Black Virtual Futures

While discussion of the Metaverse is abuzz, there are many questions that arise around the role that extended reality will play in our world. This in-person symposium invites scholars, artists, and other practitioners to share their work as it relates to the past, present, and future of Black people in virtual worlds. The program will be moderated by Dr. Clay Colmon, associate director of Instructional Design for the Arts & Sciences Online Learning team at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Tanya Clark, senior assistant professor in the English Department at Morehouse College and member of the Morehouse in the Metaverse team.

Lunch and dinner will be provided for all conference attendees. Vegan and Gluten-free options will be provided. You can also view last year's symposium entitled Present Encounters: Digital Humanities Meet Afrofuturism.

Program

• 9:30-10:00: Check-in. Coffee, tea, and water available for attendees 

• 10:00-10:30: Welcome remarks and opening performance 

• 10:30-11:30: Keynote speech by Dr. Tanya Clark

• 11:30-11:40: Break 

• 11:40-12:40: Presentation and demo with Dr. Bryan Carter, associate professor of Africana Studies at the University of Arizona 

• 12:40-2:00: Lunch provided by Temple University Libraries 

• 2:00-2:45: Tour of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection 

• 2:45-3:45: XR Creatives Roundtable 

  • Trisha Barton, interaction designer and STEAM/maker education consultant 

  • Lauren Bernard, doctoral student in the Department of Music at Columbia University 

  • Dr. Petrouchka Moïse, assistant professor/cultural & community-based digital curator at Grinnell College Libraries 

• 3:45-4:30: Tour of the Loretta C. Duckworth Scholars Studio + pop-up exhibition 

  • A Care Cave by Ireashia Bennett, master's student in the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts 

  • Redacted—Unredacted by Mikayla Brown, doctoral student in the Klein College of Media and Communications 

  • Coronation and Decolonization of the Mind: Belize 1994/2022 by Ami Glazer, master's student in the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts 

  • Journeys by Justin Mimms, bachelor's student in the School of Theater, Film and Media Arts 

• 4:30-6:00: Closing remarks and reception with live music and catered dinner