Dr. Kimberly Monroe Presents Research at the Black Europe Summer School (BESS) Symposium in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Dr. Kimberly F. Monroe, Assistant professor of History and Africana Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, presented her research titled “Writing Toward a Black Liberation: Claudia Jones’ Black Nationalist/Internationalist Activism in Europe” at the Black Europe Summer School (BESS) Symposium in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The theme, ‘Interrogating Citizenship, Race, and Ethnic Relations” examined the African Diaspora and other people of color in Europe. The lectures concentrated on the origins of Black Europe and investigated the impact of colonial legacies, policies, social organizations, and legislation today. Black scholars from across Europe (Poland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy and more) lectured throughout the two-week program, including Drs. Kwame Nimako, Olivette Otele, Rokhaya Diallo, Camilla Hawthorne, Wayne Modest, and more.

In addition to the lectures, Dr. Monroe immersed herself into Black Amsterdam by visiting the Tropen Museum “Our Colonial Inheritance” exhibit, The Black Archives “No Healing Without Repair” exhibit, and experienced a Black Heritage Amsterdam tour on the canal with Jennifer Tosch. To commemorate the Abolition of slavery in Suriname (1873) and other former Dutch colonies in the Caribbean, Dr. Monroe and fellow BESS participants took part in festivities at the Keti Koti (break the chains) parade and festival on July 1st.