Past Event

Born in Blackness: a talk by Howard W. French

The Institute of African Studies in partnership with, the School of Journalism and Communication,  the Bachelor of Global and International Studies and the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, invites you to attend a talk by Howard W. French entitled “Born in Blackness”.

Howard W. French is a career foreign correspondent and global affairs writer and the author of five books, including three works of non-fiction, a work of documentary photography and a book from Norton Liveright about Africa and the birth of modernity. He is also a professor of journalism at the Columbia Journalism School.

ABOUT THE BOOK
In a sweeping narrative spanning more than six centuries, Born in Blackness reframes the story of medieval and emerging Africa, demonstrating how the economic ascendancy of Europe, the anchoring of democracy in the West, and the fulfillment of so-called Enlightenment ideals all grew out of Europe’s dehumanizing engagement with the “dark” continent. Creating a historical narrative that begins with the commencement of commercial relations between Portugal and Africa in the fifteenth century and ends with the onset of World War II, Born in Blackness interweaves precise historical detail with poignant, personal reportage. Read more here.

Join us as we discover the historical contexts that have influenced modern reality and reframe our understanding of world history.