AACAE Presents Mapping Black Liberation
As a part of their theme for Black Liberation Month, Humboldt State’s African American Center of Academic Excellence (AACAE) presents “Mapping Routes to Liberation”. An inclusive month of education, growth, and self love for the Black and various communities here at Humboldt State.
AACAE coordinator Douglass Smith and Social Media Manager Imari Washington shared pillars of Nguzo Saba (Kwanzaa) which are; Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (collective economics), Nia (purpose), Kumba (creativity), and Imani (faith). A practice system that they base their work off and incorporate into the AACAE’s core.
“These are all very important principles that we try to base all of our work off of and it’s important that we include these in the main principles of our center as it guides the work we do,” said Washington.
AACAE has a five speaker series lined up for the month. The speakers will include Saifya Nobles PhD., Kyle Boone PhD., Leah Peeniman, Ja’net Adams, and Nina Ellis-Hervey, PhD.
The first speaker is Safiya Nobles PhD., who will be speaking on her book “Algorithms of Oppression” Thursday Feb. 4 at 5:30 p.m.
The second speaker is Kyle Boone PhD., who is the director of Student Affairs will be speaking on Friday, Feb. 5 at 3:30 p.m. about how students of color can navigate tools in marginalized areas and predominantly white areas.
The third speaker will be Leah Peeniman from Soul Fire Farm who will be discussing liberation of the land. on Thursday, Feb. 11 from noon to 2 p.m.
The fourth speaker will be Ja’net Adams on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m. talking about Black Wealth and how to avoid the debt trap.
The fifth and final speaker will be Nina Ellis Ph.D, on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m. who will be speaking to an audience largely consisting of Black and Brown women about self love and mental well being.
Washington mentions her excitement for these upcoming events. More notably for Dr. Noble’s presentation, as we see Black creators being pushed aside on social platforms and not given the recognition they deserve for their art and talents.
Washington expressed her frustration with Black creators being pushed down by social media platforms, despite them being the ones who she believes spearhead trends.
“I know that Dr. Noble is going to have so many good tips and strategies in helping us become more efficient, with our social media use, and tackling these algorithms. I’m really excited for what she has to say,” Washington said.
Smith added that this year, Black Liberation Month is going to be student focused and will bring empowerment and tools to students.
The AACAE is offering very diverse speakers, and workshops for this upcoming month. They all tie into the theme of Mapping Routes to Liberation and they open discussions of how liberation is embraced, discussed, and taught.
“Understanding that our liberation as a people comes from multiple different methods and ways of getting to liberation. There’s just not one way and so raising awareness about different ways of liberation,” Douglass Smith said.
To keep up to date with the AACAE and the rest of the upcoming events for Mapping Routes For Liberation make sure to follow their instagram page @aacaehsu for daily updates and interactive posts. AACAE has provided a link in their instagram bio that takes you directly to their calendar events where you can find more information as well as Zoom links. You can also check out aacae.humboldt.edu for more information and for their calendar events.
