News Highlights
Toni Morrison’s Bluest Eye: The Black Family and the Demonization of Blackness in American Culture
In honor of Black History Month, Indiana NAACP will host a series of virtual events in the month of February. Guest speaker Veronica Watson, IUP literature professor, author and inclusion professional, discusses this Morrison novel, the Black family,
and the essence of African American literature as a force in tackling racial and social injustice.
Veronica Watson and the Short Stories of Frank Yerby
On February 23, 2021, IUP Libraries and Indiana Free Library hosted
a virtual conversation. Watson discussed the groundbreaking
author and her book "The Short Stories of Frank Yerby."
Alumni Host Career Conversations Program
The Literature & Criticism program welcomed back graduates from the program, Dr. Thomas and Dr. Strait on February 15, 2021. The two alumni joined virtually for a conversation on careers in academic administration.
Literature and Criticism PhD Graduate Chosen as Speaker for December 2020 and January 2021 Virtual Commencement
Marvin Hobson received his PhD in English/Literature and Criticism in December 2020. Hobson was nominated and chosen to give the graduate student address for the Winter 2020 Commencement ceremony. “I searched all over the world to
find this program, and I’m grateful I did,” Hobson said. The virtual Commencement ceremonies, which were held on December 12, recognized about 650 graduates finishing their undergraduate and graduate degrees. Read more about Hobson’s journey to Literature and Criticism, and listen to his Commencement Address!
A Discussion of White Savior: Racism and the American Church with IUP Religious Studies professor Dr. Dorcas Dennis
Monday, October 26, at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom
The texts for this month’s IUP Forum for Building Social Understanding are White Savior: Racism and the American Church, available on Amazon Prime, and the YouTube video “Christianity and Softcore Racism.”
These conversations are open to all students, faculty, staff, and administrators on any campus. Please contact Peggy Kane at pkane@iup.edu for meeting and participant ID numbers.
An Exploration of the Hip Hop of Jasiri X
This event with Kyesha Jennings on Monday, September 28 at 4 PM in Zoom continues the discussion to Build Social Unity.
Watson Interviewed by Chicago News Station About Frank Yerby Collection
Professor Veronica Watson virtually joined the hosts of Eye 94 on Chicago radio station Lumpen Radio to discuss her new edited collection of Frank Yerby’s writings, The Short Stories of Frank Yerby.
Virtual Discussion of Dear White People and Conversations With short documentaries
English Department students and faculty will host a Zoom discussion of Dear White People (episodes 2 and 3) and the short videos A Conversation With Latinos on Race (7 min.), A Conversation With Asian-Americans on Race (7
min.), and A Conversation With Native Americans on Race (6 min.) at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11. This event continues the discussion to Build Social Unity.