Gotta Sing on the Beats They Bring Us: Gender, Class and 21st Century Blues Women's Epistemology

Blues and the Spirit 

A presentation by Dr. Zandria F. Robinson, Assistant Professor of Sociology and James and Madeleine McMullan Assistant Professor of Southern Studies, University of Mississippi.

Mark Anthony Neal: "Naming Evil in the World: Hip-Hop's Blues Footprint"

BluesandtheSpirit:
 

Mark Anthony Neal, Professor of African and African American Studies, Duke University
 

Discussant: George Bailey, Professor of English, Columbia College Chicago

Blues and the Spirit III: A Symposium on Race, Gender and The Blues

Symposium Program

Please check back for program updates and participant additions!

Friday, May 18, 2012

4:00-6:00pm	Registration Symposium Check in (Shaffer Silveri Atrium/Parmer Hall) Lodging Check in (Coughlin Commons)
6:00-7:30pm	Opening Plenary (Shaffer Silveri Atrium/Parmer Hall) Welcome Janice Monti, Blues and the Spirit Director and Professor of Sociology, Dominican University Invocation Jacob Schulz, Blues Vocalist and Undergraduate Student, University of Illinois Chicago Blues Summit on the State of the Music Today Participants: Sugar Blue, Billy Branch, Matthew Skoller, Deitra Farr, Sharon Lewis, Barry Dolins, Wayne Baker Brooks, Billy Boy Arnold; Lincoln T. 'Chicago Beau' Beauchamp, Brian Lukasavitz, Sterling Plumpp, David Whiteis
7:30-8:00pm	Presentation of 2012 Blues and the Spirit Awards Recipient: Marie Dixon (Widow of Willie Dixon and President of the Blues Heaven Foundation) Presenters: Donna Carroll, President, Dominican University; Janice Monti, Director, Blues and the Spirit Symposium, Dominican University; Robbi Byrdsong Wright, Assistant Dean for Academic Success Services and Diversity, Rosary College of Arts and Sciences, Dominican University
8:00-8:30pm	Reception (Shaffer Silveri Atrium/Parmer Hall) Music by Fernando Jones, Director, Blues Ensemble, Columbia College, Chicago, IL Vendors and Poster Presentations
8:45-9:00pm	Board Bus for Harlem Avenue Lounge
9:00pm-1:00am	An Evening with Chicago's Blues Divas Featuring Deitra Farr, Peaches Staten, Nellie Travis and Sharon Lewis (Special guest, Jacob Schulz, representing the new generation of Chicago Blues performers) (Wristbands required for this event)
Saturday, May 19, 2012

8:30-11:30am	Registration Symposium Check in (Shaffer Silveri Atrium/Parmer Hall) Lodging Check in (Coughlin Commons)
10:00-11:15am	Keynote Address (Martin Recital Hall/Fine Arts Building): “Gotta Sing on the Beats They Bring Us”: Gender, Class, and 21 st Century Blues Women’s Epistemology Keynote Speaker: Zandria F. Robinson, Assistant Professor of Sociology and James and Madeleine McMullan Assistant Professor of Southern Studies, University of Mississippi Discusant: Chavella Pittman, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Dominican University
11:30am-12:45pm	Panel (Bluhm Auditorium, 108 Parmer Hall ) Ladies Sing the Blues: The Lived Experience of Chicago's Blues DivasParticipants: Deitra Farr, Sharon Lewis, Peaches Staten, Nellie Travis Discussant: Jane Hseu, Assistant Professor of English, Dominican University
1:00-2:00pm	Lunch Panel (Bluhm Auditorium, 108 Parmer Hall) Cultural Tourism and the Blues Participants: Barry Dolins, former Director of the Chicago Blues Festival, Dorothy Coyle, Executive Director of the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture (COTC), Scott Barretta, Mississippi Blues Trail Heritage Marker Initiative (Brown bag lunch provided) Discussant:  Bryan Froehle, Professor of Sociology and Theology, Saint Thomas University, Miami, FL
2:15-3:30pm	Panel (Bluhm Auditorium, 108 Parmer Hall) What the Music Says: Reflections on Blues and Hip-Hop Intersections Participants: Gil Cook, Dominican University, Ernest Gibson, Rhodes College, Stephany Rose, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Robert Hanserd, Dominican University, Nick Krebs, Purdue University
3:45-5:00pm	Multimedia Presentation (Martin Recital Hall/Fine Arts Building) : Ebony and Ivory:  A Musical Journey to Two Americas Stephanie Shonekan, Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology and Black Studies, University of Missouri, Columbia
5:15-6:30pm	Closing Keynote (Martin Recital Hall/Fine Arts Building) : Naming Evil in the World: Hip-Hop's Blues Footprints Mark Anthony Neal, Professor of African and African American Studies, Duke University Discussant:  George Bailey, Professor of English, Columbia College Chicago
6:45-8:30pm	Closing Reception (Shaffer Silveri Atrium/Parmer Hall) Music by the Copeland/Brown Duo  Vendors and Poster Presentations
8:30-8:45pm	Board Bus for Rosa's Lounge
9:000pm-2:00am	Bus Exursion to the After Party at Rosa's Lounge, Chicago , IL Sugar Blue and Friends Celebrate the Blues Legacy (Wristbands required for this event)

$75 registration fee includes two receptions, participation in all sessions and panels, and transportation to and from the Friday and Saturday after party events and club cover charges. A small number of no-frills but very affordable dormitory-style rooms on campus will be available for those who register early. (Singles at $50; doubles at $90 and suites for up to four people for $160 per night). Register now.