CACE


	NewsRelease

University News Service

P.O. Box 26170

Greensboro, NC 27402-6170

Telephone (336) 334-5371

Fax (336) 334-3418

(Posted 4-15-04)
Contact: Steve Gilliam, 336-334-5371

UNCG Conference to Focus on African American Writer April 29-30

GREENSBORO – The life and writings of author Charles W. Chesnutt will be the focus of this year’s Conference on African American Culture and Experience (CACE) when it is held Thursday and Friday, April 29-30, in Elliot University Center at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

The conference theme is “The Life, Times and Writings of Charles W. Chesnutt.” William L. Andrews, the E. Maynard Adams Professor of English at UNC-Chapel Hill, will give the keynote address at 1 p.m. April 30. Speakers will give presentations on Chesnutt and his contributions to both literature and society as a prominent African American writer in the 1800’s. Other speakers include:

April 29, 2-3:30 p.m., Virginia R. Stewart of Roanoke College, Gregory Rich of Fayetteville State University (FSU) and Dr. SallyAnn Ferguson of UNCG.

April 30, 9 a.m.-noon, Jackie R. Booker of Claflin University, Helen C. Othow of N.C. Central University, Peter Valenti of FSU, Jeff Johnson of James Madison University and John M. Freiermuth of UNCG.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Chesnutt moved to North Carolina, where he studied classic literature and foreign languages independently while working as principal of a state school for blacks in Charlotte. He wrote classic short stories such as “The Goopherd Grapevine” and “The Wife of his Youth.” Chesnutt won the NAACP’s 1928 Springarn Award for “Highest achievement by a Black American.”

CACE is held annually at UNCG to promote a better understanding of the African American experience. The event is sponsored by the UNCG African American Studies Program with the Office of Multicultural Affairs. For information, call the program at 334-3889.

#####

Back to the Latest News Releases
Return to the University News Service Home Page