COAS Study Abroad-South COAS Study Abroad-South Africa 2011: Africa 2011: Representative ThinkersRepresentative ThinkersJuly 6-7, 2011July 6-7, 2011

We Think What We Like: Representative We Think What We Like: Representative Figures in South African and African Figures in South African and African

American Intellectual HistoryAmerican Intellectual History

How have thinkers and actors in African intellectual genealogies in How have thinkers and actors in African intellectual genealogies in the U.S. and South Africa positioned themselves as analysts the U.S. and South Africa positioned themselves as analysts and actors for real-time social change and transformation? and actors for real-time social change and transformation? Taking its conceptual frame from the famous 1970 column by-Taking its conceptual frame from the famous 1970 column by-line“I write what I like” penned by Black Consciousness line“I write what I like” penned by Black Consciousness Movement leader Steven Bantu Biko, his theme will evoke Movement leader Steven Bantu Biko, his theme will evoke comparative evaluation of ideas and texts from major thinkers comparative evaluation of ideas and texts from major thinkers such as Biko, Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukwe, Oliver Tambo, such as Biko, Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukwe, Oliver Tambo, Chris Hani and many others with their counterparts in other Chris Hani and many others with their counterparts in other parts of the African world. Exchanges between cultural icons parts of the African world. Exchanges between cultural icons and thinkers such as Miriam Makeba, Gil Scott Heron, Hugh and thinkers such as Miriam Makeba, Gil Scott Heron, Hugh Masekela, Bob Marley and many others will extend the Masekela, Bob Marley and many others will extend the consideration of Pan-African cultural spheres as the context for consideration of Pan-African cultural spheres as the context for inter-state and transnational exchanges. Texts such as Peter inter-state and transnational exchanges. Texts such as Peter Abrahams Abrahams The Black Experience in the 20The Black Experience in the 20thth Century: An Century: An Autobiography and MeditationAutobiography and Meditation (2001) and Frank Wilderson III’s (2001) and Frank Wilderson III’s Incognegro: A Memoir of Exile and ApartheidIncognegro: A Memoir of Exile and Apartheid (2008) will (2008) will present the opportunity to consider first-hand accounts of present the opportunity to consider first-hand accounts of collaborations and contestations between representative collaborations and contestations between representative thinkers in this context.thinkers in this context.

Categorizing ThinkersCategorizing Thinkers

What are the Characteristics of an What are the Characteristics of an intellectual?intellectual?

What are the conditions that foster What are the conditions that foster intellectual work?intellectual work?

What is a “representative thinker?”What is a “representative thinker?”

What are the conditions that foster What are the conditions that foster “representative thinking?”“representative thinking?”

Intellectuals as Representative Intellectuals as Representative Thinkers in the South African-Thinkers in the South African-

United States ContextUnited States Context

South AfricaSouth Africa Nelson MandelaNelson Mandela Steve BikoSteve Biko Robert SobukweRobert Sobukwe Mamphela RampheleMamphela Ramphele

United StatesUnited States Ralph BuncheRalph Bunche Stokely Carmichael Stokely Carmichael

[Kwame Ture][Kwame Ture] Randall RobinsonRandall Robinson Frank Wilderson IIIFrank Wilderson III

Intellectuals as Representative Intellectuals as Representative Thinkers and Cultural Workers in Thinkers and Cultural Workers in the South African-United States the South African-United States

ContextContext

South AfricaSouth Africa Hugh MasekelaHugh Masekela Miriam MakebaMiriam Makeba

United StatesUnited States Gil Scott HeronGil Scott Heron StetsasonicStetsasonic

Intellectual GenealogiesIntellectual Genealogies

What is a Genealogy?What is a Genealogy?

How Might One Go About (Re)Constructing an How Might One Go About (Re)Constructing an Intellectual Genealogy?Intellectual Genealogy?

Comparative Comparative Intellectual GenealogiesIntellectual Genealogies

Creating Linkages: Howare these anchoring representative thinkersRelated?

Narrating Memories/Crafting Narrating Memories/Crafting Intellectual GenealogiesIntellectual Genealogies

July 9 Research day at July 9 Research day at Mayibuye CenterMayibuye Center

UWC-Robben Island UWC-Robben Island Mayibuye ArchiveMayibuye Archive

Housed primarily at the University of Western Housed primarily at the University of Western Cape campus, the Cape campus, the Mayibuye Archive, Mayibuye Archive, as one as one of the largest archives of liberation struggle of the largest archives of liberation struggle materials in the country, includes unique materials in the country, includes unique materials (historical documents, photographs, materials (historical documents, photographs, art work, audio-visual holdings, etc) relating to art work, audio-visual holdings, etc) relating to the freedom struggle generally and to Robben the freedom struggle generally and to Robben Island and apartheid imprisonment especially. Island and apartheid imprisonment especially. Its goal is to achieve “Mayibuye,” the Zulu word Its goal is to achieve “Mayibuye,” the Zulu word for “bringing back what was lost.” for “bringing back what was lost.”

Historical PapersHistorical Papers

300 collections of personal and organizational documents reflecting the 300 collections of personal and organizational documents reflecting the struggles for national liberation in SA;struggles for national liberation in SA;

Papers and publications that were banned under apartheid;Papers and publications that were banned under apartheid;

Personal papers of Archbishop Desmond Tutu;Personal papers of Archbishop Desmond Tutu;

Prison writings of Ahmed Kathrada;Prison writings of Ahmed Kathrada;

Personal papers: Material belonging to political activists and leaders such Personal papers: Material belonging to political activists and leaders such as WH Andrews, MA Naidoo, Brian Bunting, Yusuf Dadoo, Mac Maharaj, Alex as WH Andrews, MA Naidoo, Brian Bunting, Yusuf Dadoo, Mac Maharaj, Alex and Blanche La Guma, Govan Mbeki, Albie Sachs, Kader and Louise Asmal, and Blanche La Guma, Govan Mbeki, Albie Sachs, Kader and Louise Asmal, Wolfie Kodesh, Reg September, Dulcie Hartwell and Neville Naidoo. Wolfie Kodesh, Reg September, Dulcie Hartwell and Neville Naidoo.

Organizational documents: ANC; South African Congress of Trade Unions; Organizational documents: ANC; South African Congress of Trade Unions; South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union; Women’s National South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union; Women’s National Coalition; Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement; Dutch Anti-Apartheid Movement; Coalition; Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement; Dutch Anti-Apartheid Movement; Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee; South African Non-Racial Olympic Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee; South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee; Film and Allied Workers Organization; United Women’s Committee; Film and Allied Workers Organization; United Women’s Congress; Legal and Research Depts of the IADF (International Defense and Congress; Legal and Research Depts of the IADF (International Defense and Aid Fund)Aid Fund)

Photographic ArchivePhotographic Archive

The Photographic Archive documents South African life under apartheid The Photographic Archive documents South African life under apartheid and resistance to it from the 1ate 1940s until 1990.The subjects covered and resistance to it from the 1ate 1940s until 1990.The subjects covered include history of apartheid, images of apartheid, liberation movements, include history of apartheid, images of apartheid, liberation movements, forced removals and resettlement,repression,political forced removals and resettlement,repression,political prisoners,trials,labour and trade unions, women,culture,education,armed prisoners,trials,labour and trade unions, women,culture,education,armed struggle,personalities.struggle,personalities.

The The Eli WeinbergEli Weinberg documents the struggle against apartheid from the documents the struggle against apartheid from the 1940s to the 1970s.Almost 2 000 negatives cover all the major events, 1940s to the 1970s.Almost 2 000 negatives cover all the major events, campaigns and personalities of this period.campaigns and personalities of this period.

The The Leon LevsonLeon Levson collection gives unusual insight into African rural and collection gives unusual insight into African rural and urban life in this period.urban life in this period.

The PA includes a history and campaigns of the African National Congress The PA includes a history and campaigns of the African National Congress and the broad liberation movement from the 1920s to the present.and the broad liberation movement from the 1920s to the present.

It also includes extensive material on the mass mobilisation and uprisings It also includes extensive material on the mass mobilisation and uprisings of the 1980s as well as the international campaigns against apartheid, of the 1980s as well as the international campaigns against apartheid, including the collections of the South and Grassroots newspapers.including the collections of the South and Grassroots newspapers.

Audio-Visual ArchiveAudio-Visual Archive

Included in the sound and oral history collections:Included in the sound and oral history collections:

Interviews with many South African ex-political prisoners and Interviews with many South African ex-political prisoners and political exiles.political exiles.

Major meetings, rallies, briefings, press conferences of the Major meetings, rallies, briefings, press conferences of the Southern African liberation movements and allied support groups.Southern African liberation movements and allied support groups.

Lectures such as the annual Canon Collins Memorial Lecture Series Lectures such as the annual Canon Collins Memorial Lecture Series delivered by, among others, Oliver Tambo and Govan Mbeki.delivered by, among others, Oliver Tambo and Govan Mbeki.

Tapes of historic importance, such as Chief Albert Luthuli’s Nobel Tapes of historic importance, such as Chief Albert Luthuli’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, an interview with Nelson Mandela Peace Prize acceptance speech, an interview with Nelson Mandela recorded in 1961, and interviews with those who took part in the recorded in 1961, and interviews with those who took part in the 1955 Congress of the People and were later charged in the 1956 1955 Congress of the People and were later charged in the 1956 Treason Trial.Treason Trial.

““Other components” (feature films, documentaries, etc)…Other components” (feature films, documentaries, etc)…

Art, Artifacts, Art, Artifacts, Posters, & BannersPosters, & Banners

Art worksArt works The Albie Sachs Collection of Mozambican ArtThe Albie Sachs Collection of Mozambican Art The The Abe Berry CartoonAbe Berry Cartoon Collection Collection Art Against ApartheidArt Against Apartheid

ArtefactsArtefacts A collection of artefacts, which inlcudesA collection of artefacts, which inlcudesT-shirtsT-shirts, , signssigns, , badgesbadges etc, tell the etc, tell the

story of apartheid and the mass resistance inside South Africa, as well as story of apartheid and the mass resistance inside South Africa, as well as the campaigns of Anti-Apartheid Movements in countries ranging from the campaigns of Anti-Apartheid Movements in countries ranging from Japan to Spain and Argentina.Japan to Spain and Argentina.

Apple Box ArchivesApple Box Archives

PostersPosters Posters of grass roots campaigns and cultural events abroadPosters of grass roots campaigns and cultural events abroad

BannersBanners Banners and murals (including those displayed at the 49Banners and murals (including those displayed at the 49thth ANC annual ANC annual

conference in Durban in 1991)conference in Durban in 1991)