Celebrating black women living in Europe.

Welcome!

Summer School on Black Europe – Exploring Dimensions of Citizenship, Race and Ethnic Relations

June 13-30, 2010 in Amsterdam

For additional information over this course, please contact Amy Abdou a.abdou@ninsee.nl
Download Application from http://www.ninsee.nl/UserFiles/File/application%20form%202010.pdf

Course Description

The Summer School on Black Europe is an intensive two week course offered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The course is a collaboration between the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and NiNsee, the National Institute for the study of Dutch Slavery and its Legacy.

This course will begin with a historical overview of social and civil conflict in Europe leading to the formation of laws and antidiscrimination legislation within the EU. We will look specifically at anti-discrimination laws as they have arisen in various European countries; comparing the history of regulation and management of race and ethnic relations and the discourse surrounding the concept of Blackness and self-identification. Historically, social forces within Europe have given rise to policies to combat racism. We will trace the chain of events following social and civil conflicts that prompted these policies and analyze the legislative and intellectual discourse produced in the aftermath.

In the second week, we will explore the notions of blackness as; an official categorization; as a social construction, employed by natives to indicate (non) belonging; as a Diaspora living within Europe; and as a contestation of the dominant (White) paradigm. We will focus on the historical and colonial legacies of European countries to discuss the origins of Black Europe and investigate the impact of these legacies on policies and legislation.

This course will also seek to address the dimensions of race and ethnic relations that are unique to Europe; examining the ways in which conceptions of the “other” are institutionalized and reproduced; the rise of xenophobia in various EU countries; the legal definitions and discourse surrounding the conceptualized “other”; and examining the ways in which each country has dealt with issues of race and national identity.

Instructors 2009

 Dr. Ramon Grosfoguel, University of California, Berkeley
 Dr. Stephen Small, University of California, Berkeley
 Dr. Kwame Nimako, University of Amsterdam
 Dr. Philomena Essed, Antioch University
 Dr. David Theo Goldberg, University of California Humanities Research Institute
 Dr. Dienke Hondius, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Programme Manager

 Amy Abdou

Certificate and Credits

This course is accredited through the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Students wishing to receive university credit (3 US credits of 5 ECTS credits) for the course must submit a paper (15-20 pages) before September 1st, 2010. The paper topic must first be submitted to the directors of the programme for approval. Proposals are due at the end of the first week of the programme. Please do not submit a paper proposal in advance of the programme. Once a paper topic has been approved, the students may begin with their research. University libraries will be made available to the students during the course. The paper will be graded on its relevance to Black European Studies and its ability to process the course material. The paper must be relevant to the subject and incorporate some of the readings from the Summer School.
All students who attend and successfully complete the Summer School on Black Europe will receive a certificate of attendance.

Tuition

 Non-credit tuition € 1600
 Credit tuition € 1850

Tuition does not include housing during the programme or travel to and from Amsterdam. Tuition covers all course materials, lunch during the days when the course is held and travel and entry fees on excursion days.

For more information:
http://www.let.vu.nl/en/news-and-agenda/agenda/2010-1e-kwart/index.asp

Shahera in the UK is writing an article as part of a BBC project she is producing and would very much appreciate your help!

Would you take part in a survey? The survey is in English and French.

The article and programme is on Black women and how they see themselves in the media and particularly, how Black women get their information on cosmetics, hair and fashion.

Where do you get your information on the latest products, styles, trends for women of African descent and how do you decide how you purchase these products? In your opinion, are there enough current TV/print/ advertising targeting you specially and your beauty needs? Is the media reflecting your beauty and how you see yourself as beautiful? Are commercial cosmetic, hair and fashion products targeting you?

How do you make your purchasing decisions?

I would appreciate very much in you taking part. I would value your comments and contribution.

The target of women for the article is

Black and mixed heritage women 21 – 55 years of Age who are fashion, make up, beauty conscious.

You must reside in Europe, Africa or United States. Contact Shaheera Asante, acacmembers@gmail.com.

Souhaitez-vous participer à un sondage pour moi, je fais un article pour la BBC sur la Black Beauty (sur les produits cosmétiques des femmes noires, des cheveux et de la mode), où les femmes noires ne reçoivent leurs informations sur les derniers produits, les styles, les tendances et comment pensez-vous décider comment vous procurer ces produits … est-il assez de publicité actuel de ciblage de vous spécialement et vos besoins de beauté, etc. Seriez-vous intéressé à participer? Je donnerais de la valeur de vos commentaires et contributions.

Serait un questionnaire simplement je email.

Meilleurs voeux et passez une bonne soirée!

Shaheera Asante
acacmembers@gmail.com