The Association of Third World Studies (ATWS) is holding its organization’s 26th annual meeting at Millersville University on October 26-28.  The theme of the conference is “Voices of the Subaltern: Identities, Hierarchies and Social Struggles in a Globalizing Age.” 

One of the featured speakers will be Dr. Leroy Hopkins, foreign languages, who will be discussing the African-American experience in Lancaster County.  Hopkins will describe how the local Black communities experienced marginalization, enslavement and discrimination but were still able to create their own foundation while participating in resistance to their oppression.  “Despite the limitations both legally and illegally placed upon them over the centuries, they have fought in every war in which the country has been involved.” said Hopkins.  

Hopkins will also discuss the local slave experience, the emergence of free African institutions between 1800-50, the Underground Railroad and the survival mode that had to be adopted after the disappointments of the Reconstruction.  

Other local presenters include Dr. Diane Umble, Millersville professor and interim Director of the Center for Academic Excellence.  In addition, Miriam Witmer, who works with Millersville’s Color of Teaching program and her students, will be presenting and assisting with the conference.

Dr. Doyin Coker-Kolo is the conference site coordinator, as well as the associate dean for Millersville’s School of Education.  For more information on the conference please contact Coker- Kolo at (717) 871-3816 or by e-mail at dcokerkolo@millersville.edu.  

###

Back