Look back

Believe it or not, 95 years of celebrating black history is just around the corner.

On Sept 28-Oct 3, N.C. Central University will be participating in the Association for the Study of African American Life and History's 95th conference at the Raleigh Marriot City Center.

Carlton Wilson, the department chair for history at NCCU, will be the academic program chair for the conference. He will lead over 170 scholars in the structure and management of their academic sessions — many of which include NCCU professors and students.

The premier organization for the study of black history and the largest single contingent of faculty and students on the study of black history, ASALH holds a special place in the heart of NCCU historians.

Besides being the leading center for research in African American history, ASALH is primarily known for having established black history month.

Beginning as the Negro History Week in 1926, ASALH fought diligently to have the celebration expanded for over a month. The conference is an extension of this observance.

"NCCU has been part of ASALH since the 1920s," said Wilson. "I feel honored to be part of the leadership team. I wouldn't of thought of not doing it."

The theme this year is "The History of Black Economic Empowerment."

The program will stem off of the 100th anniversary of the National Urban League, a civil rights organization dedicated to the economics of African Americans.

Part of being a historian is analyzing history and presenting your findings with other historians. Many NCCU history professors, including associate professors Freddie Parker, Lydia Lindsey, and Jim Harper presented their first research papers at ASALH.

Harper got the opportunity to present his first paper in 1978 at ASALH's conference in Los Angeles, titled "The Law is Too Slow: 1888-1906," his research took a look at lynching in N.C.

"It was absolutely exciting for me to present my first paper in L.A.," said Harper.

"The conference was a training ground for me because I got to interact with other historians, to learn what books they were reading and how they did their research."

This will be Brian Robinson's,  a second year history graduate student, fourth presentation.He will be presenting the first chapter of his thesis titled "Dr. Shepard and Student Unrest: 1930-1980."

He will be featured on a panel highlighting Shepard, NCCU's founder, and will present research on student protests at NCCU.

"I get a lot of experience and networking opportunities when I present at conferences," said Robinson. "It is essential for me as a history student to get the practice."

One of the major sessions will focus on the future of HBCU's.

Chancellor Nelms, Dianne Boardley Suber, president of St. Augustine's College, and Ronald Carter, president of Johnson C. Smith University are also on the panel and will continue the conversation of NCCU's HBCU symposium held last June.

Thursday night, a reception will be lead by  Nelms to bring attention to the 94th anniversary of the Journal of African American History.

This year, the reception will be sponsored by NCCU and honor NCCU's Sylvia Jacobs, a recently retired history professor who taught at the University for over 30 years.

Bus tours will be available to take attendees to different historical locations around the Triangle. Stops include the Stagville Plantion, the African American Cultural Complex in Raleigh and the Shepard House at NCCU.

The CEO of Durham's own N.C. Mutual Life Insurance Company will be on a panel discussing black businesses. Congressmen G.K Butterfied of the 1st District of N.C. will be speaking at Saturday night's annual banquet at the Marriot City Center and poet Sonia Sanchez will be presenting at Saturday afternoon's plenary session.