Black Futurity Group
ABOUT: The Black Futurity Group is based out of UMSL’s English and History Departments. The goal of the group is to foster discussion among students, faculty, and staff around black life and experience, particularly in the U.S. context. The hope is that by having these sometimes difficult conversations, we will help foster a community in which black precarity isn’t normalized, and people become not only aware of how their actions might be contributing to said oppression (e.g. through microaggressions), but also ways that they can support black life rather than black (physical and social) death. Our activities range from a reading group that varies between fiction and approachable nonfiction to timely screenings with talkbacks to syllabi diversification workshops.
WHO: Anyone who attends any of the monthly events is considered part of the Black Futurity Group. If you want to stay informed about upcoming events, please email Kimberly Welch (kwelch@umsl.edu) and you’ll be added to the listserv.
If you’d like to participate in choosing readings (faculty, students, and staff are welcome to join), please email Kimberly Welch (kwelch@umsl.edu) and request to be added to the organizing committee.
2021-22 Events!
(Reach out if you have ideas for future work or would like to help plan. All are welcome!)
The Black Futurity Group presents a Humanities Week Event: Black Art!
April 22, 2022; 11-12:30
SSB 411 or Zoom in!
The Black Futurity Group presents a Humanities Week Event: Black Art!
April 22, 2022; 11-12:30
SSB 411 or Zoom in!
Friday, April 22, 11-12:30
SSB 411 (Zoom also available; link below)
Description: Black artists share their work and discuss their experiences and processes.
Zoom link: https://umsystem.zoom.us/my/laurenobermark
Question: contact Lauren Obermark, obermarkl@umsl.edu
Second Event of 2021-22:
Black Futurity Group "Transformative Question Series" Part II:
What's Language Got to Do With It?
Documentary Watch Party & Discussion of Talking Black in America
Monday, November 15, 12-1:30
Location: Express Scripts Hall 003
Modality: Documentary will be screened on campus (and cannot be screened effectively via Zoom), but you can also watch ahead of time on your own and join the discussion via Zoom. Contact Lauren Obermark (obermarkl@umsl.edu) and/or Kim Welch (kwelch@umsl.edu) for links to hop into the discussion remotely!
Promo video for Talking Black in America
BFG talking black in america flyer.pdfPDF flyer for the Talking Black in America event.
"Talking Black in America follows the unique circumstances of the descendants of American slaves and their incredible impact on American language. Speech varieties in African American communities reflect the imprint of African language systems, the influences of regional British and Southern American dialects, and the creativity and resilience of people living through oppression, segregation and the fight for equality. Filmed across the United States, Talking Black in America is a startling revelation of language as legacy, identity and triumph over adversity. With Reverend Jeremiah Wright, DJ Nabs, Professor Griff, Quest M.C.O.D.Y., Dahlia the Poet, Nicky Sunshine and many others."
First event of 2021-22!
Black Futurity Group "Transformative Question Series": What Does Social Justice Mean to You?
Thursday, Oct. 21, 11-12:30, on the Milennium Student Center Patio (outside the Nosh)
Plain text of the flyer above:
Sponsored by the English Department and the History Department
Transformative Question Series: What does social justice mean to you?
Join the Black Futurity Group in an interactive discussion on social justice and why it should matter to the work of universities.
When: Thursday, Oct. 21, 11-12:30
Where: MSC Patio
Light refreshments will be served.
Questions?: contact Lauren Obermark (obermarkl@umsl.edu) or Kimberly Welch (kwelch@umsl.edu)
Below is an Archive of Events from Academic Year 2020-21
Black Futurity Group Women's History Month Event, Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 6:30-8 pm, via Zoom (Info & Link Below)
"Lives on the Edge" SEE STL Virtual Tour, Led by Amanda Clark from the Missouri Historical Society
BFG whm event lives on the edge march 2021 FLYER.pdfSponsored by:
The Black Futurity Group, the English Department, the History Department, and the Gender Studies Program
Join the Tour on Wednesday, March 17, 6:30-8:00 pm! Zoom info:
https://umsystem.zoom.us/j/96501928192?pwd=TWZzbFJhVFUzT2dGb3NnTHhPZFluQT09
Meeting ID: 965 0192 8192
Passcode: umslwhm
Lives On The Edge: Colonial St. Louis Women
A See STL Virtual Tour from the Missouri Historical Society
Date and Time: Wednesday, March 17, 6:30-8:00 pm via Zoom
St. Louis was born as a French fur trading village ruled by the Spanish. Staring down the Americans across the river, the village would become a mix of French culture, Spanish rule, and American influence. These ever-changing currents affected women in unexpected ways. As governments changed, so did the protection of widows, property rights, enslavement laws, and more. Learn about the fascinating women, both famous and not, whose fates were tied to the three flags that flew over St. Louis.
This See STL Virtual Tour will be led by tour guide Amanda Clark from the Missouri Historical Society. See STL virtual tours are interactive, informative, and entertaining deep dives into our city’s history. You can test your St. Louis trivia knowledge, interact with your tour guide and other attendees, and more!
Black Futurity Group Black History Month Event: Kuumba: Celebrating Black Voices; Thursday, Feb. 25, 7 pm, via Zoom (Info & link below)
KUUMBAFlyer.pdfIn celebration of Black History Month, the Black Futurity Group invites you to join us in an evening of storytelling that will celebrate the richness of black experience. “Kuumba (Creativity): Celebrating Black UMSL Voices” will feature poetry by MFA alumnus and author of Shrimp Jason Vasser-Elong as well as MFA student Kelli Roberts’ short story “Black Madonna”. The evening will close with a special reading from Black Sunday by Assistant Professor Tola Abraham.
When: Thursday, February 25th at 7 pm
Where: Via Zoom, passcode: 481880
Sponsored by: The Black Futurity Group, English Department, Gender Studies Program, & OSI
Black Futurity Group, MLK Day Event, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2-3 pm, Zoom. Info & link to text below and on flyer.
MLKFlyer.pdfThe Black Futurity Group invites you to join us in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream via a virtual discussion of N.K. Jemisin’s short story “The Ones Who Stay and Fight”.
When: Thursday, January 21st at 2 pm
Where: Via Zoom, passcode: 560689
Reading: “The Ones Who Stay and Fight”
For questions, contact Kara Moskowitz (moskowitzk@umsl.edu), Lauren Obermark (ObermarkL@umsl.edu), or Kimberly Welch (kwelch@umsl.edu).
Black Futurity Group, 3rd meeting, Wednesday, Nov. 18. 6 pm, Zoom. Info & link to text on flyer below; Dear White People Watch + Talk Back.
DearWhitePplFlyer.pdfWhen: Wednesday, November 18th at 6 pm
Where: Via Zoom, passcode: 805252
Screening: Dear White People, Season 1 Episode 1
For questions, contact Kara Moskowitz (moskowitzk@umsl.edu), Lauren Obermark (ObermarkL@umsl.edu), or Kimberly Welch (kwelch@umsl.edu).
Black Futurity Group, 2nd meeting, Thursday, Oct. 29, 1 pm, Zoom. Info & link to text on flyer below.
blackfuturityoctflyerFINAL.pdfBlack Futurity Group, 1st meeting September 30, 1 pm, Zoom. Info & link to text on Flyer Below.
BFSeptFlyerfinal.pdf