Reparative Justice, Diaspora and Responsibility – Black Women's Narratives in Higher Education
When:
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Venue:
Birkbeck Main Building, Malet Street
Reparative Justice, Black Women, Diaspora and Responsibility
A conference on the reparative justice narratives of Black women education activists
Date: Tuesday 24th June 2025
Time: 10-4-30pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre - Room B33, Birkbeck University of London, Malet Street
Aimed at: Higher education researchers, scholars of race, gender, social justice and education.
Conference Organiser: Dr Jan Etienne j.etienne@bbk.c.uk
Introducing the conference:
Reparation is rooted in a historical analysis of the processes of domination and exploitation. This conference will present Black women’s narratives in an area where we remain largely unheard yet continue to bear the brunt of responsibility for ‘taking care’ of the day-to-day impact of colonial injustices. To demonstrate Black women’s survival in the struggle for reparative justice, we share narratives of resistances and acknowledge the extent to which Black communities are severely impacted by colonial histories.
Against the Wind: By the artist Carmelita Kadeena
What is the role of the Black female, Reparative Justice Activist?
Conference objectives
This conference seeks to challenge the often, negative thinking around reparation and responsibility by moving forward with a Black feminist call for action (Etienne, 2020). Such a call is collaborative and places Black women activist workers at the centre of change. We argue that there are significant benefits to developing understandings of the nature of reparative justice when using a contemporary Black feminist lens (WAHERN, 2022).
In the first of a series of Reparative Justice Womanist conferences, we seek to share understandings of reparative justice action through activist struggle and activist education (Daley, 2020). Our key strategies are embedded in creative and artistic practice; Womanist research; care, community, spiritual and emotional health and wellbeing. How might our notions of reparative justice influence and shape our practice in these areas? Ultimately, we seek to elevate the Black woman’s involvement in developing practical approaches to supporting the development of strategies for reparative justice. We believe that the inclusion of the narratives of womanist activist educators is an important signifier in moving forward, acknowledging, not just past wrongs, but the ways in which these wrongs underpin contemporary inequalities.
Keynote Speaker: Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP
This conference will open discussion in the following areas:
A. From homeland to the ‘motherland’: Reparative Justice, and womanist solidarity
• Acknowledging that Black women are meeting care and education needs in their country of destination while their country of origin experiences a depletion in care and education services • Black feminist reflection on colonial histories, from the colonies to ex-colonies •Black Women in higher education contributing to building and strengthening Caribbean homelands.
The following speakers will introduce their papers: Uvanney Maylor, Sabrina Bowen
B. Reparative justice, womanism and structural/institutional inequalities
• Addressing the ‘Continuity of harms’ felt by Black women inside ‘structures of oppression’ • Black women’s spaces of recovery •Tackling the enduring legacy of institutional sexual, racial and gender-based violence and discrimination.
Speakers: Jan Etienne, Debi Lewinson Roberts, Dawn Duker
C. Reparative justice, womanist art and stories for wellbeing, hope and survival
Pushing forward, reparative justice measures which address the devastation of colonialism and the long-term impact on Black Women’s health and wellbeing • Showcasing Black womanist art, ‘Against the Wind’, ‘A name in history’ and other creative strategies for healing and surviving
Speakers: Carmelita Kadeena, Iesha Ledeatte, Hillery Baptiste
D. Collaboration, community and womanist reparative justice approaches
• Understanding Black women’s support for the wider community as ‘human flourishing’ • Promoting womanist collaboration and how we work together across the Third (voluntary community) Sector• Demonstrating how Black Women contribute to building (and working in) solidarity with other women victims of colonial oppression.
Speakers: Palmela Witter, Nandita Sirker
Closing date for registration: 17th of June 2025
For more information contact: Dr Jan Etienne j.etienne@bbk.ac.uk
This conference is organised by The Womanism, Activism, Higher Education Research Network (WAHERN) Womanism, Activism, Higher Education Research Network — Birkbeck, University of London
It is funded by: The Birkbeck African Diaspora Research Initiative (BADRI)
And The Birkbeck, Institute for Gender and Sexuality (BiGS)
Supported by: The Birkbeck Institute for Social research (BISR)
Dawn Butler MP
Contact name: Matthew Barrington
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