organizers, such as Charlene Carruthers of Black Youth Project 100, Alicia Garza of #Blacklivesmatter have agreed to join us, as well as Steven Salaita of the University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign campus. Mumia Abu-Jamal will no doubt phone-in, and he has already made some savvy suggestions for the event.
Temple University’s Intellectual Heritage Program, with Political Scientist Dr. Joseph Schwartz’s sponsorship, helped us land a major auditorium right on the main campus of Temple.
Now, after some very strategic meetings this Fall a Conference Web Siteis now open online. You will find all necessary information available there. See especially "The Call to Action" at the site.
Now, we are hoping that EMAJ members might support this event with some strategic contributions to allay financial costs. As you can imagine this is a major and costly venture. We need your support. If you can give – really, any amount at all- this would help the conference success a great deal. Also, it enables EMAJ to back its organizational work on this conference with its financial support as well.
Please give directly at the DONATIONS page of the conference. Your contribution is tax deductible.
Also, when you make your donation, please drop an email to me, thus letting EMAJ know that our members are making a contribution. SEND NOTICE OF THE AMOUNT OF YOUR DONATION to me at mark.taylor@ptsem.edu. This will allow EMAJ to know how much it is giving, and enable it to be listed as a financial co-sponsor, in addition to our role as planners and conveners of the conference.
Thanks,
Mark Lewis Taylor, EMAJ