In celebration of the new Center for Africana Studies, members of the Johns Hopkins community will welcome Noble Prize-winning author Toni Morrison to the university on Wednesday, March 10. Morrison will give a free lecture at 8 p.m. in Shriver Hall on Homewood campus.
As the author of eight highly acclaimed novels, Morrison received the 1978 National Book Critics Award for Song of Solomon and the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Beloved. In 1993, Morrison was honored with the Nobel Prize for Literature. Most recently, she published the novel Love in October, 2003. Morrison also holds the position of Robert F. Goheen Professor in the Council of Humanities at Princeton University.
Morrison's lecture is one of two major events planned in recognition of the newly inaugurated Center for Africana Studies at Johns Hopkins. Founded in the fall of 2003, the Center was established to help "diversify the intellectual footprint on campus," according to Daniel Weiss, Dean of the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. Students now have the opportunity to pursue either a major or minor in the area, with a focus on African studies, African-American studies, or the study of the African Diaspora.
Prior to Morrison's appearance, the university will host a symposium on the state of African studies, with the theme of "Intellectual and Institutional Directions in Africana Studies." On Friday, March 5, notable professors and leaders from some of the most prestigious colleges will gather at Johns Hopkins for a day of workshops and presentations examining the current status and future goals of African studies in academic institutions across the country.
The event is free to all university students. However, seats must be reserved by calling (866) 628-9892 or emailing rsvpjhu@jhu.edu.
